The Uttar Pradesh government aims to establish the state as a hub for natural farming. Under the leadership of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, the government is actively working to promote natural farming by integrating farmers with modern technology and resources, ultimately aiming to enhance their income.
Cattle, especially stray ones, will play a vital role in the foundation of natural farming. The use of cow dung and urine will help farmers reduce their dependency on chemical fertilizers and pesticides. This will lower cultivation costs and fetch better prices for the produce. Additionally, the quality of soil, water, and the environment will significantly improve.
Post the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a global rise in awareness about health, leading to an increased demand for natural agricultural products. This growing demand is expected to bring better prices for farmers and support the state's agricultural exports.
The state's exports have doubled over the past seven years. While the exports in 2017-18 stood at ₹88,000 crore, they reached ₹1.7 lakh crore in 2023-24. The rise in agricultural exports will enhance farmers' income and strengthen the state's economy.
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has prioritized cattle protection since his first tenure. Stray cattle shelters have been set up, and financial aid is provided for their upkeep. The recently announced supplementary budget allocates ₹1,001 crore for cattle conservation.
The government also aims to make these cattle shelters self-reliant. This includes promoting the economic utilization of cow dung and urine for bio-fertilizer and biogas production. Under the Mini Nandini Scheme, cattle farmers receive subsidies for setting up cattle sheds, animal enclosures, and biogas plants.
Expanding Natural Farming in Ganga Belt: The government has focused on promoting natural farming in Ganga belt regions and Bundelkhand. Under the Namami Gange Scheme, approximately 3,300 clusters in Ganga-adjacent areas have adopted natural farming across 6,500 hectares. Overall, more than 18,000 farmers are cultivating on 10,000 hectares using natural farming techniques.
The fertile plains of the Ganges have immense potential for organic farming. The Organic Farming Association of India had previously recommended reserving these areas for organic agriculture due to the natural soil renewal brought by annual floods. The Yogi government has actively expanded organic farming along the Ganga during its second tenure.
Greening the Ganga Region through Afforestation: To complement natural farming, the government has undertaken large-scale afforestation drives in the Ganga region. In the first six months of its second tenure, the Yogi government set a target to plant trees across 6,759 hectares along the Ganga. Over 503 locations along the river were selected for this initiative, which has now expanded further.
Natural Farming: Beneficial for Farmers and the Environment: Natural farming will not only increase farmers' income but also contribute significantly to environmental conservation and sustainable development. The quality of agricultural products will improve, leading to higher demand in international markets. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s initiative is paving the way for Uttar Pradesh to become a model state for natural farming.
