Himachal Pradesh is the leading state in the country to practice natural farming and is inspiring other states as well, Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar said on Sunday.
Addressing a workshop on Natural Farming Youth Entrepreneur under Prakritik Kheti Khushal Kisan Yojana at Kangra, Arlekar said farmers of Himachal could represent the country in the natural farming system.
The Governor said that natural farming was growing rapidly in the country and awareness was increasing among the people.
“About 1.68 lakh farmers are practising natural farming in the state and there is a need to increase this number,” he said while terming them as ‘karma yogis’.
He stated that today he got the knowledge from young farm entrepreneurs about the natural farming system.
Natural farming is being adopted on nearly 45,000 acres of land in Himachal and young farm entrepreneurs could play an important role in this direction.
It is necessary for everyone to adopt this farming method for the safety of the future generation, he said, adding natural farming would go ahead only with the experience of the people.
He also visited the exhibition stalls put up by the Atma Project being run by the Agriculture department. Natural products and the components used in this method of natural farming were displayed in the exhibition in which the Governor evinced keen interest.
Later, the Governor also visited Ghurkari panchayat and visited the farms of Anita Devi and Sulochana Devi who are practicing natural farming. The Governor appreciated their dedication and added that their efforts were the real motivation to others.