HP earmarks Rs 25 cr for zero budget natural farming

Himachal Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur on Sunday said that the State Government has earmarked Rs 25 crore budget for promotion of zero budget natural farming.

The Chief Minister said that the State Government would ensure support to the scientists for carrying out research in different fields. 

He was addressing the gathering at CSIR Institute of Himalayan Bio-resource Technology (IHBT) at Palampur in Kangra district during his maiden visit to the CSIR campus.

Thakur said that we should adopt our age old traditional cropping pattern, since it was devoid of any side effects and was also far more economical. Due to over use of chemical fertilizers the fertility of the soil has been effected and at the same time it was causing ill effects on our health, he said.

The Chief Minister said that the State Government would provide all possible help to the farmers adopting rearing of indigenous breed of cows. The State Government would establish Gau Sadans at district and sub division level, said he.

Apart from this, the State Government had decided to use 15 per cent of the offerings from major temples for managing these Gau Sadans. Similarly, Rs one per bottle would be charged from sale of each bottle of liquor for the Gau Sadans, he  added.

Thakur said that over 70 per cent population of the country lives in rural area with agriculture and allied activities their main avocation. Thus, it is not possible to even think of development of the nation without focusing on the development of rural areas.

He urged the scientists to ensure that their research reaches the farmers so that they could benefit by adopting latest technologies for increasing their income.

He further said that it is the need of the hour to take new initiatives in every field to meet out the challenges of globalization.

On the occasion, the Chief Minister also launched website Aromatic oils of Himalayas, developed by the Institute.

He also handed the improved variety of seeds of wild marigold to the farmers.

Speaking on the occasion, former Chief Minister and MP Shanta Kumar said that the nation is forging ahead on path of development, but even after over 71 years of Independence, lot more needed to be done for the farmers of the country.

He urged the State Government to associate the research of the scientists of the institute with corporate houses. He also stressed on rearing indigenous breed of cows and urged the State Government to promote rearing of this breed.