Uttarakhand minister fumbles over organic farming figures in Assembly

Uttarakhand Agriculture Minister Ganesh Joshi failed to provide production figures for organic farming in the state assembly on Friday as he fumbled for words on repeated queries by the opposition, forcing Speaker Ritu Khanduri to intervene.

The minister was left struggling in the state assembly on the concluding day of the 2026–27 budget session when Congress MLA Pritam Singh asked a supplementary question about the total yield from 10,000 hectares of land brought under organic farming in the state.

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Responding to Singh’s question, Joshi said, “We began farming from this Rabi crop season.” Singh pressed further, saying, “Please provide the amount of yield, as it’s a pinpointed question. Why are you creating a background?”

The minister replied, “You are not listening to what I am saying. First, listen to me. Rabi crops include wheat, mustard and masoor.” Singh insisted that the Speaker, Ritu Khanduri, intervene, clarifying that he was asking for the total yield from the 10,000 hectares under natural farming in the state. “The minister must inform whether there is any crop yield or not. If it’s there, provide the production figure.”

As the minister fumbled and failed to answer the opposition MLA’s question, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Subodh Uniyal stood up to assist his colleague, suggesting that he ask officials for a slip containing the production figures. However, Joshi said it was not needed and continued repeating his earlier lines.

The Agriculture Minister said, “Production will happen only after the crop is harvested. Rabi crops are sown in October and harvested in April.” He was immediately supported by Uniyal, who added, “The minister has clearly said that assessment of production can be done only after harvesting in April.”

No sooner had Uniyal said this than opposition MLAs tried to rise from their seats to press further questions. However, the Speaker intervened and asked the Congress MLAs to remain seated and listen to the minister. She then asked the latter to tell the House whether any organic crop yield figures are available.

The minister repeated that the yield would be known only after harvesting in April. At this, Pritam Singh again said that the minister must inform the House whether there had been any yield so far and also when natural farming was started in the state. The Speaker asked the minister if he meant the yield figures could not be provided until harvesting was completed. However, the minister maintained his stand, reiterating that the production figures would be known only after the crops sown under organic farming in 11 districts are harvested.

Even as the verbal duel between the minister and the opposition continued, the Speaker called for the next supplementary question. Earlier, replying to a starred question by BJP MLA Brijbhushan Gairola during the Question Hour, Joshi informed the House that organic farming was being carried out on 10,000 hectares of land in 11 districts, barring Rudraprayag and Tehri, under the National Mission on Natural Farming (NMNF). He said around 31,000 farmers had been roped in under the scheme.