The Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO), a United Nations agency, is working with farmers in India to promote natural and sustainable agriculture, Anne Sophie Poisot, adviser, FAO, said here on Monday.
“Soils have a life and more than 25% of bio-diversity is under ground. We are working with agencies in India to promote natural farming and Zero-Based Natural Farming has been an effective alternative,’’ she told The Hindu on the sidelines of a training programme on the ZBNF which concluded here on Monday.
Stating that the soils had been overlooked for the many years and instead, farmers had been using chemical fertilizers which all but devoured the soil of its rich micro-nutrients, she said soils should be preserved by using natural produce available.
“The U.N. has declared 2015 as the year of soils. The ZBNF which its focus on low-cost home-made nutrients has made farming more viable. The Green Revolution has increased productivity but we have also seen the after effects, with farmers tending to use more pesticide to maximise productivity. My visits to natural farms across the State have convinced us that natural farming is a better option,’’ she said.
The FAO, with its headquarters in New Delhi, has been working with India in improving the documentation of results of investment and yields, strengthening the capacity of farmers and resource institutionalising to reduce hunger, malnutrition and rural poverty and inclusive value chain.
“It’s time the Indian farmer adapts more biology than chemistry and the countries all over the world are now changing the approach towards more natural farming.”
The FAO also recommended India to follow registration system to rein in pesticide companies charged with dumping harmful chemicals.
