LUCKNOW: The Centre has approved Rs 82.83crore for 35 districts of UP under Bharatiya Prakritik Krishi Paddhati scheme, said chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Monday.
Delivering a speech virtually during a workshop as a part of ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’ organized by the Niti Aayog on ‘Cow-based Natural Farming and Innovative Agriculture’, the CM said the scheme will cover around 38,670 hectare.
Mentioning how Bundelkhand region practises natural farming, the CM said that it is proposed to set up clusters of 500-1,000 hectare in 47 development blocks of the region.
The CM said that the objectives of increasing farmers’ income have to be met along with conservation of natural resources, environment conservation and providing proper nutrition. One way to achieve these goals is through cow-based natural farming.
The CM went on to say that the implementation of cow-based natural farming will help in the protection and promotion of gau-vansh as well and will also help curb stubble burning.
Horticulture and agroforestry have also been included in natural farming within 10 km of river Ganga in selected districts. This will benefit more than 2 lakh farmers, he added.
The CM said that farmers associated with natural farming were honoured with a cash reward of Rs 75,000 each on Kisan Samman Diwas.
The CM also mentioned that organic farming is being promoted during the last three years under the Namami Gange and ‘Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana’ (PKVY) which has covered 75,680 hectare benefiting 1.75 lakh farmers.
“It is suggested that ICAR takes lead by conducting coordinated research at agricultural universities, Krishi Vigyan Kendras and ICAR institutions. This will help in identification of crops and varieties, agro-climatic zone-wise most appropriate for natural farming,” he remarked.
He said that under PKVY, Rs 50,000 per hectare is provided for organic farming, which includes a farmer incentive of Rs 31,000 per hectare for three years. However, Bhartiya Prakritik Krishi Paddhati provides for Rs 21,000 per hectare out of which, the incentive to farmers is only Rs 2,000 per hectare. He suggested the enhancement of incentive at par with the PKVY.
“It is suggested that the scheme may also include a budget for branding and marketing,” he said.
Also, an appropriate budget for conducting soil tests may be incorporated.
The workshop was attended by Union ministers Narendra Singh Tomar and Parshottam Rupala, Gujarat Governor Acharya Devvrat and NITI Aayog vice-chairman Rajiv Kumar, among others.
