Eminent environmentalist and scientist Vandana Shiva while speaking at session over 'Rishi Evam Kutir' on the second day of International Vichar Mahakumbh at Ninaura near Ujjain on Friday said that those who manufactured explosives during World War are now producing chemicals for agriculture.
Credited with Green Revolution Vandana said that earlier, rivers would not go dry. Chemical farming is farming of violence. laying emphases on non-violent farming, Sushri Shiva said that agriculture, income and health should be seen as a single entity. Crop of pulses given 140 kg nitrogen per hectare. About Rs70,000 crore are being spent every year on chemical farming whereas this cost can be reduced ten-fold through Vedic farming. Water can also be conserved through it.
MP Anil Madhav Dave said that policy of zero budget farming should be adopted to set right the economy. He stressed the need for re-emergence of indigenous cows. Through cowdung and cow urine agriculture production can be increased along with preventing soil erosion.
Dave said that it is an irony that consumers set the price of farmers' products whereas other goods' prices are set by producers. He said that pricing should be linked to scientific method. Shri Dave said that all living beings and vegetations on the earth have self-reliance in food.
Co-founder of institution 'Back to Village' IITian Manish Kumar said that farmers are emigrating from villages to cities daily. If given a chance, 60 per cent farmers will relinquish agriculture. All this is happening since they are not getting due respect.
He said that if youths do need-based works they would surely achieve success. Efforts should be made to increase production of crop in its native area. He said that after God, farmers our Annadata. Farmers should be taught right from childhood.
A revolution can be generated by involving able youths in social sector given them some incentive. The spirit that one can lead a decent life even through agriculture should be promoted.
Kumar informed that productivity of paddy these days is only 55 to 60 quintal per hectare whereas some farmers used to take paddy yield of 100 quintals per hectare during year 1955.