MP Has Largest Area in Country Under Organic Farming, Says Minister

Bhopal: Madhya Pradesh is the only state in the country where organic farming is being done over 1.48 lakh hectares, the largest in the country, state cooperative minister (independent charge) Vishwas Sarang said on Thursday.

"Organic farming is being done in 1.48 lakh hectares area, which is the largest in the country," Sarang said, inaugurating a seminar at the Indian Institute of Soil Science (IISS) here.

The three-day seminar was on "Organic Waste Management for Food and Environmental Security."

The minister said that Madhya Pradesh is the leading state in the country in terms of agriculture production. The state's agriculture development rate has crossed 9.7 per cent.

Organic farming is the solution to the problem of harmful waste generated by use of chemicals, he said. Use of organic manure will not only help in reducing the input cost but also help conserve soil, water and environment, he said.

The waste generated from agriculture can be easily recycled to convert into compost, bio-fuel and bio-gas, Sarang said adding there is also a need for more dialogue between farmers and scientists on these issues.