Opting for organic agriculture
Photo: STAR
A few days ago I saw a programme on Star Plus TV channel of India, hosted by popular actor Aamir Khan. Khan was urging Indian farmers to grow more organic agriculture products avoiding the use of harmful chemical pesticides or fertilizer. Farmers on the show ardently said that by using organic fertilizer and pesticides their farming output was not reduced; rather they are getting higher price for their agriculture products. In the show they mentioned that the highest yield of potato and special variety of rice in the world was made in Bihar from organic farming. India is also the highest producer of organic cotton. If these statistics is correct then arguments of using chemical fertilizer and pesticides for more production do not hold. Our agricultural scientists should encourage organic farming to create mass awareness among the farmers. Our economists should tell us how much we can save in terms of health care expenses as many health hazards are caused by chemical fertilizer or pesticides. By that means, the bad practice of using chemical fertilizer and pesticides will be automatically eliminated. May be the organic agriculture products will be a little bit expensive but we will be able to keep ourselves healthy and build a healthy nation in the days ahead.
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