WHY FARMERS IN INDIA AND PAKISTAN ARE SHIFTING TO “REGENERATIVE” FARMING

Nine years ago, farmer Sultan Ahmed Bhatti gave up tilling the soil and using most fertilisers and pesticides on his farm in Doober Bhattian, Pakistan.

Today. researchers, climate experts, and agriculture students visit his 100-acre farm, where he grows wheat, rice, maize, sugarcane, and vegetables, to see how he is able to reap bumper crops with minimal input costs.

The magic is in the soil, says Bhatti. “It’s all about respecting the soil that treats you so well.”

Bhatti is among a small but growing segment of farmers across Pakistan and India pursuing “regenerative” farming techniques. It’s part of a global movement to make agriculture more sustainable by increasing soil health through cutting back on chemicals, adding organic material to soil, and diversifying plants and animals on the farm.

The technique is seen as a climate solution, with advocates saying it is the most straightforward way to benefit the planet’s health and ensure food security.

Read the full report here: https://www.dawn.com/news/1824460?

Source: Dawn (5 April 2024)