Revitalization of Rivers in India Draft Policy - Isha Guru Jaggi Vasudev

Revitalization of Rivers In India
Draft Policy Recommendation
FACILITATING MOVEMENT FROM INORGANIC TO ORGANIC
HORTICULTURE
Non-point source or diffused sources of pollution that join the
river from agricultural run-off, comprising chemical fertilizers and
pesticides, have remained largely unaddressed. Not only do these
pollutants cause severe river pollution, they also pose significant health
and environmental risks. However, an effective mechanism to control/
tackle the same is yet to be devised. While organic farming needs to be
encouraged and promoted among the farming community as a short term
measure, the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides needs to be phased
out in a time-bound manner for a long term solution in coordination with
the Ministry of Agriculture and Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilisers.
Framing of necessary legislation and effective implementation may
also be considered necessary in this regard. If legislation is to be
initiated, support for organic farming inputs and livelihood support have
to start first, along with widespread dissemination of the plan to bring in
a law.
Conversion of organic waste into compost, use of livestock dung
and urine and bio fertilizers for use as manure for agriculture purpose are
to be promoted so that the agricultural land will become fertile and also
reduce non-point source pollution coming through use of fertilizers and
pesticides.
This is an imperative given the substantially higher earnings of the
farmer. This movement towards chemical-free horticulture will also go a
long way in bringing down the pollution in rivers due to agro-chemicals.
The key tasks required to make this happen are:
• Training and hand-holding of farmers in relation to chemical-free
farming practices would be required especially in the initial few
years.In this context the role of livestock and biomass from trees in
the farm towards self reliant farming is crucial for increasing the
net income from the farm.
209