Palekar warns of food crisis

Advocates change in agri policy, calls for natural farming

Vijayawada: Noted agriculturist and father of the zero budget farming Subhash Palekar here on Thursday cautioned the government of a food crisis if it failed to change the agriculture policy. Addressing farmers of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, he warned them against going for organic farming and said it was a conspiracy of the Western countries to cause agriculture and economic crisis in the country.

Subhash said organic farming was as dangerous as chemical farming and advised farmers to go for natural farming. Thousands of ryots in the country have proved natural farming was affective, healthy and profitable. He came down heavily on agriculture universities and scientists for failing to help farmers. Academicians and research institutions failed to address farmers’ problems leading to their increasing suicides. The suicides were caused by debts, he said, adding ryots were being pushed into debts due to increasing input cost and decreasing yield. Researchers and agriculture universities were not able to address this problem.

Palekar criticised successive governments for claiming self-reliance in foodgrains production after the Green Revolution. The country was importing wheat, oilseeds, pulses and wondered how it can claim self-reliance and success. He discounted use of chemicals, fertilisers and pesticides, which were destroying rich soil minerals and producing unhealthy foodgrains, causing health problems.

Palekar expressed concern over the increasing migration of rural people, thus converting rich farm lands into concrete jungles. He said urbanisation, industrialisation and expansion of highways was destroying farm activity, leading to a food crisis. Expressing concern over increasing influence of the West, he foresaw a clash between the Indian and the Western cultures. “We Indians believe in re-birth and protect the rich environment and pray to Mother Earth. We save environment and soil nutrients.

‘But the influence of Western culture, which does not believe in re-birth and advocates enjoying everything in life, is posing a threat to the environment,” Palekar warned. He wanted people to promote Indian philosophy and natural farming for a better nation and wealthy and healthy future generations. Cattle-Based Farming Association leaders Jalagam Kumara Swamy, former Krishna Zilla Parishad chairman Kadiyala Raghava Rao and others spoke.