Gujarat Governor Acharya Devvrat on 2 July called for a mass public movement to expand natural farming across the country, arguing it would lower cultivation costs, improve public health and help build a 'poison-free India'. He made the remarks while chairing a natural farming seminar at Sartanpar village in Bhavnagar district, Gujarat.

Natural Farming as a National Mission

Governor Devvrat framed natural farming as far more than an agricultural technique. 'Natural farming is not merely an agricultural practice but a national mission connected with human health, environmental protection, soil fertility and the secure future of coming generations. Let us make natural farming a people's movement through public participation and build a poison-free India,' he said at the seminar.

He argued that nature already has its own mechanisms for maintaining soil fertility — earthworms, microorganisms, and farming based on indigenous cows all contribute to healthier soil while also promoting rainwater conservation. Chemical farming, by contrast, hardens the soil and hinders groundwater recharge, he noted.

The Cost of Chemical Farming

The Governor pointed to the heavy toll of excessive chemical fertiliser and pesticide use, saying it had polluted soil, water, air and food, fuelled the rise of serious diseases, and imposed a significant financial burden on the country through fertiliser imports and rising healthcare expenditure.

He cited a scientific study in which researchers found traces of pesticides, detergents and urea in breast milk samples collected from 105 women, calling the findings a 'serious warning' for human health and future generations.

Lessons from Himachal Pradesh

Drawing on his earlier tenure as Governor of Himachal Pradesh, Acharya Devvrat said the success of natural farming there had encouraged thousands of farmers to adopt the practice — with adoption numbers now reportedly running into lakhs. He urged every farmer already practising natural farming to bring at least ten more farmers in their village on board.

Government Push and Farmer Awards

Minister of State Nimuben Bambhaniya noted that Governor Devvrat had been travelling across Gujarat's talukas to promote natural farming and widen public participation. She described the practice as 'a powerful means of farmers' prosperity', emphasising that the use of Jeevamrut, Ghan Jeevamrut and indigenous-cow-based farming had proven economically beneficial for adopting farmers.

She also urged farmers to make greater use of government agricultural schemes, modern technology and market support alongside natural farming. During the event, Governor Devvrat presented Taluka-Level Best ATMA Farmer Awards to four farmers practising natural farming, and both he and MoS Bambhaniya visited stalls displaying natural farming produce and interacted with farmers directly.

What Comes Next

With the Governor continuing his taluka-level outreach across Gujarat, the push signals an intensifying state-level effort to scale natural farming through grassroots participation. Whether farmer adoption translates into measurable reductions in input costs and chemical usage will be the key test of this mission-mode drive.