Pics: Prajwal Ukkuda
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (TU/CN)
 
Mangalore, Apr 9: Dr Hariprasad of Caritas India on Wednesday April 8 called upon farmers to not depend upon chemical fertilizers and instead to resort to organic farming so as to save the natural resources.
 
He was delivering a lecture on ‘Organic Farming’ at a sustainable organic farming practical camp organized by Caritas New Delhi in association with the Department of Community Development, School of Social Work, and the Dakshina Kannada Milk Producers’ Union, Kulashekara, held at Roshni Nilaya.

He said that today there are no organisms in the earth due to indiscriminate use of chemical fertilizers.

“Chemical farming is dangerous to health and also spoils nature. Our elders had a symbiotic relationship with nature and they took care of the environment while cultivating the land. They were never confronted with a shortage of water. Promoting organic farming is the only solution to protecting natural resources for our children if we are really concerned about them”, claimed Dr Hariprasad.
 
He pointed out that farmers in the country started to use chemical fertilizers in the 1960s to cope with the food problem as part of the Green Revolution. Talking about rural realities, he added that India is not a developing nation as seen in the villages of Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa, and other states.
 
Dr Hariprasad opined that the subsidies available in India were negative and have spoiled all the natural resources. He also said that in America a farmer would get a subsidy of $2.7 per day for looking after a cow.
 
“There is also a problem with our mindset. Drinking aerated drinks will spoil our health, while tender coconut will improve our health. Organic farming should be included in the school syllabus. Students should be taught environmental studies”, he said.
 
Dr Jose, farmer Sunny D’Souza, principal Jesintha D’Souza, and Dr Rita Noronha were present on the occasion.