Nagpur: The agro and food processing cell of Vidarbha Industries Association discussed opportunities and challenges in organic farming at a daylong seminar organized at VIA Hall, Udyog Bhavan, on Saturday. Farmers and green enthusiast from various parts of the region participated in the event.
Organic farming has been an aged old practice of India. It is a method of farming system which is primarily aimed at cultivating the land and raising crops in such a way so as to keep the soil alive and in good health by using organic wastes and other biological materials along with beneficial microbes to release nutrients to crops for increased sustainable production in an eco-friendly pollution-free environment.
AS Rajput, regional director, ministry of agriculture and farmers welfare, Balasaheb Khemnar, general manager, Biocert International Pvt Ltd, MP Vilas Tijare and Arun Khobragade, chairman of the organizing cell, conducted the first half of the technical session in which they emphasized on basic concepts of organic farming, government schemes, organic certification of crops, value addition in agricultural produce and integrated farming.
This was followed by another interesting session by Tarachand Belji from MP and Ruchi Soni from Regional Centre of Organic Farming. The experts spoke about the opportunities, challenges and breakthrough innovations that are happening in this sector.
"Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North Eastern Region and Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY) are the two schemes of the government. The budget for PKVY is Rs300 crore which is very less in order to benefit a country with 1.3 billion population," said Rajput.
Rajput said that the recent incident of Yavatmal pesticide poisoning in which many farmers lost lives is very disheartening. Extensive use of pesticides is an issue of rising concern. Owing to the unsaid competition between farmers that their farm should appear greener than their neighbours, they are ready to spend a hefty amount on pesticides.
They need to be informed about proper measures and substitute methods to grow natural and healthy products, he added. They need to be informed about proper measures and substitute methods to grow natural and healthy products, he added.
Rajput described preparation method of bijamrut, panchgavya, sanjivak, jiwamrut and amritpani which are organic products for seed treatment and soil enrichment.
President of VIA Atul Pande and Om Jajodia were present.
Organic farming has been an aged old practice of India. It is a method of farming system which is primarily aimed at cultivating the land and raising crops in such a way so as to keep the soil alive and in good health by using organic wastes and other biological materials along with beneficial microbes to release nutrients to crops for increased sustainable production in an eco-friendly pollution-free environment.
AS Rajput, regional director, ministry of agriculture and farmers welfare, Balasaheb Khemnar, general manager, Biocert International Pvt Ltd, MP Vilas Tijare and Arun Khobragade, chairman of the organizing cell, conducted the first half of the technical session in which they emphasized on basic concepts of organic farming, government schemes, organic certification of crops, value addition in agricultural produce and integrated farming.
This was followed by another interesting session by Tarachand Belji from MP and Ruchi Soni from Regional Centre of Organic Farming. The experts spoke about the opportunities, challenges and breakthrough innovations that are happening in this sector.
"Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North Eastern Region and Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY) are the two schemes of the government. The budget for PKVY is Rs300 crore which is very less in order to benefit a country with 1.3 billion population," said Rajput.
Rajput said that the recent incident of Yavatmal pesticide poisoning in which many farmers lost lives is very disheartening. Extensive use of pesticides is an issue of rising concern. Owing to the unsaid competition between farmers that their farm should appear greener than their neighbours, they are ready to spend a hefty amount on pesticides.
They need to be informed about proper measures and substitute methods to grow natural and healthy products, he added. They need to be informed about proper measures and substitute methods to grow natural and healthy products, he added.
Rajput described preparation method of bijamrut, panchgavya, sanjivak, jiwamrut and amritpani which are organic products for seed treatment and soil enrichment.
President of VIA Atul Pande and Om Jajodia were present.
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