Nobel laureate Joseph E Stiglitz is impressed by the organic farming
practices in Bihar's Nalanda district, terming its practitioners "better
than scientists" and calling for their experiences to be researched so
that these can be replicated elsewhere. "Indian farmers are better than
scientists," Stiglitz said here after visiting organic farmers in
Nalanda, the home district of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.
Joseph Eugene Stiglitz, (born February 9, 1943) is an American economist and a professor at Columbia University. He is a recipient of the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences (2001) and the John Bates Clark Medal (1979). He is a former senior vice president and chief economist of the World Bank, and is a former member, and Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers. He is known for his critical view of the management of globalization, free-market economists (whom he calls "free market fundamentalists"), and some international institutions like the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.
Joseph Eugene Stiglitz, (born February 9, 1943) is an American economist and a professor at Columbia University. He is a recipient of the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences (2001) and the John Bates Clark Medal (1979). He is a former senior vice president and chief economist of the World Bank, and is a former member, and Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers. He is known for his critical view of the management of globalization, free-market economists (whom he calls "free market fundamentalists"), and some international institutions like the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.
"It was amazing to see their success in organic farming.
Agriculture scientists from across the world should visit their farm
land to learn and be inspired by them," said Stiglitz, a professor of
economics at the prestigious Columbia University and here to deliver the
Asian Development Research Foundation Lecture 2013.
"There is a need to take the experiences of these farmers
seriously and go for research to give a scientific approach to adopt it
outside," he added. According to Chanchal Kumar, a senior government
official who accompanied Stiglitz, the economist minutely inquired about
the techniques. He said that Stiglitz also told farmers that the
increasing trend of organic farming is good for the health too.
Bihar is turning its attention to popularising and promoting organic
farming in the state to usher in a new "Green Revolution" in
agriculture. The Nitish Kumar government has already decided to promote
organic farming in at least one village of the state's 37 districts. It
launched an "organic farming promotion programme" over a year ago,
intended to develop organic grams (organic villages).
A sum of Rs 255 crore (nearly 50 million USD) has been sanctioned
for development of organic farming, said an official of the agriculture
department. The new techniques however did not have many takers in the
beginning. "Initially the farmers were reluctant to adopt organic
farming despite the state government providing free seeds, fertiliser
and experts to guide them. But now more farmers have expressed interest
in adopting the method of farming," said a district official in Nalanda.
Last year, a young farmer of Darveshpura village in Nalanda set
what is claimed to be a world record in potato production through
organic farming. Earlier, farmers of the same village created a world
record by producing 224 quintals of paddy per hectare. Nitish Kumar has
repeatedly said that he wants to have one or two agriculture products
from the state on the plate of every Indian in the coming years.
"Several steps, including promotion of modern techniques of
farming, organic farming and use of improved seeds, have been taken in
the last two-three years, but it is still a long way to go in developing
the agriculture sector," said the agriculture department official.
Agriculture is the backbone of Bihar's economy, employing 81 per
cent of workforce and generating nearly 42 per cent of the state's
domestic product, according to the state government.
source:PTI
source:PTI
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