Date:19.06.

2015

PMK Founder Dr. S. Ramadoss Statement

WHY THE ORGANIC FARMING POLICY

IS PENDING FOR TWO YEARS?
The results of the investigations about Tamil Nadus soil health are shocking. The soil health of Tamil
Nadu has halved in the last 30 years and if the same situation continues, once a fertile land, Tamil
Nadu lands will become barren.
The current generation is suffering due to the damages caused to fertile lands in the name of Green
revolution. Tamil Nadu never used chemical fertilizers until 50 years ago. Green manure and cattle
waste were using as primary fertilizers. These also doubled as pesticides. Hence Tamil Nadus lands
provided healthy, nutritious food to generations. In the name of Green revolution Tamil Nadus farm
lands were dumped with fertilizers and pesticides. This made our mother earth to yield poison instead
of food equivalent to mothers milk.
Instead of treating earth as Mother we treated it as a machine producing food grains and this had led
to the current disaster. For a healthy soil the soil should contain organic carbon between 0.80% and
1.30%. The carbon content of Tamil Nadus soils have declined from 1.20% in the year 1971 to 0.62%
in the year 2002 and it is 0.50% now. Particularly the soils of Madurai, Ramanathapuram, Pudhukottai,
Krishnagiri, Tirunelveli, Villupuram, Namakkal, Cuddalore, Sivaganga districts have become nearly
barren.
The only way to convert these soils into fertile land is to switch to organic farming. All over the world
farmers who are aware of the evils of chemical fertilizers are changing to organic farming. In India also
majority of the states like Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Odisha and Sikkim have evolved
a comprehensive organic farming policy and are implementing it. Majority of districts in Kerala are
practising only organic farming. Kerala is taking steps to convert it into a complete organic farming
state. Madhya Pradesh is the best model for successfully implementing organic farming. 40% of
agricultural products produced by organic farming in India are from Madhya Pradesh.
Madhya Pradesh could achieve 24.99% growth of agriculture in the year 2013-14 using organic farming.
This is an achievement no other state could simulate. At the same time Tamil Nadu which is totally

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neglecting organic farming is showing a drastic 12.10% negative growth in agriculture. The Tamil
Nadu Agriculture University has recommended to the Tamil Nadu Government to constitute Special
Organic Zones to regain the dwindling soil health and increase production. Following this an 18 member
expert panel was formed and an organic farming policy was drawn. Though the policy papers were
submitted to the government two years ago itself, since the Chief Minister Jayalalithaa has not set her
eyes on these papers they are awaiting approval and execution.
Kerala is refusing to buy vegetables and fruits from Tamil Nadu citing high pesticide content. Todays
news is that Gulf countries have refused to import vegetables and fruits from Tamil Nadu. If the
current situation continues to prevail other states will also reject Tamil Nadus agriculture produce
totally and production will also fall. Hence the draft organic farming policy should be unveiled at the
earliest and implemented. As per its recommendations Government should encourage farming using
organic manure and pesticides. Special Organic Zones should be constituted and poison free nutritious
food should be produced. These zones should be named after Nammalvar who dedicated his life for
organic farming.

Yours,

(Dr. S.Ramadoss)