Natural farming can show the way to double farm incomes

A two-week national training on ‘Natural Farming: Present Status and Future Prospects’ concluded today at the Dr. YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni with a call for jointly promoting this methodology in the country. Twenty-one scientists from six universities, ICAR institutes and Krishi Vigyan Kendras from Haryana, Punjab, Delhi, Jammu & Kashmir and Himachal attended the training.

Addressing the participants during the valedictory session of the training Dr. Sanjeev Chauhan, Director of Research of the university said that we need to target certain issues which can be achieved through this methodology. He said that the university has been leading in providing training to scientists from across the country on this environmentally friendly natural farming methodology. Dr. Chauhan added that natural farming can show the way to realize the goal of doubling farmers by substantially reducing the input cost. He said that the farmers in Himachal Pradesh are leading by example by showcasing the benefits of natural farming through different cropping models.

The programme was supported by the ICAR National Agricultural Higher Education Project’s Institutional Plan (NAHEP IDP). Dr KK Raina, PI of NAHEP IDP thanked the ICAR for supporting the training. He informed that another training for a different group of professionals will be organised in the coming weeks. Training Director Dr. Subhash Verma informed that the training encompassed all the aspects of natural farming in a blend of practical and lecture-based formats. He informed that besides covering topics related to natural farming, other subjects such as ICT and drone application in agriculture, integration of agroforestry, and agro-tourism were also taken up during the training. Exposure to farmer's fields in Solan and Shimla and the university’s research station at Mashobra were also undertaken. 

Dr. Inder Dev, Director Extension Education, Dr. Manish Sharma, Dean College of Horticulture, Dr. CL Thakur, Dean College of Forestry, heads of department, scientists of the university along with the members of the university's natural farming team took part in the session.