UP Govt Promotes Chemical-Free Farming to Make Ganga Pollution-Free, Focus on Natural Farming in 27 Districts

Lucknow : The Yogi government in Uttar Pradesh is making significant strides towards cleaning and protecting the Ganga by promoting natural farming along its banks. The government is encouraging organic farming in a 10-kilometer radius on both sides of the river, especially in districts where the Ganga flows. This initiative aims to reduce chemical fertilizers and toxic pesticides, replacing them with organic products to ensure that these harmful substances do not seep into the Ganga through leaching runoff.

The government has launched the Namami Gange project in 27 districts along the Ganga, where natural farming practices are being promoted. Currently, over 1,000 villages along the river have adopted natural farming methods. The traditional agriculture development scheme is being implemented across 54 districts to further encourage organic farming, with a special focus on Bundelkhand, which is particularly affected by stray cattle. Approximately 24,000 hectares of land in Bundelkhand are already dedicated to natural farming.

The push for organic farming was first introduced during the Yogi government’s first term, and it has expanded in the second term, with nearly 3300 clusters of farmers practicing natural farming across 6500 hectares under the Namami Gange initiative. More than 100,000 farmers are involved in this sustainable farming practice, particularly in the Indo-Gangetic plains, which are known for their fertile soil.

Furthermore, the government is enhancing its greening efforts along the Ganga by focusing on plantation activities. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath set an ambitious target to plant trees on 6,759 hectares along the riverbanks in the first six months of his second term, with 503 locations selected for the plantation. The government aims to establish “Ganga Vana” (forests) along all districts through which the Ganga passes. These forests will be multi-purpose, incorporating traditional, rare, and medicinal plant species suitable for the local agricultural climate.

The plantation efforts extend beyond the Ganga to its tributaries and other polluted rivers, aiming to increase green cover and reduce pollution through natural processes. This initiative also helps in flood control by preventing soil erosion.