ICAR-NOFRI Organized Inter State Training on Organic Farming for Officers and Progressive Farmers of Maharashtra
ICAR-National Organic Farming Research Institute (NOFRI), Tadong in collaboration with ATMA Gondia, Department of Agriculture, Govt. of Maharashtra organized 3-day Training Program for the officers and progressive farmers of district Gondia, Maharashtra during February 6-8, 2018 in order to update them with latest organic production technologies. A total of 32 persons participated in the training program.
Dr. R.K. Avasthe, Joint Director, ICAR-NOFRI addressed the farmers about various ongoing farmer welfare programmes at ICAR-NOFRI and invited all farmers to actively interact during the deliberations by the scientists on various technologies on crop and vegetable production including the livestock and poultry production. Joint Director also presented the importance of healthy soil for production of healthy food grains and vegetables for development of a healthy society. He specifically enriched the knowledge of the farmers with the available technologies for enriching and maintaining soil fertility and health under organic production systems with the addition of farmyard manures from cattle, goat, poultry and pigs. He further reiterated to adapt vermicompost technology for profitable organic farming in Sikkim. Joint Director also distributed the training certificates to the participants.
Dr. Yashoda Pradhan, CEO, Sikkim Organic Certification Agency, addressed the farmers and briefed about the journey of organic farming in Sikkim. She also detailed about the role of certification in organic farming, which is mandatory for the export of organic produce and also to fetch better prices in local market.
Coordinating the program, Dr. Ashish Yadav, Senior Scientist (Horticulture) highlighted the relevance of this training program and its impact on production of agriculture and horticultural crops. He said that Sikkim farmers are adopting ICAR-NOFRI improved organic production technologies on large scale and detailed the ‘Organic fruit and vegetable production technologies’ to the participants.
Addressing the participants, Dr. Raghavendra Singh, Senior Scientist (Agronomy) said that this kind of training shall help the farmers to learn the basics of organic farming and some of the ICAR-NOFRI technologies can be replicated by Maharashtra farmer’s especially organic rice production techniques. He also discussed about discussed about ‘Organic farming, organic production standards’ and ‘Conservation agriculture for organic field crop production’.
Shri Rekhlal Bhau, Shri Chameshwar Dudhram Gahane, Shri Kailash Bhojlal Bhaghele and Shri Sachin Sambhaji Kumbhar, Gondia, Maharashtra in their addresses appreciated the ICAR-NOFRI organic production technologies. They all profusely thanked Joint Director and his Scientific Team for organizing the 3-day Inter State training program for Maharashtra farmers.
During the technical session, Dr. Matber Singh, Scientist SS (Agroforestry) talked on ‘Role of Agroforestry for enhancement of crop production in organic farming’; Shri Shaon Kr. Das, Scientist (Soil Science) discussed the ‘Organic nutrient management and soil sampling procedures’; Dr. N. Johnson Singh, SMS (Plant Protection) detailed on ‘Insect pest management in organic production system’; Dr. Shweta Singh, Scientist (Plant Pathology) talked about the ‘Disease management in organic production system’; Dr. Chandramani Raj, Scientist (Plant Pathology) spoken on ‘Preparations and applications of biopesticides and biofungicides solutions’. Dr. Rafiqul Islam, Senior Scientist (Animal Reproduction) discussed the ‘Backyard poultry, dairy and goat management techniques and their role in organic farming’. During the program, all the trainees also visited the ICAR-NOFRI Research Farm and were briefed about the ongoing research and development activities. Mr Adarsh Kumar, Ms Rajeni Pradhan, Ms Zangmit Lepcha and Ms. Sujata Rai assisted actively in organizing the program.
- Issued by – ICAR-NOFRI, Gangtok
