A district-level Viksit Bharat Sankalp conference, development exhibition, and natural farming workshop was organized at Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay Auditorium in Jhansi on Friday. The event marked the completion of 12 years of the Central government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi and nine years of the state government under Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.
Event Highlights
The conference showcased achievements of various welfare schemes and focused on promoting sustainable agricultural practices through natural farming. Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya, the chief guest, along with other dignitaries, reviewed the exhibits and interacted with officials on the implementation of welfare programs.
Deputy Chief Minister's Address
Addressing the gathering, Maurya stated that under Prime Minister Modi's leadership, India has witnessed historic progress in development, good governance, self-reliance, and public welfare over the past 12 years. He emphasized that government schemes have reached the last person in society and reiterated that the development of Bundelkhand remains a top priority for both the Central and State governments.
Referring to the region's transformation, Maurya remarked that the progress achieved so far is only a glimpse of what lies ahead. He reiterated the government's commitment to ensuring water reaches every field in Bundelkhand, just as tap water is reaching every household, a key commitment of the Prime Minister.
Call for Natural Farming
Maurya urged farmers to adopt natural farming methods to reduce cultivation costs, improve soil fertility, and safeguard public health. He stressed that natural farming is essential for producing healthy food and ensuring environmental sustainability. He encouraged farmers to take advantage of training and technical support provided by the agriculture department and suggested increasing the cultivation of pulses and oilseeds in the region.
MP Anurag Sharma's Remarks
Speaking on the occasion, MP Anurag Sharma advocated a return to natural farming practices, stating that widespread adoption of such methods would contribute to better health and prosperity. He noted that his family has been associated with natural farming for nearly a century. Sharma highlighted the benefits of the Prime Minister Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme and claimed that Bundelkhand has been among the largest beneficiaries. He also appealed to women associated with self-help groups and dairy activities to protect and promote cattle, increase milk production, and make greater use of cow dung in agriculture to boost organic farming and secure better returns for farm produce.
Technical Session on Natural Farming
During the natural farming workshop, a special technical session was held. Senior agricultural scientist Atiq Ahmad from Krishi Vigyan Kendra shared scientific and advanced cultivation practices for vegetable farming. He discussed modern nursery management, selection of suitable crop varieties for waterlogged conditions, scientific sowing methods, and biological pest and disease management strategies for the upcoming kharif season.
Success Story of Progressive Farmer
The program also featured the success story of progressive farmer Avdhesh Pratap Singh from Rampura village in Chirgaon block. Sharing his experiences, he explained how adopting natural farming and cow-based agricultural practices had helped reduce production costs while increasing farm income.
