Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Friday said excessive use of fertiliser has led to the need for a ‘Cancer Train’ there.
Speaking at the regional consultation programme on science of natural farming, the CM said, “While the Green Revolution did boost agricultural production, this is only part of the story. Excessive use of fertilizer is acting as a slow poison, affecting our health. This problem is not limited to humans, animals and birds are also suffering from these side effects.”
Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan was also present. Gujarat Governor Acharya Devvrat was the chief guest.
During his address, Yogi highlighted that numerous regions in the country achieved high agricultural production through natural methods even before the Green Revolution.
He emphasized the need to preserve the natural form of agricultural products from seed to market.
The CM said that an agricultural university would soon be dedicated to natural farming in UP.
He highlighted that while the Green Revolution has significantly boosted food grain production, it only tells part of the story. “We must also consider the production rates from natural farming in India during the 17th and 18th centuries, when the earth was in its natural state and food production was still high,” he said.
The CM pointed out the stark contrast between modern farming practices of the last 100-150 years and the agricultural science of earlier times. “We need to revisit historical methods. Although fertilizers temporarily increased production after the Green Revolution, today they are acting as a slow poison affecting our health,” he said.
Yogi said that the harmful effects of fertilizers extend beyond humans, impacting animals and birds as well. He shared an incident where 12 to 14 cows suddenly died at a destitute cow shelter in Amroha.
He said, “Investigations revealed that fertilizers were extensively mixed into their fodder, leading to their deaths. If cows cannot tolerate excessive fertilizers, consider the impact on humans.”
The CM highlighted that many requests for assistance from the CM Relief Fund are related to cancer treatment. “A few years ago, such cases were less common. Today, in nearly every village, there are individuals suffering from kidney problems, heart issues, and cancer. This is due to changes in our food habits, which have led to new diseases. To address this, PM Modi has introduced a new approach of natural farming,” he said.
Emphasizing the need to maintain the natural form of agricultural products from seed to market, Yogi said, “There is significant potential for this in UP. We have 12 percent of the country’s land, 17 percent of the country’s population, and produce 20 percent of the nation’s food grains. With ample water resources, we must focus on enhancing quality to improve our happiness index.”
Highlighting the progress made by the UP government, he said, “We currently have four agricultural universities, with a fifth one in development. Additionally, there are 89 Krishi Vigyan Kendras and two Central Agricultural Universities.”
He highlighted that UP has nine climatic zones, and the development of Krishi Vigyan Kendras as Centers of Excellence in each zone is advancing. This initiative will promote the adoption of natural farming methods.
The CM said, “The Krishi Vigyan Kendras in UP have transformed significantly. Before 2017, these centers were overgrown with forests. Today, they are actively contributing to the support of farmers, livestock keepers, and agriculture. Natural farming is being practiced on 1 lakh acres in UP, with particularly promising results in Bundelkhand.”
On this occasion, State Government Agriculture Minister Surya Pratap Shahi, Minister of State for Agriculture Baldev Singh Aulakh, Ladakh’s Executive Councillor (Agriculture) Stanzin Chosphel, Uttar Pradesh Chief Secretary Manoj Kumar Singh, Agriculture Production Commissioner Dr. Devesh Chaturvedi, Central Government Joint Secretary for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Dr. Yogita, Vice Chancellors of various Agriculture Universities, experts and progressive farmers were present.
