Srinagar: SKUAST-Kashmir inaugurated two days workshop on organic farming in collaboration with Deptt. Of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare J&K. Navin Kumar Chaudhary Principal Secretary Agriculture Production & Farmer’s Welfare Department, UT of J&K, was the chief guest of the event.
During the two days workshop main focus would-be on developing a frame work for promoting organic farming system in J&K.
Prof. J.P. Sharma, Vice-Chancellor SKUAST-J&K thanked the chief guest for his active role in conceptualizing this workshop in order to make the dream of organic farming a reality in the state. He apprised the house that University is working in close coordination with Development departments for mapping of different districts in order to revise organic map in the state so that one district one organic product is identified for its further promotion and branding. He desired that recommendations of this workshop will not be merely an academic exercise but a plan to be implemented on ground. He informed that syllabus for organic farming has been devised and handed over to department of Education for inculcating in school curriculum. He lauded efforts of Director Research Prof Sarfaraz Wani & Director Agriculture Iqbal Chaudhary in organizing this workshop .
Navin Kumar ChaudharyI Principal Secretary Agriculture production Department & Farmers welfare laid stress that scientists and Officers of Development Department should develop mechanism for inculcating of organic culture among farming community. He informed that hard targets have to be kept for next three years in order to make transition towards organic agriculture. He informed that marketing and packaging along with regress certification in organic products have to be undertaken to facilitate promotion of organic farming at grass root level. The scientists of the university were asked to prioritize research based on farmers issues.
. Iqbal Choudhary Director Agriculture Kashmir appreciated the efforts of Principal Secretary APD for notifying two organic certification agencies for the UT and devising programmes for strengthening organic farming . He desired that this workshop shall be helpful for the farmers/ entrepreneur’sto learn standards of organic farming from experts / scientists across the country. Ajaz Ahmad Bhat Director General Horticulture stressed on augmenting organic input production to reduce dependence on chemical fertilizers and termed the workshop a good beginning. He thanked Directorate of Research for providing timely advisories for management of various field related issues &their management in horticulture crops. Earlier prominent organic farmers SBarat BushanTyagi Padma , Masarat and Irshad Dar shared their experiences &spoke about the opportunities of organic farming and identified issues pertaining to FPo”s.
During technical sessions of the workshop deliberations will be made upon opportunities and challenges and devising policy guidelines for promoting organic farming in J&K encompassing the transition process, production to marketing value chain as well as issues related to certification. Till the compilation of report first technical session on organic farming under the chairmanship of Director extension Prof Dil Mohammad Makdoomi was conducted in which five speakers presented papers and were awarded.
The workshop is being attended by a galaxy of scientists, National advisors within and outside state, Directors of SKUAST-K, Deans of Faculties, Registrar, Directors of Development Departments, Scientists, Jt. Directors, District Officers, Head of Departments, national / local famers and budding entrepreneurs in organic farming.

KR Desk