Lucknow, December 28: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has said that adopting cow-based natural farming can help farmers significantly enhance their incomes, saving them Rs 10,000 to Rs 12,000 per acre.
In a recent event, CM Yogi emphasized the benefits of cow-based natural farming. He noted that if a majority of the state’s farmers adopt natural farming, the cumulative savings would be enormous.
CM Yogi also highlighted that cow-based farming goes beyond spiritual and cultural values. It offers multiple advantages, such as reduced agricultural costs, conservation and promotion of cattle, and long-term improvements in soil, water, and human health, which he described as an added ‘bonus.’
Farming primarily relies on seeds and fertilizers, which are major expenses. Uttar Pradesh produces only about half of the seeds it requires, sourcing the rest from other states, especially from southern India, at a significant cost to the government.
Regarding fertilizers, India spends a large amount of foreign currency on imports. According to central government data, about 15-20% of the most in-demand urea is still supplied through imports. For phosphatic fertilizers and potash, India remains heavily dependent on foreign imports.
Being an agriculture-based country, India’s demand often leads exporting nations to increase prices. Data shows that in the 2023-2024 period, India imported urea worth Rs 2,127 crore, excluding other fertilizers.
Adopting cow-based natural farming could be a key and effective way to save valuable foreign currency for both the state and the nation. Given its agricultural traditions, Uttar Pradesh holds immense potential for this practice.
According to Shyam Bihari Gupta, Chairman of the Cow Service Commission, the state has 2.78 crore farmers and around 2 crore cattle. He suggests that if every farmer keeps just one cow, several issues could be resolved naturally.
Experts in natural farming highlight that the dung and urine from one cow, when processed, can support farming over an area of approximately four acres.
The Yogi government aims to make every cow shelter self-sufficient. To achieve this, the government is developing these shelters as training centers for cow-based natural farming and other products.
The government also plans to establish universities dedicated to natural farming in the state to combine traditional knowledge with modern techniques.
To encourage more farmers to adopt natural farming, the government is providing financial support to selected farmers for three years. The financial assistance is Rs 4,800 in the first year, Rs 4,000 in the second year, and Rs 3,600 in the third year.
Additional grants are provided for cattle sheds and biogas plants. Separate outlets for these producers have been created at the divisional headquarters, and the government is also emphasizing product certification.
Organic products are beneficial for health, and after the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been increased awareness about health. Various research institutions predict that people are now prioritizing regional flavors and products when choosing food.
This creates significant opportunities for local organic products at the local level, as well as potential for exports. As a result, the prices for these products are also expected to improve.
