Suttur, December 16, 2021: The ICAR JSS Krishi Vignan Kendra has successfully organized an online telecast of the Natural Agricultural Farming Conference and Indigenous Vegetable Seed Production Training Program. The virtual event brought together agricultural experts, government officials, and farmers to discuss the benefits and techniques of natural farming and indigenous vegetable seed production.
Sri Sadananda, a member of the Mysuru Zilla Panchayat, highlighted the importance of natural agricultural farming and encouraged participants to make the most of the program. Sri Narendra Singh Tomar, the Minister for Agriculture of the Government of India, shed light on various government initiatives such as the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Yojana, Kisan Credit Card, Farmer Producers’ Association, and Atma Nirbhar programs, urging farmers to embrace natural farming practices.
Addressing the audience, Sri Amit Shah, the Home Minister, emphasized that adopting natural farming methods can reduce production costs while enhancing soil fertility and increasing yields. He also stressed the growing global demand and premium prices for organic products, emphasizing the need for farmers to transition to natural farming.
The event also featured Sri Acharya, the Governor of Gujarat, who shared his experiences with natural farming and advised farmers to cease using chemicals and instead opt for natural products like ‘Jeevamrutha,’ ‘Ghana Jeevamrutha,’ ‘Nimaastra,’ and ‘Beejamrutha.’ Sri Acharya emphasized that these methods can significantly increase soil organic carbon and improve yields while minimizing expenses.
In his address, Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged farmers to draw inspiration from Governor Acharya’s words and undertake a revolutionary shift towards natural farming. He emphasized the need to make Indian soil completely chemical-free and highlighted the importance of indigenous cattle in farming practices.
The training program also featured Sri Kalappa from Hitne Hebbagilu Village, Periyapatna Taluk, Mysuru District, as a resource person. He shared his experiences in growing vegetable seeds using natural farming methods and provided insights on disease and pest management. Sri Kalappa also discussed the preparation of various decoctions using herbal ingredients to effectively address crop diseases and pest infestations.
A total of 87 participants, including students from the VC Farm of Agriculture University, Mandya, members of the Sri Kshetra Dharmastala Rural Development Program’s Self Help Groups, staff from JSS KVK and Biligere Raitha Samparka Kendra, as well as male and female farmers from Biligere and surrounding villages, actively participated in the program.