Punjab to set up Organic Farming Board

Chandigarh: Punjab government on Monday said it will set up an Organic Farming Board for promoting chemical-free farming in the state.

Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal make the announcement here on Monday at valedictory function of the fifth National Organic Farming Convention at the National Institute of Technical Teachers' Training and Research (NITTTR).

The Chief Minister said the promotion of organic farming in the state was need of the hour and the state government was committed to motivate farmers for it.

"But at the same time, it is obligatory on the part of national as well as regional organisations working for this cause to demonstrate the concept of organic farming in the farms at village level so as to woo the farmers," he said.

Badal pointed out that the Punjabi farmers are quiet resilient and they never hesitate to follow new practices of farming provided they are assured of profitability, marketability and sustainability of their produce.

"Here comes the crucial role of activists, scientists and progressive farmers committed to the cause of Organic farming to help our farmers shift from inorganic to organic farming," he added.

The Chief Minister told the gathering that the state government was taking initiatives to popularise organic farming through its nodal agency Punjab Agro and till date nearly 1,000 farmers had been registered as certified organic farmers who were using this technique in over 550 acres of field across the State.

He reiterated his commitment to promote organic farming in a big way for which Punjab Agro would register 1,000 farmers every year making it a mass movement for containing the ill effects of pesticides, insecticides and chemicals fertilisers.

Badal also announced to allot Panchayati land for setting up organic farms in every block, motivating the farmers to take up the farming.

He also announced to allocate shops in the cities and towns for selling fruits and vegetables produced through organic farming besides selling milk and milk products of the local breeds of cows or buffaloes.