Eight Padma Awardee Progressive farmers lead national dialogue on balanced fertilizer use
Eight Padma Awardee Progressive farmers lead national dialogue on balanced fertilizer use
In a unique first-of-its-kind initiative, the Department of Fertilizers organised a high-level brainstorming session today at Shastri Bhawan to strengthen soil health and promote balanced and responsible fertilizer use as a nationwide movement.
The initiative aligns with the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi under the “Save Mother Earth (धरती मां को बचाओ)” call and the leadership of Union Minister for Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers Jagat Prakash Nadda.
The meeting was chaired by Secretary, Department of Fertilizers, Shri Rajat Kumar Mishra, and witnessed participation from Padma award-winning progressive farmers and agricultural experts from across the country.
Welcoming the participants, Mishra said their presence and guidance would provide valuable direction to the Department. He emphasised that ensuring timely and accurate information reaches farmers is crucial to protecting soil health and added that expert recommendations could be implemented as pilot projects to take concrete steps towards balanced fertilizer usage. During his interaction with the awardees, he underlined the deterioration of soil health over time due to imbalanced fertilizer use.
Padma awardee Shri Umashankar Pandey expressed readiness to collaborate with the Department across states and suggested launching a “Poison-Free Farming School” to educate farmers on sustainable practices.
Padma awardee Shri Ram Sharan Verma highlighted crop rotation and diversification and stressed balanced fertilizer use for maintaining soil health. He recommended promoting green manure, rationalising fertilizer bag sizes, and changing the mindset that “more fertilizer means more profit”.
Padma awardee Shri Bharat Bhushan Tyagi underscored crop diversification and density, emphasised scientific crop management, and advocated ensuring compost availability at the village level. He said the message “Crop Residue is the Foundation of Prosperity” must reach every farmer.
Shri Seth Pal Singh pointed out that pressure for excessive fertilizer sales is also a contributing factor that needs attention. The maximum fertilizer requirement for agricultural land must be accurately estimated, and farmers need to be systematically oriented on its balanced use.
Padma awardee Shri Kanwal Singh suggested developing gaushalas as organic manure production units and forming clusters to promote organic farming. He emphasised building a structured chain for health-oriented agriculture and proper orientation of farmers practising natural farming.
Padma Shri awardee Shri Chandrashekhar Singh called for strict quality checks of organic products and transparent consumer information. He recommended village-level awareness campaigns as a pledge-based movement led by FPOs under progressive awardee farmers.
Padma awardee Shri Nek Ram Sharma emphasised identifying model farmers who can lead by example in protecting Mother Earth. He said forest conservation supports agriculture and noted that traditional Navgrah rituals using nine types of grains symbolise crop diversification and should be encouraged.
Shri Shyam Sundar Paliwal advocated natural farming practices to revive soil vitality and suggested establishing natural fertilizer plants at the Gram Panchayat level.
Participants also observed that ensuring local availability of manure and fertilizers at the village level would encourage balanced and responsible usage.
The meeting concluded with consensus that balanced fertilizer use, promotion of organic and natural farming, and sustained farmer awareness campaigns are essential to safeguarding soil health and protecting Mother Earth. The Department assured it would positively consider and take forward the recommendations received during the session.
The meeting was attended by Additional Secretary Aparna S Sharma, Joint Secretary Krishna Kant Pathak, Joint Secretary Anurag Rohatagi, Deputy Secretary Amar Kushwaha, Deputy Director Gori Shankar, and other officials of the Department.
In a unique first-of-its-kind initiative, the Department of Fertilizers organised a high-level brainstorming session today at Shastri Bhawan to strengthen soil health and promote balanced and responsible fertilizer use as a nationwide movement.#BalancedUseOfFertilizers pic.twitter.com/RN74iQdj93