Three day Zero Budget workshop on Natural Farming from 3rd March, 2011
Amritsar, March 1, 2011: Undertaking the responsibility to restore organic farming and sustainable agriculture.
All-India Pingalwara Charitable Society will hold a three-day zero budget workshops on Natural Farming from 3rd March, 2011 in honor of Sri Guru Har Rai Sahib ji on the occasion of Sikh Environment Day. The President of All India Pingalwara Charitable Society Bibi Inderjit Kaur said that their organization is enjoying the production of organic farming from the last four years.
She added that Mr. Subash Palekar of Kheti Virasat Mission would teach farmers of the region, the techniques to cultivate their lands without using chemicals and pesticides requiring minimum investment. The Vice Chancellor of Punjab Agricultural University Dr. M.S. Kang will also deliver a lecture in the workshop. The workshop will be held at Bhagat Puran Singh Natural Farming Research Centre at village Dhirekot near Jandialla, in Amritsar district.
She said that the founder of All India Pingalwara Charitable Society Bhagat Puran Singh pledged for environment and this is just a continuation of his project. She focused that the land of five rivers is facing water crisis. Organic farming can improve water level and help in reduction of water pollution. The farmers will be acknowledged about producing their own seeds for the next crop and be independent by adopting natural farming.
In the beginning of 20th century India struggled with food shortages and famine. While in 21st century India wrestled with issues concerning environment. The major food provider for India was Punjab. And the grain basket of Punjab was the Malwa region.
At present the Malwa belt is facing a grim fate due to its detrimental environmental practices and lifestyle habits. The rural areas of Punjab are increasingly coming into focus for the spurt in cancer mortality and other diseases related to kidneys and mental and physical disabilities.
The various studies show the correlation between Cancer mortality and chemical farming. There is a medium level correlation between cropping pattern and cancer mortality. Areas under cotton crop indicate a positive correlation with cancer mortality, while areas under paddy/ rice reveal a negative correlation with cancer mortality. There is a significant correlation between pesticide residues in soil and water with cancer mortality.
The numbers of farmer suicides have considerably increased. In the last one year, death toll has increased to 100,000 in Maharashtra. The vital reason is the attitude of high yield orientation, which has lead to high-priced farming due to expensive fertilizers and pesticides.
Dr. Rajwant Singh, convener of Washington based EcoSikh, congratulated Dr. Inderjit Kaur and Pingalwara institution and said, "this kind of intiative is needed in Punjab to stop the continuing damage with various chemical and pesticide based agricultural practices. We are also heartened to see that this is being dedicated to Guru Har Rai ji, who inspired Sikhs to care for nature and mother earth."