To educate farmers about the benefits of organic farming, an engineering drop-out from Gohana block in Haryana’s Sonepat has pedalled more than 18,500km covering several northern states.
Neeraj Prajapati has cycled in Haryana, Punjab and Rajasthan to help farmers understand the negative implications of using pesticides for their crops. He has been spreading awareness of how these chemicals are the cause of rise in cancer patients and lung diseases in the country.
Sharing on what prompted him to start his journey, Neeraj said that it was a conversation with his friend about ‘Cancer Trains’ (that runs between Punjab’s Abohar and Rajasthan’s Jodhpur). These special trains ferried hundreds of cancer patients to Bikaner for subsidised and affordable treatment.
111111km missionorganicbycycle awareness in India arrived at Ambala welcomed by Lions Club Ambala. Neeraj Kumar Prajapati The Bicycle man of Indian Agriculture pic.twitter.com/wybNOTRDs5
— The bicycle man of Indian Agriculture (@BicycleIndian) October 4, 2020
‘I was moved and was already aware of the malpractices used to increase farm yield. So, I decided to educate farmers on the benefits of organic farming,’ he said, reported Hindustan Times.
Neeraj has been on the road since April, last year, and his journeys have helped him interact and communicate with different farmers. He has helped them understand the techniques in setting up markets and increasing productivity.
24×7 hr trying to serve for Nation. Today morning at 5Am . Farmer Parveen, Manoj &Rakesh from village pinana arrived at my home . They said me Brother today we want to visit Organic farm of Farmer Shri Jitendra Miglani ji. Can you go with us . I said yes .today at 6:30am. pic.twitter.com/Xj6sNO5Nyx
— The bicycle man of Indian Agriculture (@BicycleIndian) October 1, 2020
He was recently on a trip to Ambala where he met a sugarcane researchers in the city and some progressive farmers in Panjokhara to discuss ideas on organic soap manufacturing. He was reportedly also felicitated by an NGO in Ambala Cantonment.
He said that during his travel he gets opportunities to meet researchers, scientists, and experts on organic farming and he then took these new techniques to the farmers in various villages.
‘I listen to the issues of farmers and then discuss those with experts to find a solution. My mission was halted for a few months due to the COVID-19 induced lockdown but now things are getting back on track,’ he said.
Also Read: Meet Aakash Ranison, 26-Yr-Old Travelpreneur, Climate Activist Who Uses Social Media To Drive Change
