माता भूममिः पुत्रो अहं पृथिव्याः! National level Jan Abhiyan on 'Bhumi Suposhan and Samrakshan' on Chaitra Pratipada, April 13

Pune, April 09: An alliance of 33 organizations working on agriculture is set to launch a national level 'Jan Abhiyan' on 'Bhumi Suposhan and Samrakshan’ by April 13. This multi-dimensional Abhiyan, as reported is to comprise of action, awareness generation and advocacy for reinstating the holistic Bhumi Suposhan concept. The initial phase of three months will start on auspicious Chaitra Pratipada, the first day of the new year in traditional Bhartiya calendar.

 

"We have overlooked Bhumi Suposhan for over last 200 years of ‘modern’ agriculture and we have been exploiting our lands as an infinite economic resource. We are extracting nutrients from our lands with minimum reciprocation. Presently 30 per cent of our geographical area is suffering from severe land degradation", the statement in concern read.

 

As per the experiences of the farmers the input cost in agriculture is continuously increasing, productivity is decreasing, reduction in organic carbon, as a result decrease in production. Additionally, water holding capacity of the land and the water level also is going down. As a result of nutrient deficient land resource, we are observing nutritional deficiencies and related diseases in human and animals, it added.

 

This it seems is an appropriate time to retrace our roots in care for our land. The Jan Abhiyan is a first step towards reinstating holistic Bhartiya Krishi Chintan. According to Bhartiya Krishi Chintan, the land or Bhumi is a living being that provides us all basic needs. In return, we should care for her, replenish her. There are numerous examples in ancient Bhartiya literature that affirm the holistic approach towards tending our lands. For instance, माता भूममिः पुत्रो अहं पृथिव्याः is a verse in the Bhumi Sukta of Atharva Veda that mentions Bhumi is a mother and we are her sons. Thus, Bhumi Suposhan and Samrakshan are ingrained in Bhartiya Krishi Chintan, the statement added.

 

 

 

The National level Jan Abhiyan on Bhumi Suposhan and Samrakshan will start with Bhumi Pujan scheduled at 10.00 am on Chaitra Shukla Pratipada on April 13 all over the country. The basic tenet of the Abhiyan is caring for our lands is the responsibility of every citizen and hence, it will be conducted in villages and cities alike, all over the country. The Jan abhiyan is an outcome of an extensive consultative process implemented in the last four years.

 

It will have action, awareness generation and advocacy on Bhumi Suposhan. In the initial phase of the Abhiyan, various programmes like felicitating farmers practicing nonchemical means of farming, awareness generation on replenishing the lands, initiating Bhumi Suposhan on the fields of the willing farmers, encouraging segregation of degradable waste and converting it into compost in housing societies in cities etc. are planned. There will be seminars, workshops, debates, and farmer’s field schools too.

 

A dedicated office to coordinate Jan Abhiyan is set up in New Delhi. It will be guided by a Margadarshak Mandal and Abhiyan will be led by a steering committee consisting of farmers successfully practicing Bhartiya Krishi Paddhati i.e non-chemical farming.