A week-long training programme to promote natural farming - a chemical free farming involving livestock and diversified crop system concluded on Saturday at Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) Gurez.
KVK Gurez conducted the training programme under National Mission on Natural Farming (NMNF) supported by the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare.
The programme aimed to train the grassroots workers- Krishi Sakhis / Community Resource Persons (CRPs) for further dissemination among farming community, covered all three regions viz Dawar, Bagtore and Tulail comprising of 15 clusters.
Two Krishi Sakhis from each cluster were trained making a total of 30 trainees under the ambit of the programme.
The event covered 30 thematic areas discussed and deliberated at length through power point presentations followed with practical demonstrations and field visits.
The programme witnessed participation from District Agriculture officer Bandipora, SDAO Bandipora, Block Development officer Gurez, scientists from SKUAST-Kashmir, officers from Animal Husbandry, Sheep Husbandry who were entrusted as the Resource Persons as well.
Speaking at the concluding ceremony, Sub Divisional Magistrate, Gurez, Mukhtar Ahmad, appreciated the efforts of KVK Gurez for inculcating skill, imparting knowledge to the farmers for overall development of Agriculture and allied sectors in Gurez under harsh climatic conditions.
Head KVK Gurez, Dr Hilal Ahmad Malik reiterated directions of the Vice-Chancellor SKUAST-Kashmir, Prof Nazir Ahmad Ganai to boost the farming sector with focus on niche crops without promoting any chemical or synthetic application and informed that Natural farming was one such programme to achieve the excellence.
Chief Agriculture officer, Bandipora during his virtual deliberation with Krishi Sakhis stressed upon more practical knowledge and desired Krishi Sakhis to serve as bridge between Research system and farming community especially women farmers who perform most of the farm operations under hill conditions.