 Early Times Report
KATHUA, Sept 26: A one-day training program on the registration of Organic Clusters under the Participatory Guarantee System (PGS) was conducted at the office complex of the Chief Agriculture Officer in Kathua by the Department of Agriculture Production and Farmers' Welfare, Kathua. This initiative aims to enable organic certification for 15 Organic clusters proposed under the Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY) in various villages and Panchayats within the Kathua District.
Sanjeev Rai Gupta, the Chief Agriculture Officer of Kathua, stressed the vital role of organic farming in ensuring sustainable agriculture. He emphasized that organic farming has far-reaching effects not only on agricultural crops but also on animals, soil, air, and water. He highlighted the significant economic benefits that farming communities can reap from organic farming practices, noting that the Participatory Guarantee System (PGS) allows for the organic certification of farmlands, resulting in both economic and ecological returns.
Special trainers from Aditi Organics Certification Pvt Ltd, Jammu and Kashmir, namely Abhishek Mishra, Program Manager, Umar Manzoor, Project Coordinator, and Sushant Sharma, Company Representative and Inspector, were invited to provide comprehensive training to officials and officers from various zones within the Kathua District.
Murari Lal, the District Agriculture Officer (Extension) in Kathua, expressed the belief that this training program would equip officers and officials to educate and guide farmers in their respective areas of operation to obtain organic certification. Notably, the Department of Agriculture in Kathua has taken a significant step forward by proposing 15 Organic clusters under the Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PMKY). These clusters are spread across villages including Lowang, Sandhi, Challah, Draman, Badnota, Durung, Tilla, Makwal, Balan Balla, Sherpur Bala, Padal, Airwan 1, Airwan 2, Jarai, and Kirpala within the Kathua District. The training program was attended by Agriculture Extension Officers, Junior Agriculture Extension Officers, and Agriculture Extension Assistants from the concerned villages and zones that are part of the proposed organic cluster development initiative. |
