Going Green After the success of the Green Revolution and its accompanying lessons, the Punjab farmer is waking up to the benefits of organic farming, reports Jangveer Singh IN Punjab, the ‘food bowl’ of India, where a high yield has always been the main pursuit of farmers, organic farming has never been a preferred option because of low output. But things have changed over the last few years, due to increasing awareness as well as preference for organically grown food, not only in many major cities, but also in small towns. Even farmers know that these organically grown crops are not a health hazard. The organic movement in Punjab has many home-grown components as many social activists as well as NGOs are working for a change in their homeland. Though many activists from other states, too, are flocking in, appalled at the high suicide rates and health problems being faced by the farmers of India’s food bowl. A serious debate is presently on, following the publication of a paper "Organic farming and its necessity – how far it can go" by the Punjab State Farmers Commission in December last year. However, the farmers of Punjab are yet to give their verdict on the issue. Although the yield-loving farmers are still sticking to intensive farming or ‘chemical farming’ as organic adherents call it, but many ‘chemical farmers’ are now also experimenting with organic crops. For more info https://khetivirasatmission.org/ Email-Khetivirasatmission@gmail.com ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xm2OUAbVH20

KVM started a Mass Awareness Campaign among Farmers named “Kudrati Kheti, Vatavaran ate Sehat Jagrookta Abhiyan” in Muktsar, Faridkot and Bathinda districts of Punjab. This Yatra covered approximately 45 villages and contacted over 2500 farmers . Team KVM went door to door, identified and honored and felicitated around 200 non-burner Farmers with ‘saropas’. These Farmers have not burnt the Paddy Straw and managed it in some other way. Senior Field Coordinator Jagtar Sahota and Sukhdev Singh Gora were leading this Campaign. Two vehicles were developed and decorated as Awareness-Tableau with informative flexes and banners. This Awareness-Tableau was taken in and around the 42 villages playing specially recorded environmental songs “ Khetan Vich Agg Laa ke Phuko na Paraaliyan”, “ Bas Karo Naad Jalaana”, “Pal Pal Sadaan main Insaan Kar ke” etc. It was Found that lyrics of these Environment loving songs made a great impact on the thinking of Farmers. To further strengthen the No Straw Burning movement in the area an awareness campaign named 'Natural Farming , Health and Environmental Awareness Campaign' was launched in 33 villages of Jaitu block in early March 2022 with the inclusive message of saving soil, water, health, environment and sustainable food production. As Kheti Virasat Mission is already working on diverse issues covering vast arena of Organic Kitchen Gardening, Natural Farming, Holistic Health, Soil Conservation, Soil Health, Soil Microbiology, Sustainability, Diversification , Millets, Pulses, Fruits, Cotton etc. #organicfarming #nostubbleburning #savesoil #saveearth #saveenvironment #saynotopollution #khetivirasatmission. ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kjZApIRpD0E

Song : ਪੰਜਾਬ ਦਾ ਪਾਣੀ ll Singer : Arshdeep Arsh, Jaitu (7009602543) Lyrics : Kavinder Chand Project by : Umendra Dutt Video and Production :( Media Unit, KVM) Contacts : 9872682161 , 9878412902 ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FxrWY9Nnpmw

Natural Farming trainer Gurpreet Dabrikhana describing a design of Holistic and Integrated Natural Farming. Gurpreet is Associated Director of Kheti Virasat Mission and working on propagation of Natural Farming since 2005. He can be contacted on 01635-503415 / 9915195062 ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fmmTi8SUYE4