Tatsat Chronicle Magazine

Unabated Use of Chemical Fertilisers To Raise Cancer Cases: Home Minister

Union Home Minister Amit Shah urged farmers to give up chemical fertilisers and do natural farming and called for periodic review of agricultural practices
January 16, 2022
B20_Organic farming
Women working in a rice field near Junagadh, Gujarat, India. Photo Credit- Wiki Commons

Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on Friday that if the use of chemical fertilisers continues to increase, then in the coming 10-15 years, the cases of cancer will increase by 50 percent. He called upon 50 percent of farmers of his Lok Sabha constituency Gandhinagar to give up chemical fertilisers and do natural farming.

India’s agriculture moving towards a dangerous future

While virtually addressing over 1,000 farmers in his constituency, Amit Shah said, “India’s farming is heading towards a dangerous future. Due to the excess use of chemical fertilisers, the soil in the country is slowly becoming barren. Due to the excess use of chemicals, the poison has started reaching underground sources of water. Our grains have already become poisonous, but if water also becomes poisonous in the next 10-15 years, then as per estimates of scientists, the number of people suffering from cancer will increase more than 50 per cent. We have to recognise this danger.”

Gujarat’s 2.5 lakh farmers adopted natural farming

He said that the lack of periodic review of the ongoing agricultural practices since the Green Revolution has led to the present situation. The Home Minister said, “In Gujarat, more than two lakh farmers have adopted natural farming and changed farming practices in 2.5 lakh hectares in just two years. This means that the farmers of Gujarat have recognised the profits.”

Officers should encourage farmers for natural farming

He said that the water level in the state has dropped 1000-1200 feet below and the natural way of farming can reduce water usage by up to 50 percent. “As an MP, I have decided that by 2025 at least 50 percent of the farmers of my constituency will be encouraged to take up natural farming,” he said.

Amit Shah also unveiled a logo for natural farming for Gujarat government and inaugurated a mobile application that will link Farmer-Producer Organisations (FPOs), farmers and customers for natural farming products.