New Delhi. Taking an important step in the interest of farmers, the Central Government has set the direction for change in both the methods and thinking of farming. Making an important announcement, Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan said that the name of ‘Agri-Forestry’ will soon be changed to ‘Tree-Based Farming’. The purpose of this change is not only to change the name, but also to remove the misconceptions spread among the farmers and to connect them with new sources of income.
Big thinking behind changing the name
Till now, due to the association of forest with the word agro-forestry, many farmers were afraid that after growing the trees, they would not be able to use them commercially or there might be legal hurdles. To end this confusion, the government is going to give it an easy and clear name ‘tree-based farming’. This will make it easier for farmers to understand that they can earn income by planting trees on their land.
New strategy to increase income
The government believes that it is not possible to significantly increase the income of farmers through traditional farming alone. For this reason, emphasis is now being laid on integrated farming model, in which along with crop production, dairy, fisheries, beekeeping and tree-based farming will also be included. This model can prove especially beneficial for small and marginal farmers.
Concern over use of fertilizers
The Agriculture Minister also expressed concern about the increasing use of chemical fertilizers. He said that in many places farmers are using more fertilizers than required, which is affecting the quality of the soil. To improve this situation, it has been said to promote balanced fertilizer use, organic farming and natural farming.
New plan will be made at regional level
To further improve farming, now instead of a national level meeting, separate strategies will be prepared for different areas. From the year 2026, regional agricultural conferences will be organized in different parts of the country, North, South, East, West and North-East. With this, accurate planning can be made according to the soil, climate and crop of each area.
North India’s role is important
North India was said to be the strong base of the country’s agricultural strength. While Punjab and Haryana made a major contribution to the Green Revolution, Uttar Pradesh is playing an important role in food grain production. Apart from this, the production of fruits, vegetables and flowers is increasing rapidly in the hill states, which is a sign of agricultural diversification.
Emphasis on seeds and technology
Improved seeds and new technologies have been said to be necessary for better results in the agricultural sector. In view of the changing weather and climatic conditions, farming in a scientific manner has now become the need of the hour. Along with this, states have been asked to prepare long-term agricultural plans according to their circumstances.
Comments are closed.