Shivraj Singh Chouhan launches nationwide 'Khet Bachao Abhiyan'

New Delhi: Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare and Rural Development, Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan, has formally launched the nationwide 'Khet Bachao Abhiyan' (Save the Field Campaign) from the historic town of Tarawadi in the Karnal district of Haryana. Addressing millions of farmers and agricultural scientists connected virtually with agricultural science centers and institutions across the country, he warned that if the unbalanced use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides is not stopped, the earth will refuse to produce crops and the human body will become a breeding ground for diseases. He called for a massive public awareness campaign to be conducted in every village of the country between 22 October and 30 November.

On this occasion, as the Union Minister for Rural Development, he gave a major gift to Haryana by handing over the financial sanction letter of ₹1,343.06 crore for the construction of 28,422 pucca houses under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Gramin) to the Haryana Agriculture Minister, Shri Shyam Singh Rana.

The Union Minister stated that despite the rise in fertilizer prices in the international market, the government, under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, is bearing a subsidy of more than ₹દોઢ લાખ કરોડ, due to which farmers get a bag of Urea for only ₹266 and DAP for ₹1350. However, getting cheap fertilizer does not mean using it indiscriminately in the fields. Adding fertilizer to the soil without necessity is equivalent to mixing poison in the soil. India is now moving towards the use of Green Ammonia and will become self-reliant in fertilizer production in the future.

Shri Chouhan presented three important measures for the protection of soil: First, farmers should apply balanced fertilizer as per requirement only after checking the Soil Health Card. Second, by changing the crop cycle, sow pulses such as gram, lentil, or pigeon pea between paddy and wheat, which naturally increases nitrogen. Third, farmers should start natural farming by preparing Bijamrit and Ghanajivamrit in at least half an acre. Warning against stubble burning, he said that burning stubble destroys earthworms and useful microorganisms.

Scientists and farmers, including the Director General of ICAR and Secretary of DAYAR Dr. Mangilal Jat and Haryana's Additional Chief Secretary (Agriculture) Vijender Kumar, were present at the program. The 'Khet Bachao Abhiyan' booklet was also released from the dais.