The Department of Agriculture, Mayabunder, has intensified efforts to promote sustainable farming by conducting a two-day training programme on Natural Farming, equipping farmers with practical techniques to improve soil health and reduce dependence on chemical inputs under the National Mission on Natural Farming (NMNF).
The programme was organised on July 3 and 4 at the Karmatang and Webi clusters of Mayabunder in collaboration with the Union Territory Agricultural Technology Management Agency (UTATMA) and Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Nimbudera, under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme – National Mission on Natural Farming.
The initiative focused on creating awareness about sustainable agricultural practices while providing farmers with practical knowledge on preparing and using bio-inputs to enhance long-term farm productivity.
During the technical session, Y. Ramakrishna, Head of KVK, Nimbudera, explained the importance of natural farming in restoring soil fertility and ensuring sustainable agricultural production. He highlighted the adverse effects of prolonged use of chemical fertilizers on soil organic carbon and discussed practical methods to improve soil health through natural farming practices.
Earlier, Shamna Salam, Agriculture Officer, Mayabunder, outlined the objectives of the National Mission on Natural Farming and emphasized the growing need to adopt environmentally sustainable farming practices for long-term agricultural development.
As part of the practical sessions, Agriculture Technology Management Agency (ATMA) staff conducted hands-on demonstrations on the preparation and application of bio-inputs, including Jeevamrit and Neemastra. The demonstrations enabled participants to understand the process of independently preparing these formulations for use on their farms.
Farmers, Krishi Sakhis and members of Self-Help Groups participated in the practical exercises and gained first-hand experience in preparing natural farming inputs that can be applied in agricultural fields.
To support the adoption of natural farming practices, the Department of Agriculture distributed Natural Farming kits containing study materials, frequently asked questions booklets and notepads to all enrolled farmers.
The Department also distributed 250 drums to farmers from the Karmatang and Webi clusters under the National Mission on Natural Farming. The drums are intended to facilitate the preparation of bio-inputs required for natural farming.
The programme recorded the participation of 90 stakeholders, including enrolled farmers, Krishi Sakhis, Self-Help Group members, ATMA personnel and officials of the Department of Agriculture, Mayabunder.
The training programme forms part of the ongoing implementation of the National Mission on Natural Farming, which aims to encourage wider adoption of sustainable agricultural practices by equipping farmers with technical knowledge, practical skills and essential resources for natural farming.
