Water resources, agriculture ministries sign MoU to clean

The Union Water Resources Ministry today signed an MoU with the Agriculture Ministry, to encourage farmers of over 5,000 villages along the Ganga to take up organic farming, which will help curb pollution caused by chemical fertiliser-laden runoff in the river.
Union Water Resources Minister Uma Bharti and Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh attended the MoU signing event.
As per the MoU, the Agriculture Ministry will develop organic farming in over 5,000 villages along the Ganga with each Gram Panchayat representing a cluster under Paramaparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana.
It also will provide training on Integrated Nutrient Management and micro-irrigation techniques. The government aims to promote organic farming through various means like awareness programmes, self-help groups, providing information through mobile apps.

"Signing of this MoU will ensure effective and efficient implementation of various projects of Namami Gange in coordination with the Agriculture Ministry," Bharti said at the event.
Informing that Namami Gange is a "multi-disciplinary" programme, she said its success depends largely on the participation of other ministries, state governments and local communities.

"I hope the Agriculture Ministry will play a major role in the success of Namami Gange programme," Bharti said. On his part, Singh assured help for successful implementation of the programme.
Meanwhile, the agriculture minister said to train farmers in organic farming, the government plans to launch Deen Dayal Unnat Krishi Shiksha Abhiyan on September 25, marking the birth centenary of BJP ideologue Deen Dayal Upadhyaya.

"We want to train 15,000 farmers in organic farming this year across the country through Indian Council of Agricultural Research...There should be drop in input costs, while the income of farmers goes up," he added.
As per the MoU, the government will also encourage livelihood opportunities and natural farming, based on animal husbandry. It will remain in effect for three years and thereafter can be extended on mutual agreement between the two parties, the release added.
The achievement and progress of the implementation of this MoU will be monitored by a steering committee consisting of the nodal officers from each ministry. The committee will meet once in three months or whenever necessary.

Minister of State for Water Resources Sanjeev Balyan, secretary to the ministry Shashi Shekhar and its special secretary Amarjit Singh also attended the programme.