Once celebrated as the leader of the Green Revolution, Punjab now finds itself in a troubling situation. An increasing number of cancer cases has created an atmosphere of unease. So dire is the situation that cancer patients regularly travel by train to nearby states for treatment. A passenger train from Bathinda to Bikaner is even known as the “Cancer Train” because most of its passengers are cancer patients seeking affordable care in Bikaner. The health crisis extends beyond cancer, with numerous other diseases proliferating throughout Punjab.
Farmers in Punjab, once reliant on chemical fertilizers and pesticides perceived as beneficial, are now facing the adverse consequences of these chemicals. Many were unaware, but some, like Umendra Dutt, the executive editor of Swadeshi magazine, realized the impending disaster as early as the 1990s. In 1996, Dutt came across a report revealing that the chemicals used as pesticides had originally been developed by the U.S. as chemical weapons during the Vietnam War. Multinational agricultural companies later modified and sold these chemicals to farmers.
Nationally, an average of 131 kg of chemical fertilizers is used per hectare, but in Punjab, this figure soars to 380 kg per hectare. The state’s pesticide usage is equally alarming, with 923 grams per hectare compared to the national average of 570 grams.
Umendra Dutt gradually recognized that natural farming was the solution to Punjab’s escalating problems. However, his insights were initially met with skepticism, ridicule, and accusations, including being labeled a CIA agent. Dutt’s breakthrough came in 2005 when his efforts led PGI Chandigarh to release a report linking the rise in cancer cases directly to pesticide use in Punjab. That same year, Down to Earth magazine published findings indicating dangerously high pesticide levels in Punjabis’ blood.
Determined to promote natural farming, Umendra Dutt founded the Kheti Virasat Mission in 2005, choosing Jaito village in Faridkot district as his base. Under his leadership, the Mission gained significant influence and credibility in Punjab’s intellectual and social circles. The Mission’s work expanded beyond cotton to include significant efforts in promoting millet cultivation and consumption in Punjab.
Umendra Dutt, who views his work as a blend of psychological, patriotic, and spiritual endeavors, has seen farmers from Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, and Rajasthan join his cause for poison-free farming. There is hope that his mission will inspire farmers nationwide to adopt natural farming practices.
