Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel spent the morning of Saturday, 18 July 2026, at the farm of a young natural-farming practitioner in Mahundra village, Gandhinagar district, urging every farmer in the state to abandon chemical inputs and embrace chemical-free, nature-based agriculture. The CM sat with villagers on a traditional khataale (cot) and listened to their first-hand experiences, calling natural farming the only real option for protecting future generations.

Context

Posting in Gujarati on the occasion of the month of Ashadh — the first month of the monsoon season and the start of the kharif sowing cycle — CM Patel described the visit as a 'sukhad avas' (joyful occasion). He visited the natural farm of Alpeshbhai Patel, a young farmer from Mahundra village, who practices natural farming and runs a gaushala (cow shelter) where Gir cows are conserved. The CM interacted at length with the farmer and local villagers, listening to their experiences and calling on every farmer to adopt chemical-free prakrutik kheti (natural farming).

In his post, the CM stated: 'Prakrutik kheti j sacho vikalp chhe' — 'Natural farming is the only true alternative' — to protect human health from serious diseases caused by excessive use of chemical fertilisers, and to restore the health of both people and the soil.

Policy Backdrop

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has long championed the 'Back to Basics' philosophy, repeatedly urging Indian farmers since 2019 to reduce dependence on chemical fertilisers and return to traditional, soil-friendly practices. CM Patel directly referenced this in his post, saying the PM has given the nation the mantra of 'Back to Basics' for exactly this purpose, and expressing his wish that this idea reaches every village and every rural farmer understands its importance.

At the national level, the Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana, launched in 2015, has promoted organic and natural farming clusters across India. Gujarat has aligned with this national direction by spotlighting model farmers and encouraging wider grassroots adoption of natural farming methods at the village level.

Stakeholders and Impact

The visit underlines the role of Gir cow-based gaushalas as anchors of natural farming — providing bio-inputs such as cow dung and cow urine that replace synthetic fertilisers and pesticides. Farmers like Alpeshbhai Patel serve as demonstration models for neighbouring cultivators, showing that chemical-free cultivation is economically viable and ecologically sound.

For Gandhinagar district farmers and broader rural Gujarat communities, the CM's direct field engagement signals that the state administration is actively backing the transition away from the chemical-intensive model that dominated the post-Green Revolution decades. Excessive chemical fertiliser use has been linked to soil degradation and rising incidence of chronic illnesses in farming communities.

What's Next

The focus now shifts to whether Gujarat will roll out structured natural-farming training programmes across additional districts, building on such field interactions. Observers will also watch for state budget provisions that link gaushalas with organic certification support, potentially creating an economic incentive for more farmers to make the shift. CM Patel's personal presence at a village farm during the critical kharif sowing season sends a strong signal that the state intends to accelerate this transition well beyond symbolic gestures.