Gujarat to set up country's first organic farming university

VADODARA: To help farmers in switching to unconventional methods of farming, the state government will set up country's first university exclusively focussing on organic farming, Chief Minister Anandiben Patel said.

Announcing this at a farmers rally held on the outskirts of city yesterday, Patel said, "Farmers should now switch to organic farming and its ways from conventional method of farming. Gujarat government has decided to set up country's first university focusing organic farming."

State agriculture minister Babubhai Bokhiria said state government is committed to promote organic farming and in order to achieve it, a fund of Rs 10 crore has been earmarked towards the university in the annual 2016-17 budget, presented recently.

The location of the university is yet to be decided.

The place may be chosen near to agriculture Kamdhenu University in Gandhinagar district, he said.

"The university will exclusively focus on organic farming and research. Gujarat is most suited for organic farming as a significant portion of agricultural land in the state is rainfed," Bokhiria told PTI.

He apprised that for promoting organic farming, state government has taken steps like setting up of a cell to implement its new organic farming policy.