The Mission organised a discussion on this subject, and another discussion has been scheduled for February. Umendra Dutt, Executive Director of KVM, termed the report as baseless, and rejected it. “There are many farmers who have opted for organic farming and are cultivating their land with much success. There are facts to prove the ill-effects of farming using chemicals,” stressed Dutt.

Delivering the keynote address, Kavitha Kuruganti from International Institute of Sustainable Agriculture said that due to excessive use of chemicals in farming, the water in Punjab has become contaminated. Water resources are depleting and productivity level has stagnated.

“Organic farming increases productivity by more than 50 per cent. At present the returns on agriculture are decreasing. Farmer suicides have become common as debts is increasing,” said Kuruganti.

The experts discussed the anomalies in the report. Dr O P Rupela, Principal Consultant, UN-FAO, said that according to the report, 17 animals per hectare would be required to meet the nitrogen need of the soil, while there are only two animals per hectare in Punjab.