CHANDIGARH, 5 July 2025: Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister Shyam Singh Rana on Friday underlined the importance of natural farming, describing it as the need of the hour to ensure nutritious food and reduce environmental pollution.

Speaking at a review meeting with officials of the Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Department at his residence, Rana said the state government had initiated measures to promote natural farming, and farmers were showing increasing interest in adopting such practices.

“Natural farming will not only reduce environmental pollution, but also ensure the availability of good and nutritious food,” he stated, adding that a reduction in chemical fertiliser use would help increase the effectiveness of NPK fertilisers.

Referring to the current agricultural season, the Minister noted that paddy transplantation was nearly complete, and the demand for DAP and urea fertilisers would rise. He directed officials to maintain adequate stock and prevent any shortage of fertilisers, while cracking down on black marketing.

“There should be no black marketing of urea and DAP fertilisers,” he said, instructing officials to maintain detailed records of stock and sales and to ensure Haryana’s fertiliser allocations did not leak to other states.

Rana further warned against the sale of fake medicines and seeds to farmers and said strict action should be taken against any dealers involved in such practices. He also emphasised that no dealer should forcibly bundle products with fertilisers, and that complaints from farmers should be resolved without delay.

On the subject of crop insurance, Mr. Rana noted that the process under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana had commenced, and farmers should be made aware of the importance of insuring their crops. If any company failed to provide insurance services, a report should be prepared promptly, he directed.