Gujarat Governor Acharya Devvrat Urges Farmers To Adopt Natural Farming, Warns Against Chemical Agriculture

Anand, August 11: Gujarat Governor Acharya Devvrat has urged farmers to abandon chemical farming and adopt natural farming, warning that continued reliance on chemical fertilisers and pesticides could degrade soil and water resources for future generations. During a two-day visit to Anand district, Devvrat visited the natural farm of farmer Naresh Solanki in Anand taluka.

He inspected crops, milked a cow, and ploughed a field before interacting with local farmers and demonstrating the preparation and benefits of Jeevamrut and Ghan Jeevamrut. "Nature and God have themselves created the best system for maintaining the fertility of the soil," Devvrat told the farmers.

Governor Devvrat highlighted concerns over chemical farming, noting that forests did not require chemical fertilisers for plants and trees to thrive. He pointed out that the indiscriminate use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides had destroyed beneficial earthworms and microorganisms in agricultural soil, forcing farmers to add nutrients like nitrogen, potash, and phosphorus from external sources.

"Chemical farming has hardened the soil, whereas natural farming makes the soil fertile and, through natural water harvesting, allows rainwater to seep directly into the soil," he stated.

The Governor warned that if chemical farming persisted, there would be no fertile soil or clean drinking water left for future generations. He emphasized that natural farming could boost agricultural production, as higher organic carbon in the soil could enhance crop yields. Several Gujarat farmers were already employing a five-tier model of natural farming, earning lakhs of rupees annually with minimal labour and input costs, he noted.

Devvrat urged farmers to abandon chemical farming, which polluted the environment, damaged soil and water, and potentially exposed people to serious health issues. He recalled giving up chemical fertilisers and adopting natural farming, after which his land regained its fertility. "Instead of handing over barren land to the coming generation, handing over fertile and healthy land is the true form of repentance," he said.

Earlier, Devvrat spent the night at Charvarg Primary School in Samarkha village, joining students, teachers, young people, and villagers for a yoga and pranayama session. He demonstrated various yoga postures, including Sheetali, Anulom-Vilom, Bhramari, and Bhastrika pranayama, which he claimed could improve mental sharpness, concentration, and calmness. The Governor also performed Surya Namaskar with the children and emphasized the importance of the Gayatri Mantra.