India aims to tackle malnutrition

 

Rajasthan government plans organic farming, aims to tackle malnutrition

The ambitious plan, starting this year, will bring 50 hectares of agricultural land in each block of the state under organic pulses farming.

The state government has decided to tackle malnutrition with the help of vegetarian sources of protein using good old traditional organic farming.

The government plans to divert several thousand hectares of land for farming of organic varieties of pulses in order to tackle the twin issues of protein malnutrition and unsustainable chemical fertilizer-based farming.

“Prime Minister Narendra Modi has repeatedly emphasized promoting traditional and organic farming. The issue found mention in the Union as well as the state budget,” agriculture minister Prabhu Lal Saini told The Indian Express.

“The whole world is realizing the importance of sustainable agriculture that is in tune with nature. It is time we put in place mechanisms and infrastructure for promoting sustainable organic agriculture,” Saini said.

The ambitious plan, starting this year, will bring 50 hectares of agricultural land in each block of the state under organic pulses farming. The government will provide a subsidy of Rs 20,000 per hectare to promote organic farming. The produce will be certified organic and in five years, all agricultural markets (krishi mandis) would be required to sell at least one organic product.

Read the full article: Indian Express