Photo Source: Babushahi Bureau
Organic farming picking up in Punjab: PAU tells farmers
Babushahi Bureau
Ludhiana (Punjab), February 3, 2025: Boosting chemical-free production, the Skill Development Centre of the Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), conducted a five-day training programme on “Organic Farming” in which 33 members of agricultural community participated.
“It is important to educate and motivate farmers to get rid of excessive use of pesticides for long-term health benefits of the human beings,” observed Dr Rupinder Kaur, Associate Director (Skill Development), while speaking at the concluding ceremony.
Stating that organic cultivation was highly beneficial as subsidiary occupation for the small farmers and as solution to chemical-free cultivation, Dr Kaur made a call for its fast-paced adoption among the rural community.
Dr Kulvir Kaur, Course Coordinator, while referring to the growing importance of organic production in the state, shed light on its immense benefits including environment-natural resource friendly technology.
Dr SS Walia, Director, School of Organic Farming, said that organic farming was witnessing an upsurge, especially, for bolstering the natural farming in the state. He shared the prudent measures and the apt technologies developed to make organic cultivation profitable.
Resource persons comprising Dr Neeraj Rani, Dr KS Bhullar, Dr Gulab Pandove, Dr Sukhpreet Singh, Dr Subash Singh, Dr Vajinderpal, and Dr AS Sidhu explained different aspects of organic farming with special focus on vermicompost making, organic cultivation of fruits, use of organic manures, water and insect-pest management, integrated farming system model, and natural farming, respectively.
Besides, experts Dr Rajendra Kumar, Dr Manish Thakur, Dr Amanpreet, Dr Preetinder Kaur, Dr PS Shera, Dr Rakesh Rathore, Dr Khushdeep Dharni and Dr Ramandeep Singh talked about medicinal and herbal plants’ cultivation, vegetable cultivation via natural farming techniques, importance of medicinal and herbal plantation, packing of organic manures and vermi-compost, use of bioagents, successful organic growers, marketing of organic products and nouveau agri-business models, respectively.
The Course Co-Coordinator Dr Lavleesh Garg, Extension Scientist, coordinated the visits to organic farming research area, integrated farming system model area, vermi-compost unit, etc. at PAU. Later, Mrs Kanwaljit Kaur proposed a vote of thanks.