Poison-Free Nutritious Food is the next major goal for India after Food Security: HIRD Director Dr. Virender Singh Chauhan  

Kurukshetra, January 4, 2026: Today, the entire world is moving towards poison-free and chemical-free food. Natural farming is not just a farming method, but the foundation of human health and a secure future for future generations. This remark was made by Dr. Virender Singh Chauhan, Director of the Haryana Institute of Rural Development (HIRD). He was addressing farmers and agricultural scientists as the chief guest at a one-day regional seminar on natural farming at Gurukul Kurukshetra, organized by the Regional Organic and Natural Farming Center, Ghaziabad.

The chief guest was welcomed by Dr. Harish Shrivats, Director from the Central Ministry, and Dr. Karam Chand, Deputy Director of Agriculture from the state government.

Chief Guest Dr. Virender Singh Chauhan, said that natural farming not only maintains soil fertility but also provides consumers with pure and nutritious food. He said that after achieving the goal of food security, the next major goal for India is to provide poison-free food grains. Work in this direction is progressing rapidly under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Expressing concern over the increasing incidence of diseases, Dr. Chauhan said, "A major reason for many serious diseases in society today is the indiscriminate use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides. If we want to build a healthy society, we will have to adopt organic and natural farming on a large scale."

He said that natural farming is environmentally friendly, low-cost, based on traditional knowledge, and beneficial for farmers, and should be promoted as a mass movement. He praised the role of Acharya Devvrat, the Governor of Gujarat and Maharashtra, and Gurukul Kurukshetra in promoting natural farming. Dr. Chauhan said that due to the efforts of Acharya Devvrat, a strong campaign is underway across the country to encourage farmers to move away from chemical farming and adopt nature-based farming.

Program coordinator Dr. Shrivats, Regional Director, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, said that natural farming is a powerful means of increasing farmers' income as well as conserving soil, water, and the environment. He said that the central government is providing technical guidance and support to farmers through various schemes to promote natural and organic farming. He urged farmers to reduce their dependence on chemical fertilizers and cultivate in harmony with nature, thereby contributing to sustainable agriculture and a healthier India.

Padma Shri Dr. Hariom, retired Principal Scientist, CCS HAU, Hisar, said in his address that natural farming is scientifically proven, sustainable, and a necessity for the future. He explained that research has shown that natural farming improves soil organic quality, conserves water, and maintains crop productivity in the long run. He advised farmers to adopt organic and natural farming methods scientifically, adding that continuous research and technical support are being provided in this direction at the university level.

The program was attended by Kishore Shedj (Assistant Director, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare), Vivek Chandra Pandey, Vishal Sharma, Dr. Baljeet Saharan, Ram Niwas, Dr. Neelam Chhikara, Dr. Karam Chand, Dr. Sanjay Jakhar, Dr. Jitendra Khaira, along with a large number of farmers, agricultural experts, and other dignitaries.

All the speakers emphasized the importance of adopting natural farming and spreading its practice to every village. At the end of the program, farmers were urged to shift from chemical farming to natural and organic farming to protect the land, the environment, and human health.