Special Lecture on “Organic Gardening: Practices and Challenges”  

Chandigarh, May 14, 2022: A special lecture entitled “Organic Gardening: Practices and Challenges”  was organized by garden committee of Girls Hostel No. 6, Panjab University, Chandigarh under the guidance of Prof. Raj Kumar, Vice-Chancellor, P.U., and supervision of Prof. Jagtar Singh, DSW, Prof. Meena Sharma, DSW(W) and Prof. Ashok Kumar, Associate DSW.  The purpose of this lecture was to discuss the benefits of Organic Gardening and to make our earth clean and green.

Abha Bansal, resident of the hostel, introduced the importance of Organic Gardening. Another resident, Teetikshavi introduced the speaker Prof. M. C. Sidhu.

Dr. Manisha Sharma, Warden, Girls Hostel No. 6 welcomed the speaker Prof. M.C. Sidhu and participants.

According to Prof. M. C. Sidhu, the use of chemical fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides etc were adopted to enhance the crop production so that to meet the requirements of the increasing population. The use of these chemicals in the agriculture practices has affected human health, soil biota, soil composition and other no target organisms. He emphasized that organic gardening/farming may prove a health tonic but may not be able to meet the increased demand. He was of the opinion that we should try to adopt as many organic products as possible to minimize the health hazards caused by the excessive use of chemicals. He also suggested to practice:

The kitchen gardening to grow organic vegetables and fruits to grow indoor plants to manage the shortage of space to avoid the use of chemicals to the level best possible

There was an open discussion with the residents, in which residents asked their queries and the same were answered by Prof. Sidhu. 

Prof. Sidhu, Dr. Manisha Sharma along with the hostel residents visited the kitchen garden of the hostel and sowed the seeds of coriander, ladyfinger and planted chilly.

At last, Dr. Manisha Sharma paid a vote of thanks and urged students to bring awareness among the farmers for nature friendly farming and motivated students to adopt the family farmer concept, where a family can contact a farmer for his daily need of vegetables and milk around the year.