Patiala: Bicycle rally held to promote regenerative agriculture

Patiala (Punjab), April 17: Farmers, government officials along locals came together to participate in a bicycle rally to promote regenerative agriculture and raise awareness on Wednesday. 

Vertiver (an environmental organisation) organised the rally as part of the PRANA project (Promoting Regenerative and No-burn Agriculture). Vertiver and Manav Vikas Sansthan (MVS) teams cycled alongside the group from Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) Rauni, Patiala to Ghamrauda to disseminate various messages and slogans about the importance of adopting DSR during the Kharif season, as well as protecting soil and water.  

The PRANA initiative aims to engage farmers and others in making the shift from chemical-based farming to regenerative agricultural methods that promote soil health and water conservation.

"We should be cautious while using water and should adopt water-saving measures in agriculture” said Dhiraj Sharma, District Coordinator, MVS. "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 Rashpinder Singh , Agriculture Development Officer, Tehsil Nabha, District Patiala. 

The rally received widespread interest from farmers and community members who asked questions to cyclists about PRANA and the benefits of regenerative agricultural practices. 

Vertiver’s CEO Chhaya Bhanti 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 for 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," added Samridhi Sood, Field Operations Officer, The Nature Conservancy(TNC). "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, the rally acted as a platform aligned with field day,” added Surender Singh, Block Technology Manager, Tehsil Nabha, District Patiala.

- PTC NEWS

Join Whatsapp Channel