Policy makers needs to be educated on Organic Farming: Sompal

Bangalore, Nov 10 (UNI) Planning Commission Member and former Union Minister Sompal said there was need to educate the policy makers about the need for popularising organic farming in the country for protecting farmers, health and environment.

Delivering a key note address at the inauguration of a four-day India Organic 2006 here yesterday, he said that nutritionists, policy makers and scientists had to be educated about the benefits of organic farming.

''Though the Green Revolution enabled India to achieve self sufficiency in food grain production, the utilisation of chemical fertilisers and pesticides had led to degradation of agriculture land, caused severe health hazards and above all caused harm to the environment.

Mr Sompal said, ''There is no truth in saying that switching to organic farming would reduce yield. If our old type of using organic manures and modern technology of cultivation were integrated, the yield per acre would increase. We can certainly bring to an end chemical farming by gradually reducing the use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides.'' Stating that the country's food grain production which, was 51 million tonnes in 1956 has touched 210 million tonnes now, he said, ''we have achieved success but the ill effects has deteriorated living conditions of the farmers. The present high cost of cultivation was one of the main reasons for increasing cases suicides by farmers, who are unable to clear the debts.'' Union Minister of State for Planning M V Rajashekharan, in his inaugural address, said that there should be continuous effort to improve agriculture production, but at the same time it is also necessary to maintain soil health, overcome ill effects caused due to use of chemical fertilisers.

He said organic farming, which was gaining popularity globally, had great potential for export particularly to European Countries and Japan.

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