MP Nalin Kumar Inaugurates Organic Farming Fair
Mangaluru: The district Zilla Panchayat in association with the Horticulture department organized an awareness programme on Organic Farming and exhibition at Kadri Park here, on May 31.
The programme began with an invocation followed by the state anthem and the ‘Raitha Geethe’. Joint Director of Horticulture department, Dr H Kempegowda welcomed the gathering.
MP Nalin Kumar Kateel inaugurated the programme by lighting the traditional lamp along with other dignitaries on the dais. Later, he unfurled an areca inflorescence.
Addressing the gathering, MP Nalin Kumar Kateel said that the organic awareness programme will surely help in involving more and more farmers into organic farming. Organic agriculture is a production system that sustains health of the soil; it relies on ecological processes. Organic agriculture combines tradition, innovation and science and provides a good quality of life for all. “Nowadays, the people in villages are attracted towards cities and they come and stay in the city. The younger generation, after completing their education, go to other districts, states and countries and they also tell their parents to sell the property in the village. Today, we also see more old age homes in villages. Youngsters are not interested in agriculture or farming at all.”
He further said that in olden days, doctors, engineers and other professionals left their jobs and came back to villages to continue agriculture and support their parents because they were really loved the soil of their own land. “But there are also problems if one decides to continue agriculture. The farmers do not get proper workers to work in the fields, and even when they do, the charges are too high. Organic farming is profitable and healthy too.” He urged the concerned authorities to bring awareness among the farmers to adopt organic farming.
Nalin also said that the government of India has launched a Soil Health Card scheme for farmers. Under this scheme, the government will issue Soil Health Cards to farmers which will carry crop-wise recommendations of nutrients and fertilizers required for the individual farms to help farmers improve productivity. All soil samples will be tested in various soil testing labs across the country, and thereafter the experts will analyse the strength and weaknesses of the soil and suggest measures to deal with it. The results and suggestions will be displayed in the cards. The government is planning to issue Soil Health Cards to 14 crore farmers in the country.
Soil Health Cards were distributed to farmers by Nalin on the occasion. Vice President of Zilla Panchayat Kasturi Panja, ZP CEO Sreevidya and DC A B Ibrahim also spoke on the occasion. President of Zilla Panchayat Meenakshi Shanthigod presided over the function.
Dr Hanumanthappa, Dr Harish Shenoy, Prabhakar Mayya and others were also present.