Govt should bring policy to reduce fertiliser use: Farmer leaders

Bhubaneswar: Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s appeal to farmers to reduce chemical fertiliser usage by 50% evoked mixed reactions from Odisha. While deputy chief minister and agriculture minister KV Singh Deo welcomed this suggestion of PM, farmer leaders said govt should bring a policy to strategically reduce the chemical fertiliser use in the country, including Odisha.Akshaya Kumar, national convenor of Navnirman Krushak Sangathan, said they appreciate that the Prime Minister has spoken about reduction of chemical fertilisers in agriculture, but the Centre should frame policy and incentivise farmers to start natural farming.“The farmers who have been using chemical fertilisers for different crops during the last several decades cannot change their habits overnight. Their lands will take time to get ready for natural farming. The expectation of high yield drives the farmers to use chemical fertilisers. To bring them back to their roots will take proper planning, training and incentives. PM’s one appeal will not change anything,” said Kumar.Bijay Palai, a farmer from Ganjam, said their land is habituated to chemical fertilisers. “Without this, we cannot grow paddy or other crops easily. Adopting natural farming will not be a cakewalk and yield will be substantially reduced. Who will compensate for our loss,” he added.Another farmer, Gopi Sahu from Khurda, said natural farming will be good for everybody. “Chemical fertiliser and pesticides are not good for soil, farmers and consumers. But govt should help us to go back to natural farming,” he added.Ashok Pradhan, a farmer leader from western Odisha, said they have been suggesting govt for natural farming and restriction on use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides on crops. “But govt did not think about it. After several years, the Prime Minister after realising the uncertainty in the world over fertiliser supply is now suggesting natural farming,” he added.He said the new clarion call to reduce chemical fertiliser is like reverse-green revolution. “Govt has been promoting chemical fertilisers since the inception of green revolution in the country. Now PM is talking about reduction of use of chemical fertiliser. I am sceptical whether farmers will receive it,” he added.Deputy chief minister Singh Deo said he has been advising farmers to go for natural farming so that they can reduce their input cost in agriculture and provide healthy food to their customers. “I endorse PM’s appeal to farmers to cut chemical fertiliser use,” he added.