Haryana government has drawn up a new scheme to promote organic farming by adopting good agricultural practices and minimising the use of pesticides in the state and it has earmarked R1 crore for its implementation during 2011-12.
While stating this a spokesman of horticulture department said that 10,000 hectares of area would be focused for adoption of organic farming. He said that the state government had taken a serious view of the higher level of pesticide residue in fruits and vegetables, which is 200 times more than the prescribed limit. Farmers were using pesticides in unorganised manner to increase the production level by containing insects, pest, and diseases.
The scheme aimed at making the farmers, vendors, pesticides firms and dealers aware of the safe use of pesticides and promoting good agricultural practices and organic way of farming, said the spokesman, adding that it also aimed at promoting organic farming in the state and implementing organic component of various schemes, besides conducting seminars, workshops, training or awareness campaigns regarding ill effects of the pesticides. It also aimed at monitoring maximum residual limit of various pesticides being used by the farmers.
He also said that the scheme would benefit the farmers to a great extent, as by promoting organic way of farming, chemical free products would be available and these would be more acceptable in both domestic and foreign markets resulting in more income to the farmers of the state. He said that an extensive awareness programme would be conducted along with promotion of organic farming and certification to achieve the objectives. During 2011-12, seven seminars, workshops and 21 training programmes would be conducted throughout the state. As many as 400 samples would also be taken from the fields and markets to contain the residual limit in fruits and vegetables.