Agricultural land, water getting polluted by optimum use of chemical pesticides: CM

Bhopal:Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said that the soil of agriculture land and water of rivers besides ponds are getting polluted by optimum use of chemical pesticides and fertilizers. We have to encourage organic farming further to stop this. Madhya Pradesh will be made a leading State of the country in organic farming.

Farmers will be encouraged to undertake organic farming in the State and concrete marketing arrangements will be made for the marketing of organic produces.

Chouhan was addressing the 3 day State level Jaivik-Adhyatmik Krishak Sammelan at Balaghat on Wednesday. The Founder of Art of Living Sri Sri Ravishankar, Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh Raman Singh and Minister for Farmers Welfare and Agriculture Development Gourishankar Bisen were also present in the programme.

Praising the Agriculture Minister Bisen for organizing the Jaivik-Adhyatmik Krishak Sammelan, Chouhan said that presently organic farming is being carried out on 5.80 lakh hectare area. Efforts will be made to increase the area. Organic farming and use of organic pesticides will be encouraged. He further mentioned that the Prime Minister Narendra Modi has taken a resolution to double the farmers’ income in 5 years. The state government is making all possible efforts to fulfill this resolution.

Referring to the damage caused to paddy by insects in Balaghat district this year, Chouhan said that an amount of Rs 12.66 crore has been provided to give relief to the affected farmers. The amount is being distributed. He further mentioned that the financial assistant provided against the crop damage by natural calamities has been increased to Rs 30,000 per hectare.

Chouhan declared Balaghat the open defecation free district. He said that we have brought changes in our mindset towards sanitation besides constructing toilets.

Describing the Jaivik – Adhyatmik Krishak Sammelan as historic, the Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh, Raman Singh said that the farmers of Balaghat district and surrounding areas will be benefitted by this sammlan. He further mentioned that the guidance of Sri Sri Ravishankar will surely make Madhya Pradesh a leading state of the country in organic farming.

The Founder of Art of Living, Sri Sri Ravishankar stated that India is a country of Rishis and Krishi. Rishi imparts knowledge and agriculture gives food. People do not like to undertake farming nowadays. Our agriculture will lag behind.