Ludhiana: Bicycle rally organised for regenerative agriculture
Ludhiana: Local residents, farmers, and local government officials came together to participate in a bicycle rally for promoting regenerative agriculture through awareness creation. Partnering with bicyclists from Ludhiana, Vertiver (environmental organisation) and Manav Vikas Sansthan(MVS) teams cycled along with the group from DC Complex Ludhiana to Pohir to disseminate various messages and slogans on the need for adopting DSR in Kharif season and importance of protecting soil and water.
This rally was held under the PRANA project (Promoting Regenerative Agriculture and No-burn Agriculture) supported by The Nature Conservancy. The project seeks to engage farmers and stakeholders in shifting from chemicals-based farming to regenerative agricultural practices which enhance soil health and water conservation.
"We should be cautious while using water and should adopt water saving measures in agriculture. This event underscores the growing momentum and significance of regenerative agriculture in Punjab, we hope these rallies continue to keep reinforcing these messages to farmers” said 84-year old cyclist Dr Raj Bhanti, a prominent social worker and writer of international acclaim. The rally has received widespread interest from farmers and community members who asked questions to cyclists about PRANA and benefits of regenerative agricultural practices.
Vertiver’s CEO Chhaya Bhanti who stated “Finding such an enthusiastic group of people who bicycled for regenerative agriculture in Punjab is very encouraging. Such active participation from citizens is key to bringing messages of change to Punjab's agricultural landscape. The PRANA bicycle rallies are providing an opportunity to various groups to come together to contribute to amplifying the need to shift to regenerative agriculture for Punjab’s future.
MVS’s Field Resource teams who have been going in all villages to convince farmers to adopt DSR as a way of saving water and protecting soil, also actively participated in the rallies. Representatives from the PRANA project engaged with participants at the end of the rally to discuss how these events can be organized in the future to continue to rally the momentum for encouraging the adoption of sustainable farming methods.
"We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all participants and supporters who contributed to the success of the rally," Satpal Singh Brar, District Coordinator, MVS. "Together, we can pave the way for a greener and more prosperous Punjab," he added. “In order to promote meaningful dialogue and cooperation towards a future with more sustainable agriculture,” Jasmanpreet Singh, owner Bombay Cycle House, who participated in the 25 Km cycle rally.
- PTC NEWS
