Hisar: Haryana chief minister Nayab Singh Saini on Thursday called for a shift towards resource-efficient farming that uses less water while delivering higher yields, citing changing climate conditions and growing pressure on natural resources.Speaking after inaugurating the two-day Rabi Agriculture Fair at Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University (HAU), Saini said sustainable cotton cultivation, crop diversification, and water conservation were crucial to the state’s agricultural future.Saini said a cotton-picking machine showcased at the fair could harvest an acre in about an hour, nearly half the time taken manually, helping address labour shortages and prevent a decline in cultivation.Calling cotton the “white gold” of Haryana, Saini said it remained a key cash crop for farming families in Hisar, Sirsa, and Fatehabad. The state has so far organised 257 cotton farmer field schools, reaching over 7,000 farmers, while 167 farmer fairs have focused on reducing cultivation costs and improving returns, he said.Agriculture and farmers’ welfare minister Shyam Singh Rana urged scientists to provide farmers with technology and facilities to promote crop diversification.HAU vice-chancellor Prof B R Kamboj said the university was focusing on cotton cultivation, higher farm incomes, and conservation of natural resources.Push for crop diversificationSaini said the state needed to reduce its dependence on water-intensive paddy and wheat and promote less water-intensive crops. Under the Mera Pani-Meri Virasat scheme, 1.6 lakh farmers have so far received Rs 166.3 crore for diversification across 2.3 lakh acres.The CM said the govt was promoting water-saving irrigation through drip and sprinkler systems, with subsidies of up to 85%. He said 1.06 crore soil health cards had been issued, 17 soil and water testing labs set up, and nearly two lakh farmers had registered three lakh acres for natural farming.45 farmers honouredSaini honoured 45 farmers for work in natural farming, crop diversification, residue management, mushroom cultivation, food processing, dairy, beekeeping and vermicomposting. He also inaugurated HAU’s Rs 9.9-crore Deendayal Upadhyay Centre of Excellence for Organic Farming, which will focus on research, technology and farmer training.
