Kota, June 29 (AHN) A farmers' workshop on natural farming was organised in Kota on Monday under the guidance of Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla. Around 1,000 farmers participated in the workshop, gaining insights into modern techniques for increasing income through natural farming, low-cost and high-quality cultivation, improved productivity, agricultural marketing, animal husbandry and horticulture.

On the occasion, a book on natural farming was released, and progressive farmers who had made outstanding contributions to the agricultural sector were felicitated.

Addressing the workshop, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla began by saluting the farming community and raising the slogan, "Bharat Mata Ki Jai."

He said, "Farmers within the country and soldiers guarding our borders are the lifeblood of the nation."

He reaffirmed his commitment to improving the standard of living of farmers in the Hadoti region and making agriculture a profitable enterprise.

He emphasised that natural farming is an integral part of India's ancient agricultural heritage and stressed that reducing the excessive use of chemical fertilisers is essential for preserving soil fertility, protecting human health, conserving biodiversity and maintaining ecological balance.

The Lok Sabha Speaker said that Hadoti's favourable climate, fertile soil and abundant water resources make it one of the country's most suitable regions for natural farming.

He encouraged farmers to move beyond traditional cultivation by adopting multi-cropping, horticulture, fruit cultivation, beekeeping and animal husbandry to diversify their income and transform farming into a sustainable business enterprise.

Highlighting Prime Minister Modi's farmer-centric vision, Birla said the Prime Minister had developed an exemplary irrigation model in Gujarat and expedited the completion of nearly 99 long-pending irrigation projects across the country to ensure water reached farmers' fields.

He expressed confidence that key irrigation projects, including the ERCP and Parvan projects, would also be completed soon, providing long-term benefits to farmers across the region.

Birla said the Hadoti region has immense potential for animal husbandry, which complements natural farming practices.

He announced that efforts would be made to establish cold-storage facilities at the tehsil and panchayat levels to preserve green fodder for livestock.

He further stated that coordination with Mother Dairy and Saras Dairy would be established to facilitate the procurement of milk, fruits and vegetables from farmers and livestock owners at remunerative prices, enabling them to secure better returns and ensuring a steady increase in their income.

The Lok Sabha Speaker said that modern marketing linkages are being developed to enable farmers in Hadoti to access real-time price information from major markets such as Delhi and Mumbai and sell their produce at competitive rates.

He assured farmers that the government is committed to ensuring fair prices for agricultural produce so that no farmer incurs financial losses.

He noted that Hadoti's climate is highly conducive to cultivating a wide variety of fruit crops, including mango, lemon, jamun and papaya.

He encouraged farmers to develop orchards, use quality seeds and adopt diversified farming systems integrating crops, fruit trees, forestry and animal husbandry.

He added that efforts would also be made to establish food-processing units to generate additional income opportunities and promote economic self-reliance among farmers and women.

Birla said the government is committed to ensuring that every eligible farmer receives the benefits of all welfare schemes.

Farmers, he added, should not have to make repeated visits to government offices. Instead, the administration and concerned departments would proactively reach out to them to facilitate access to these schemes.

Ladpura MLA Kalpana Devi said that if farmers implement the knowledge shared during the workshop, it would usher in a new era of agricultural transformation.

She highlighted that Prime Minister Modi has launched numerous initiatives to empower farmers, women, youth and workers and make them self-reliant.

Emphasising the vital contribution of women in agriculture, she referred to flagship initiatives such as Drone Didi and Lakhpati Didi.

She also reaffirmed the government's commitment to ensuring irrigation water reaches every farmer's field while continuously promoting natural farming across the region.

Agricultural experts provided detailed guidance on natural farming techniques, including the preparation of Jeevamrit, Ghan Jeevamrit and Beejamrit, natural methods of pest and disease management, and cost-effective strategies for producing high-quality crops.

They also responded to farmers' queries during interactive sessions.

Farmers practising natural farming shared their experiences and highlighted the economic and environmental benefits of adopting these methods.

Under the National Mission on Natural Farming, 35 clusters have been developed across Kota district to promote such practices, with continuous efforts underway to expand the initiative and encourage greater farmer participation.