 Early Times Report
SAMBA, Nov 1: Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Samba of She-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences & Technology of Jammu organized Awareness programme on "Natural Farming" at village Balore of district Samba on 1st of November, 2022 under the dynamic leadership of Professor. J.P. Sharma, Vice-Chancellor, SKUAST-Jammu and the aegis of Directorate of Extension, SKUAST-J. More than 50 farmers from village Balore of district Samba have actively participated in the programme.
Initially the program was started by Dr. Sanjay Khajuria, Chief Scientist & Head, KVK Samba. He welcomed all the farmers and highlighted the importance of Natural farming in agriculture particularly in Samba district. He stressed upon the need to practise natural farming in order to ensure the conservation of soil health and make agriculture more profitable. He also assured the farmers that they will be trained in various aspects of natural farming, including preparation of inputs, enriching soil and value addition. He explained in detail to the farmers about the main purpose of organizing the awareness camp to sensitize farmers about the natural farming which is the present need of hour.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Saurav Gupta, Scientist, Entomology and Nodal Officer of the Project Natural Farming briefed the importance of Natural Farming as it offers a solution to various problems, such as food insecurity, farmers' distress, and health problems arising due to pesticide and fertilizer residue in food and water, global warming, climate change and natural calamities. It also has the potential to generate employment, thereby stemming the migration of rural youth. He further added that Natural Farming aims to make farming viable and aspirational by increasing net incomes of farmers on account of cost reduction, reduced risks, similar yields, incomes from intercropping.
Dr. Abhay Kumar Sinha, Senior Scientist Agricultural Engineering and Co-P.I of the project Natural farming described that Farm Mechanization has proved a game changer in the field of Agriculture under which introduction of Farm Machinery like tractors, tillers, farm machinery banks, Custom hiring centers, manual weeders, Irrigation Pump sets, Brush Cutters, innovative farm tools to the farmers has reduced farm drudgery to a greater extent. He said that the farming operations have speed up and this has helped farmers to reduce the cost of cultivation viz a viz carrying timely farm operations thereby influencing crop production and productivity.
Dr. Shalini, Programme Assistant, KVK Samba emphasized the importance of soil in agricultural productivity. She stressed upon that farmers should use organic farming techniques to promote soil health. |
