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BJP Pushing 'Zero Budget Natural Farming' To End Fertilizer Subsidy: Farmers Union
Writer: Devyani Madaik
A media enthusiast, Devyani believes in learning on the job and there is nothing off limits when it comes to work. Writing is her passion and she is always ready for a debate as well.
India, 11 Feb 2022 10:10 AM GMT | Updated 11 Feb 2022 10:29 AM GMT
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A post-graduate in Journalism and Mass Communication with relevant skills, specialising in content editing & writing. I believe in the precise dissemination of information based on facts to the public.
Creatives : Devyani Madaik
A media enthusiast, Devyani believes in learning on the job and there is nothing off limits when it comes to work. Writing is her passion and she is always ready for a debate as well.
All India Kisan Mazdoor Sabha (AIKMS) alleged BJP of increasing fertiliser prices and ending subsidy. It said that the government is promoting natural farming to reduce its support to farmers.
All India Kisan Mazdoor Sabha (AIKMS), a frontal organisation of the Communist Party of India (Marxist–Leninist) (CPI-ML), has objected to Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) plan to encourage 'zero budget natural farming', alleging them increasing fertiliser prices and ending subsidy. The union said that the government is promoting natural farming to reduce its support to farmers.
Small, Middle Farmers Worse-Off
The union said the small and middle farmers would be the worst hit with this, as their crop yield and returns will decrease by more than 30 percent, Hindustan Times reported.
Zero Budget Natural Farming
Zero budget natural farming refers to chemical-free agricultural practices, unlike the current methods. It promotes low-cost inputs such as cow dung, aged cow urine, jaggery, pulse flour, plant-based extracts, etc.
Although the ruling party had promised to double farmers' income by 2022, the union has urged farmers to resist increasing the input burden and reducing farmers' income.
BJP's Plan
According to the report, the party plans to allow only natural farming up to 5 km on both sides of 2500 km along the Ganga to promote bio fertilisers which are costlier and less effective.
Speaking to the media, AIKMS general secretary Ashish Mital said that the plan would be enforced by the police and may be disadvantageous to crores of farmers along the Ganga belt.
The cost of fertilisers increased earlier, which gave rise to black marketing, which came heavy on farmers who could barely afford the expenses. The government has allocated a budget of ₹1.05 lakh crores for fertiliser subsidy, less than what was spent last year (₹1.55 lakh crores).
Promoting Traditional Practices
BJP Prayagraj unit President Ganesh Kesarwani denied claims of revoking support to farmers. Kesarwani said the zero budget natural farming was drawn from traditional Indian practices and the best alternative to chemical fertilisers and pesticides.
Farmers can do farming without spending on harmful chemicals or taking loans to purchase them and break the debt cycle.
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