Gujarat Governor Acharya Devvrat has issued a stark warning, directly linking the rampant use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides in agriculture to an alarming surge in cancer cases across the state. Speaking at a symposium on natural farming, the Governor predicted an 'explosion of cancer' throughout India if current farming practices continue.
The Alarming Statistics of Cancer in Gujarat
During his address in Wankaner village, Vadodara district, Governor Devvrat, who also serves as the President of the Gujarat State Cancer Society, presented chilling data. He revealed that Gujarat is now recording 790 new cancer patients every single day.
He provided a stark comparison of the growing crisis, stating, "In 2020, there were 70,000 cancer patients in Gujarat, which has now increased to 1.5 lakhs with new patients being added every year." This signifies that the number of cancer patients has doubled within a mere five-year period. Further underscoring the scale of the problem, he highlighted that in the last year alone, 2.88 lakh cancer patients received treatment under the PM Jan Ayushman Yojana.
How Chemical Farming is Destroying Soil and Health
Governor Devvrat identified urea, DAP (Diammonium Phosphate), and chemical pesticides as the primary culprits. He explained that these substances are devastating the very foundation of agriculture—the soil. These chemicals destroy vital microorganisms, earthworms, and other insects that naturally enhance soil quality and are true friends of the farmer.
"Chemical pesticides are toxic and can even kill snakes; how will soil-friendly microorganisms survive?" he questioned. This destruction has led to a severe decline in soil health, with the Organic Carbon (OC) content in Gujarat's fields falling to a dangerous below 0.5% in areas using chemical farming. As a vicious cycle, farmers are forced to use increasing amounts of chemicals each year to try and maintain yields, which have still dropped by 10% worldwide due to such practices.
Natural Farming: The Path to Recovery
Countering a common misconception, Governor Devvrat championed natural farming as the solution, asserting that it actually increases production. He urged farmers to immediately stop producing carcinogenic products like tobacco and to cease spraying DAP and urea.
He detailed the benefits, stating that adopting natural farming can increase the soil's Organic Carbon to above 1%, thereby boosting yield. Furthermore, crops grown through natural methods suffer less damage during unseasonal rains because the thriving microorganisms improve the soil's water-absorbing capacity.
The Governor also highlighted the environmental toll, noting that the nitrogen in these fertilisers reacts with atmospheric oxygen to create nitrous oxide, a potent pollutant that contributes to environmental disasters. His urgent call to action was backed by United Nations figures, reinforcing the critical need for a swift transition to sustainable agriculture to avert a public health catastrophe.
