MP Ramtahal Choudhary on Sunday urged farmers to minimise the use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides that contributed to health problems.

He said organic manure made of cow dung and urine and compost made from kitchen waste were the best ways to produce nutritious fruits and vegetables.

“I never use chemicals in my kitchen garden. Our ancestors seldom fell ill and hardly needed spectacles even at the age of 100 because chemical fertilisers and pesticides had not invaded our lives then,” he said while speaking on the second day of the three-day Agrotech Kisan Mela at Birsa Agricultural University (BAU).

Choudhary emphasised on strengthening the marketing network to ensure better prices for growers.

He advocated more respect, recognition and incentives for women engaged in farming because they shouldered a major responsibility of increasing farm production in Jharkhand.

Choudhary also felicitated 15 progressive farmers and distributed prizes to the winners of the animal-bird show organised during the programme. As many 312 animal farmers had got themselves ere registered for the show.

Kanke MLA Jitu Charan Ram stressed the promotion of integrated farming for sustainable returns to farmers.

BAU vice chancellor Parvinder Kaushal said the besides producing technical and human resource required for the state, the varsity was working as the agricultural research adviser of the state government and making every effort to doubling farmers’ income.

Earlier in the day, a seminar on “Appropriate agricultural technologies for profitable agriculture” was organised for women engaged in farming. Scientists and progressive farmers said the suitability and comfort of women should be kept in mind while developing, designing and refining farm technologies and machinery because 80 per cent of farming operations in Jharkhand were performed by women.

Emphasis was also laid on organising separate training programmes with lodging facilities for women farmers at block and panchayat levels.

Women scientists who participated in the deliberations included Kiran Mery Kandir, Kumud Singh, Punam Horo, Kiran Singh, Niva Bara, Nandini Kumari and agroforestry student Beauty Kumari.

A brochure titled “Fish farming in coal mines”, prepared by A.K. Singh, associate dean of College of Fisheries Science, was also released on the occasion.