Switch To Organic Farming

Gardening

oi-Cara

By Cara

Tuesday, May 18, 2010, 12:31

Farmers in Jammu and Kashmir's Ladakh region are switching to organic farming and have decided to avoid the use of and other chemicals that prove harmful to the ecosystem.

Aiming to grow local products without using , the farmers have decided to use the land in such a way that it can be re-used. Re-use of land is not always possible if excess of and chemicals are used for growing crops.

"With the help of Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC), from past two years we are trying that we will provide knowledge to the people about organic farming, and provide evidence," said Tsewang Tundup, Executive Councilor of Agriculture, LAHDC.

"With the help of LAHDC, we are giving people organic pits to grow organic manure, which we are providing them at 50 per cent subsidy," he added.

The new generation of farmers in Ladakh are restricting the use of chemicals in agriculture and opting for more profitable organic farming.

The difference is that urea, Di-Ammonium Phosphate (DAP) and Muriate of Potash (MOP), are good for growth of the vegetables but they are not good for health. Vegetables grown by the way of organic farming are more healthy and are of good quality.

The LAHDC agriculture and animal husbandry departments have extensive programmes to distribute high-yield seedlings, and give assistance in procurement of organic seeds.