Centre to promote yogic farming: Minister

Union Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh on Friday said the Centre will promote yogic farming to help increase the country's farm production.

He said the National Democratic Alliance government aimed to achieve higher agricultural yield and double the farmers' income by 2022 and yogic farming can play a major role.

"We will support the idea of yogic farming under the Prampragat Krishi Vikas Yojana, under which organic farming too is encouraged," Singh said at an event here on organic farming.

Minister of State for Agriculture Sudarshan Bhagat was also present at the event, organised in association with Brahma Kumaris.

Singh said traditional agri-practices, including organic farming, were being promoted since excessive use of chemicals and fertilisers had harmed soil quality.

Professor Sunita Pande of Agronomy Department at the Govind Ballabh Pant University of Agriculture and Technology said that ongoing research on wheat under yogic farming practices had indicated positive results.

The Brahma Kumaris Environment Initiative said one thousand farmers throughout India were combining organic farming with meditation, which is showing remarkable results.

It said that early data collected through a field study in Gujarat suggested an improved seed quality and increase in crop yield.

It added that sustainable yogic agriculture had led to lower costs for farmers and reduced pressure on environment. Other benefits included improvements in farmers' emotional well-being and enhanced community resilience.

--IANS

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