Karnataka Government Moves to Establish Pandavapura as Second Organic Taluk
In a significant push towards sustainable agriculture, the Karnataka government is advancing plans to declare Pandavapura taluk in Mandya district as the state's second organic taluk. This initiative follows the recent steps to convert Joida taluk in Uttara Kannada into Karnataka's first organic taluk, underscoring a broader commitment to a zero-fertilizer policy across the region.
Minister Details Natural Farming Efforts in Legislative Council
Agriculture Minister N Cheluvarayaswamy informed the Legislative Council on Wednesday that the government is actively promoting natural farming practices in Pandavapura taluk, eliminating the use of chemical supplements. This announcement came in response to a calling attention motion raised by BJP MLC Dr Dhananjaya Sarji, who emphasized the urgent need for a gradual transition to sustainable agricultural methods.
Health Concerns Drive Call for Reduced Chemical Usage
Dr Sarji highlighted alarming statistics linking excessive chemical fertilizer and pesticide use to severe health issues, including cancer. He cited a 2024 report indicating 1.56 million new cancer cases detected in India, with 8.7 lakh deaths. In Karnataka alone, there are approximately 2.30 lakh cancer patients, resulting in around 25,000 deaths annually, with 87,000 new cases added subsequently.
He further pointed out that Karnataka's pesticide usage is alarmingly high at 1 to 1.5 kg per hectare, compared to the national average of 0.6 kg per hectare. Fertilizer usage in the state ranges from 120 to 130 kg per hectare, slightly below the national average of 135 kg per hectare. Dr Sarji warned that over 50% of food samples in the country contain pesticide residues, sometimes exceeding safe limits, and noted an increase in chemical usage from 3 million metric tonnes in 2021–22 to 3.2 million metric tonnes in 2023–24.
Government Initiatives to Promote Organic Alternatives
In acknowledgment of these concerns, Minister Cheluvarayaswamy outlined several measures being implemented:
- Creating awareness about the adverse effects of excessive chemical use in farming.
- Regularly sampling soil from various parts of the state and distributing soil health cards after evaluation at accredited testing labs.
- Encouraging farmers through agricultural universities to adopt organic manure and bio-fertilisers as part of sustainable farming practices.
The minister also highlighted specific programs, such as an initiative to support natural farming across 1.25 lakh acres in Karnataka and the recent state budget announcement of the 'Vasudhamrita' programme to promote bio-fertilisers. These efforts aim to mitigate environmental pollution and health risks while fostering a shift towards more eco-friendly agricultural methods.
