HP seeks National level Centres for excellence in natural farming
Himachal Pradesh Agriculture Minister, Virender Kanwar on Thursday urged the Union Government to set up National Level Centres of Excellence for Natural Farming and Seed Potato in Himachal Pradesh.
Addressing the delegates at two-day national conference of Agriculture and Horticulture ministers of different states in the country in Bengluru, the minister highlighted the importance and success of natural farming in the hill state of Himachal and said there was need to strengthen research and development in agriculture.
The minister said the state government is motivating and training the farmers to adopt Subhash Palekar Natural Farming (SPNF) technique through Prakritik Kheti Khushhal Kisan Yojana (PK3Y) for the last four years.
He said as many as 1.71 lakh farmers in the state are now practicing natural farming in Himachal. He said the government has reached out to 99 percent Panchayats in th he state with this non-chemical, low-cost and climate resilient technique and very soon, the state will have successful models of natural farming in all the panchayats. He said the small state is now showing the way to entire country in natural farming.
Virender Kanwar also shared the success of Externally Aided Projects on crop diversification (JAICA) in Agriculture and HP SHIVA (ADB) and HP HDP (World Bank) in Himachal Pradesh at the conference.
He thanked Central Government for help and support.
Secretary Agriculture to Government of Himachal Pradesh, Rakesh Kanwar and Director, Agriculture, HP, NK Dhiman and officers from state Horticulture department also attended the conference.
