ICAR-NOFRI Empowered Maharashtra Farmers with
Organic Farming TechniquesICAR-National Organic Farming Research Institute (NOFRI), Tadong, Gangtok organized training on ‘Technology Demonstrations for Organic Crop Production and Animal Husbandry’ under Tribal Sub Plan (TSP) for the progressive farmers of Maharashtra in collaboration with Maharashtra Agricultural Competitiveness Project (MACP), Shivajinagar, Pune at ICAR Tadong on November 24, 2016 under the guidance of Dr. R.K. Avasthe, Joint Director, ICAR-NOFRI. A total of 26 nos. of representatives for various ‘Farmers Producer Organizations’ visited ICAR-NOFRI under MACP - ATMA, Pune to learn the organic crop production techniques at ICAR-NOFRI. Dr. Ashish Yadav, Senior Scientist (Horticulture) coordinated the program and also detailed on the ‘Organic kiwifruit production techniques; and ‘Year round organic vegetable production under low cost plastic tunnels and rain shelters’. Dr. Matber Singh, Scientist Senior Scale (Agroforestry) demonstrated ‘Organic large cardamom production techniques’; Dr. Rafiqul Islam, Senior Scientist (Animal Reproduction) discussed the importance of goat and poultry in organic agriculture and Dr. Brijesh Kumar, Scientist (Animal Reproduction) discussed the importance of dairy, piggery, yak and Tibetan sheep in organic agriculture horticulture production system. Mr. Vikram Sinh Nimbhalkar coordinated the farmers of Pune through MACP-ATMA, Pune. Interactive discussions were held with the farmers on technologies developed by ICAR-NOFRI for quick and easy transfer of the technologies; farmers showed keen interest and appreciated the efforts of ICAR. All the team members also visited the ICAR-NOFRI Research Farm and were briefed about the ongoing research and development activities. Mr. Avinash, SRF; Mr. Adarsh Kumar, SRF; Ms. Rajani Pradhan, Ms. Sujata Rai and Mr. Pushkal assisted in organizing the program.
