Faridkot (Punjab): The Union Budget neglecting the organic farmers in Punjab and allocating Rs 100 crore for its development in the North Eastern states has left many organic farmers in the state despondent.
To save fast-depleting table of ground water and avoid excessive use of pesticides and chemicals in agriculture in Punjab, the organic farmers in the state were expecting subsidy on the pattern of chemical based agriculture to give a boost to organic farming in Punjab. But the Budget has no such provision, said Umindera Dutt, executive director, Kheti Virasat Mission (KVM), an organisation dedicated to organic and chemical-free agriculture network in the state.
The worst impact of intensive chemical-based agriculture was visible in north India on environment, health and ecology and there was an urgent need to promote sustainable agriculture. But like the previous Congress-led UPA government, the BJP had also failed to deliver even if the party promised it in its manifesto, said Umendra Dutt.
"We expect the BJP government to announce subsidy for organic farming. Every year the Central Government spends crores of rupees on chemical fertilizer subsidies but there is not even single penny of subsidy, incentive or bonus to the farmers who have shifted to ecologically sustainable natural farming," said OP Rupela, an agriculture scientist and a former member of UN Food and Agriculture Organisation.