Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 30: Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Science and Technology (SKUAST) Jammu will host 1st zonal convention of Agrivision on `Natural Farming- A national priority for Human Health and Ecological Restoration’ on April 5-6, 2022.
This was informed by Prof J P Sharma, Vice Chancellor of SKUAST-Jammu while addressing a press conference, here today.
Reiterating the statement of Prime Minister Narendra Modi that chemical fertilizers and pesticides were damaging the health of soil, the Vice-Chancellor said that the two-day convention is a step towards sensitizing farmers and other stakeholders about natural farming in Jammu & Kashmir.
“SKUAST-Jammu is pioneer in implementing the scheme of Natural farming for the welfare of public in large and Natural farming shall soon be a part of the curriculum,” he added.
Giving statistics, Prof Sharma informed that Consumption of pesticides in India was 62193 MT, including 3352 MT in J&K even as Jammu Division uses only 146.59 MT while fertilizer usage in J&K is less than half of the national usage.
“Natural Farming is the art, practice and increasingly the science of working with nature to achieve much more with less,” he said, adding that natural farming focuses on using inputs that are produced on-farm such as the animal manures and crop residues as well as bioformulations made from local raw materials.
Cow-manure, cow-urine, residue of crops, local herbs etc are commonly available and they can be used to prepare inputs like vermicompost, beejamrit, jeevamrit, panchgavya etc, explained the Vice-Chancellor and listed benefits of natural farming, such as minimized cost of production & increased farmers’ income, better health, employment generation through input enterprises, environment friendly, less water consumption and sivestock Sustainability, etc. At present, 11 States in India are practicing natural farming covering 6.5 Lakh hectares total area.
“Government of India has taken up strong initiatives for the promotion of natural farming in the country and a high level committee has been framed under the Chairmanship of Dr Anupam Mishra, Vice Chancellor, CAU, Imphal, who will also be deliberating during the two- day Agri-vision conference,” informed Prof Sharma.
Stating that natural farming in J&K has huge potential, the Vice-Chancellor said that vast areas in the UT by default are traditionally low chemical fertilizer consumers and hills are primarily chemical free.
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