Chandigarh (Balwinder Singh): Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini announced a major initiative to promote natural farming across the state during his address at the Natural Farming Dialogue organised by the Haryana Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Department in Panchkula. The Chief Minister declared that a Prakriti Shri Ann Prerak Kisan Committee will be established in every district of Haryana. These committees, functioning as brand ambassadors for sustainable agriculture, will actively connect with local farmers, visit their fields, and coordinate with the state government to integrate traditional methods into modern practices. He assured attendees that suggestions from farmers would be implemented promptly and directed agriculture department officials to immediately disburse cow-purchase subsidies to qualified applicant farmers.
Chief Minister Saini emphasized that natural farming is not merely an agricultural technique but a national movement aimed at restoring the fractured relationship between humans, nature, and society. Describing it as a vital tool to reduce input costs, save water, conserve soil fertility, and secure the future of coming generations, he noted that heavy exploitation of natural resources has led to depleting water tables, which drop significantly every season. To counter this, the state will hold these interactive dialogue sessions every month and invite prominent experts, including Gujarat Governor Acharya Devvrat, to share their valuable insights. Furthermore, the government has enacted strict legislation in the state assembly carrying a prison term of up to five years for selling counterfeit seeds and chemicals to protect farmers from fraud.
Addressing the challenge of marketing natural produce, the Chief Minister confirmed that dedicated spaces will be assigned within state mandis and Hafed will directly purchase these organic crops. Infrastructure developments are already underway, including a separate shed for natural farming practitioners at the Gannonur mandi alongside four established Centers of Excellence for advanced horticulture. Supporting this vision, Haryana Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Shyam Singh Rana stated that natural farming reduces dependence on expensive external chemical inputs, paving the way for self-reliance and debt-free livelihoods. He noted that the national objective aligns with expanding natural farming to cover twenty percent of agricultural land by 2047. Additionally, progressive farmer Dharampal Yadav shared his successful pesticide-free marketing models, urging the community to understand the scientific mechanisms behind ecological agriculture.
