Union Minister for Chemicals and Fertilisers Ananth Kumar has said that 'Bhumi Bachao-Kisan Bachao Abhiyan' will be launched to create awareness about the consequences of excessive use of chemical fertilizers in the country, on World Soil Day on December 5.
Union Minister Kumar informed this at a meeting on Friday. Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said that the Abhiyan would be implemented in all villages of the State. The meeting was informed about the pending projects pertaining to the Chemicals and Fertilizers Ministry.
Kumar said that soil is getting polluted due to excessive use of chemical fertilizers in the country. This Abhiyan would be conducted to save the farmers as well as the soil. Under it, farmers will be motivated to use neem-coated urea. He directed to accelerate the pace of works to establish fertilizer plants and gas pipeline at Jabalpur, vocational training centre at Bhopal, Plastic Park at Raisen and Gwalior. He said that efforts would be made to establish a National Institute of Pharmaceutical Research at Bhopal.
Chief Minister Chouhan said that the farmers will be made aware of holding programmes in villages under 'Bhumi Bachao-Kisan Bachao Abhiyan'.
land measuring 500 acres has been identified for a fertilizer plant at Jabalpur and 10 acres in Bhopal for a vocational training centre.
Chief Secretary Anthony DeSa, Agriculture Production Commissioner PC Meena, Union Joint Secretary Fertilizers Sushil lohani, Union Joint Secretary Chemicals Avinash, State's Principal Secretary Agriculture Rajesh Rajora and Secretary to CM Vivek Agrawal attended the meeting.