Training / exhibition on natural farming conducted at Modi village
Source: The Sangai Express
Thoubal, March 21 2023:
A training cum exhibition on natural farming was organised today at Modi village, Chandel sponsored by the Ministry of Agricultural and Farmers' Welfare, Government of India, New Delhi.
The programme was conducted under the project "Out scaling of natural farming through KVKs" and witnessed the attendance of Dr A Ameeta Devi, Head i/c cum SMS (Animal Science), ICAR � KVK Chandel and Kl John, Chief of Modi village as presidium members.
Delivering the keynote address, Dr Kl Levish Chongloi, SMS (Agronomy) informed the farmers that natural farming is a chemical-free traditional farming method and it is an agroecology based diversified farming system which integrates crops, trees and livestock with functional biodiversity.
She highlighted the benefits of adopting natural farming such as increasing production, sustainability, saving water use, improvement in soil health and farmland ecosystem.
In her speech Dr A Ameeta Devi emphasized and encouraged the rearing of local cows depending on their farm size for natural farming.
She explained to the farmers that in organic farming, bio-fertilizers and bio-pesticides are used, but zero budget natural farming is purely dependent on cows.
She also informed that there is a need to eliminate chemicals in agriculture gradually and to conserve natural resources and revive already depleted natural resources by propagating natural farming to save the soil, water, environment, animal and human health and ultimately overall agro ecosystems.
Kl John said that farmers in Modi village have adopted natural ways of farming through generations and organised organic or natural farming mela every year in the village to promote chemical free crops.
Later, training on natural farming was conducted by experts from ICAR � KVK Chandel.
The resource persons were Ps Lavid Anal, SMS (Horticulture), Ts Leenda Monsang, SMS (Plant Breeding), Dr K Sonamani Singh, SMS (Agri Engg).
In the exhibition, natural farming products and millets varieties were showcased.
68 farmers and staff of ICAR � KVK Chandel attended the programme.