21-day residential course on organic farming, certification begins at agri varsity

The School of Organic Farming, Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), started a 21-day residential certificate course on organic farming and certification at the Skill Development Centre of the PAU today. Sponsored by the Regional Centre for Organic and Natural Farming (RCONF), Ghaziabad, the course aims to provide participants with in-depth, hands-on training in organic and natural farming practices. Free boarding and lodging will also be provided.

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In his inaugural address, Dr AS Dhatt, Director of Research, stressed on the need for advanced research to make the organic farming more profitable and sustainable for the farmers. He also focused on innovative practices that enhanced productivity while preserving ecological balance.

The Director of Extension Education Dr MS Bhullar emphasised the importance of engaging farmers directly in promoting organic methods. Besides, he advocated a farmer-centric approach to ensure the widespread adoption of organic farming techniques.

At the inaugural session, Dr SS Walia, director, School of Organic Farming, welcomed the participants and emphasised the growing importance of organic farming in achieving sustainable agricultural practices.

Course coordinator Dr Manoj Kumar, director, Regional Centre for Organic and Natural Farming, Panchkula, explained the structure of the programme, which was designed to provide a balance of theoretical knowledge and practical skills, enabling farmers to adopt organic farming practices efficiently. Dr Kumar emphasised the importance of promoting organic agriculture to enhance soil health, biodiversity and farmer income; and highlighted the need for knowledge-sharing platforms like this one to equip the farmers with the latest techniques.

During the training, participants will be introduced to organic certification process, learning about regulations, record-keeping and compliance standards needed to achieve certification for both national and international markets. Additionally, the course will cover value addition techniques, field demonstrations and visits to successful organic farms, helping the trainees understand how to implement organic practices in their own farming operations effectively.