Kanpur, Jun 18 : Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Thursday advocated natural farming, saying it could serve as a foundation for a healthier society and help reduce diseases linked to excessive use of chemicals and pesticides.
Addressing the Natural Farming Workshop 2026 in Kanpur, Adityanath said the goal of a developed India by 2047 included ensuring better health and reducing diseases, for which natural farming could play an important role.
He called for cow-based natural farming, where cow dung and urine are used as manure and pesticides, to reduce dependence on chemicals.
He noted that the increase in the use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides had been accompanied by a rise in health problems, including kidney-related ailments.
“Thirty years ago, cases of kidney-related diseases were very few. Today, in every locality, two or three kidney patients can be found. Some are on dialysis, and some require transplants,” he said.
The chief minister stated that diseases such as liver cirrhosis, high blood pressure and diabetes were also increasing and claimed that pesticide use had adverse effects on health.
Adityanath also stressed the importance of cow protection, saying that many people consume cow’s milk but later abandon the animals on roads. “When these stray cattle damage crops, the same people blame the government,” he said, adding that cow-based natural farming not only strengthens agriculture but also contributes to cattle welfare.
Reiterating the government’s commitment to cow protection, Adityanath said it was both the state’s resolve and part of India’s cultural ethos that cows would not be allowed to be slaughtered. “We will not allow anyone to compromise with the security of the nation,” he said.
The chief minister added that for followers of Sanatan Dharma, the cow is revered and regarded as a member of the family.
Adityanath emphasised that farmers could save around Rs 10,000-12,000 per acre by shifting to natural farming, while also earning better profits and reducing healthcare expenses.
He informed that the state government had identified 27 districts along the Ganga and seven districts in Bundelkhand for promoting natural farming, while 24 districts had already made progress in this direction.
The chief minister said that efforts were being made to simplify certification of natural farming products, develop markets and ensure better reach for such produce.
“If the food produced with fertilisers and pesticides is available at Rs 40 and naturally farmed produce is available at Rs 50, people should prefer the latter as it is free from harmful chemicals and better for the quality of life,” he said.
Highlighting measures taken by the state government, Adityanath said more than 14 lakh cattle were being cared for in over 7,700 cow shelters across Uttar Pradesh.
He informed that financial assistance of Rs 1,500 per month is being provided for maintaining a cattle animal under the Mukhyamantri Sahbhagita Yojana, with nearly 1.5 lakh farmers benefiting from the scheme. (PTI)
