Jammu/May,18: Department of Horticulture in collaboration with Regional Centre of Organic Farming (RCOF), Government of India organized training programs on Organic Farming here Thursday.
Dr. Chander Shekhar, Junior Scientific Officer, Government of India at Regional Centre of Organic Farming, Kissan Bhawan, Panchkula, Haryana was the mentor and Prabh Dayal was the resource person from RCOF.
Director Horticulture, Bhawani Rakwal inaugurated the training program for officers and progressive farmers for sensitizing them on the growing needs for adoption of Organic Farming practices. While stressing on the need of Organic Farming in present day scenario of unabated use of chemical fertilizers and plant protection chemicals, the novel way of clean and simple farming can lead to a good lifestyle, he said.
Director Horticulture informed that department will initially form the groups for organic certification of Strawberry, Mango and Walnut under Participatory Guarantee System (PGS). The organically certified organic produce also fetches good price of the product, he added.
The visiting expert had threadbare discussions with the participants on the issues of Organic Farming principles and practices, organic farming- an integrated approach, on farm input nutrient management and certification system in Organic Farming under Participatory Guarantee System (PGS).
The demonstration on converting waste to compost through use of specially prepared waste decomposer was also given by the experts wherein large numbers of farmers were made aware about the latest technology for converting waste to compost.
The visit of the experts from RCOF Panchkula, coincided with the Swaachta Pakhwada, the fortnightly review of progress under Swachh Bharat Mission.
Joint Director Horticulture, Tarvinder Singh, Chief Horticulture Officer, District Level Subject Matter Specialists, Assistant Director Horticulture and other officers of the department attended the program.
