Khattar inaugurates 5th National Organic Farming Convention in Chandigarh

Chandigarh, February 28, 2015: Haryana Chief Minister Mr.Manohar Lal Khattar today announced that 10 per cent of the state’s cultivable land will be brought under organic farming as a first step towards making agriculture in Haryana sustainable and the state government will allocate required funds for that in the upcoming budget. This major policy announcement step was made at the inauguration of the fifth National Organic Farming Convention here. The Chief Minister also said the state government will constitute an organic farming advisory committee comprising farmers and experts from across the country and the government will push organic produce under the ‘Haryana Fresh’ brand.

The convention which is the biggest ever congregation of Organic farmers, scientists, policy makers, consumers and activists got off to a colourful start in Chandigarh, the City Beautiful today.

“The Green Revolution brought in a new era in agriculture in the region and boosted productivity, but we must not remain blind to the disastrous effects it has had on soil and human health,” said the CM. The state’s agriculture minister Mr.O P Dhankar echoed Mr.Khattar’s views, saying the green revolution had brought in its wake the ‘epidemic of cancer’.

“We must merely put an end to all the practices we inculcated during the green revolution to get back to organic farming,” Mr.Dhankar told close to more than 2500 delegates who had assembled at the National Institute of Technical Teachers’ Training (NITTTR), also the conference venue.

The organisers — Organic Farming Association of India (OFAI), National Institute of Technical Teachers’ Training (NITTTR), Alliance for Sustainable & Holistic Agriculture (ASHA) and Kheti Virasat Mission (KVM) — had expected around 1,000 registrations for the convention, but enrolments outstripped initial estimates by a large margin, and those attending the ‘largest gathering of the organic farming community’ includes scientists, policy makers, consumers and activists, apart from 2000 farmers.

“Everyone knows that there is a strong lobby influencing government policy on agriculture. The market has become stronger than the government and we need to do something to protect farmers’ interests,” he said, noting that organic farming was the way to go to achieve this. “It is a tragedy that those in the business of manufacturing agricultural inputs are laughing their way to the bank while those actually growing the food continue to languish,” he rued.

Mr.Sarvadaman Patel, leading organic farmer from Gujarat and President of OFAI, said it is time organic farming was mainstreamed in India.“Both science and experience is showing that it is the best way forward to sustain farming and farmers in our country while producing enough food, fibre and fodder for all. This convention will show the world the best knowledge and capabilities that India has on this front. Organic farming is the need of the hour and this is more so in the case of Northern states,” he said.

Speaking at the occasion, Mr.Umendra Dutt, Executive Director , KVM, highlighted the critical situation of farming and farmers in Punjab and Haryana, which are considered as the cradle of Green Revolution. “Despite the tragic experience with an intensive model of agriculture, Punjab and Haryana have the potential to become beacons in ecological farming. This convention in Chandigarh, the common capital of both states, aims to contribute significantly towards this process,” said Mr.Dutt. He further stated that “Organic farming is not an alternative but the only path through which food, farming and freedom can be sustained in our country”.

Dr K K Talwar, chairperson NITTTR hoped the convention would be a turning point in our food and farming systems. “Important sessions, including specially organised studio discussions, will be streamed live to twenty other centres across the country to ensure this convention reaches out to far more people,” he said.

“There is an overwhelming demand for organic farming and food from the farmers and consumers of our country. The huge participation at this convention is a pointer to that. This convention seeks to combine celebration around organic lifestyles with that of mutual learning and sharing amongst farmers, policy-makers and scientists,” said Mrs Dilnavaz Variava, steering committee member of ASHA, while delivering the welcome address at the inaugural session.

Apart from the scientific and technical sessions that will take place in NITTTR, the convention will also celebrate organic farming through a Nature Festival, which will include a Kisan Haat or Farmers’ Market, Urban Organic Gardening workshops for Chandigarh citizens, an organic food festival featuring authentic organic cuisine from various regions of India, a Kisan Panchayat to create a space for dialogue between urban consumers and farmers, a biodiversity festival featuring thousands of heirloom seed varieties and cultural programmes including a solo performance by famous singer Rabbi Shergill.

The inaugural session also was addressed by Ms Sabarmatee, an organic farmer and seed conservator from Odisha.Highlighting the role of women in Indian farming and emphasising on the need to promote ecological farming with traditional seeds, she said, “Our country has a rich heritage of farmer-saved and owned seeds, many of which are best suited for local conditions. Instead of falling for the false promises of dangerous technologies like Genetically Modified (GM) crops that will destroy our farming and give away our seed sovereignty into the hands of multinational seed corporations, we should promote heirloom seed varieties.”

“Intensive farming is not only destroying our natural resources which are the capital for sustaining agriculture but also poisoning our food and farmers. We have no time to lose to switch to ecological farming which is ecologically sustainable, economically viable and socially just” said Mr.Kapil Shah, Secretary OFAI.

The inaugural session was also graced by eminent personalities including Padma Bhushan Bibi Inderjeet Kaur of All India Pingalwara Society; Mr.Vijay Dev – IAS, Advisor, Chandigarh Administration; Dr M.P Punia, Director, NITTTR and Mr.Andre Leu of International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM).