MP Governor cautions against complacency in agri sector

Dharwad, Karnataka, Apr 25 (UNI) Madhya Pradesh Governor Balram Jakhar today cautioned against complacency in agriculture sector and called for balanced use of fertilisers to increase production. Delivering the convocation address at the University of Agricultural Sciences (UAS) here, he said fertility of agricultural soil was decreasing due to continuous cultivation of certain crops without addition of organic nutrients. The farmers use imbalanced chemical fertilisers and with a wrong impression that yield would increase they increase the dosage.

''It is often argued that production achieved using chemical fertilisers cause health hazards and therefore there should be minimum use of inorganic fertilisers and maximum use of organic fertilizers. But in a country where the population is increasing in a higher ratio than the increase in agricultural production, inorganic fertilizers cannot be discarded,'' he said.

Dr Jakhar said the problem was how to maintain a balance between organic and inorganic fertilizers. The need of the hour was to evolve an integrated nutrient management system. There was a problem of deep soil erosion because of floods and increased destruction of forests.

''I feel strongly that sooner we develop group farming, it will be better for the interests of farmers and the nation. To begin with, the system of joint services should be evolved, since it is not advantageous for farmers to work in isolation,'' he suggested.

Referring to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh setting a target of 420 million tonnes of production in agriculture by 2015, Dr Jakhar said that though the target was laudable, the task was not that easy. This might require serious thinking relating to several aspects.

He said concrete efforts should be made at all levels to increase the availability of water to agricultural sector at cheaper rate. A package of measures was needed. Besides rain water should be conserved in ponds and tanks through people's participation and governmental support, he added.

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