Maharashtra Governor Acharya Devvrat on Wednesday urged environmental experts to broaden their focus beyond global climate issues to include the agriculture sector and rural economy, highlighting the severe damage caused by excessive use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides. Speaking at the valedictory session of Mumbai Climate Week at Jio World Centre, the governor said the increasing reliance on chemicals in farming was not only harming soil fertility but also polluting the environment and contributing to serious health issues.

“The adverse effects of chemical farming are dangerous. It leads to environmental pollution and the rise of serious diseases,” he said.