JAMMU: The Directorate of Agriculture Jammu, in collaboration with the Regional Council PGS-India Jammu Divisional Seed Certification Officer, organized a one-day Farmer Training & Demonstration on Organic/Natural Farming here today at Kisan Kendra. The program targeted Active Lead Resource Persons (LRPs) and Local Group (LG) members registered on the PGS-India Portal, equipping them with essential skills and knowledge for advancing organic farming practices.
The training was inaugurated by the Director of Agriculture Jammu, S. Arvinder Singh Reen, part of the Alternate Agriculture System for Sustainability project, under the Holistic Agriculture Development Programme (HADP) 2024-25. In his address, Director Agriculture emphasized the role of organic farming in providing high-quality, nutritious food to consumers and enhancing farmers' incomes. He encouraged participants to adopt results-oriented approaches in their organic farming practices to strengthen both the agricultural sector and the health of the nation.
Director also provided insights into the recent registration of 215 organic clusters on the PGS-India portal, including 115 under the Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY) and 100 under HADP. These clusters are set to undergo a three-year certification process, ultimately achieving PGS certification and an organic logo for market sale. During this certification period, the Department of Agriculture will supply organic inputs and training to the registered farmers, while also supporting marketing and branding efforts to increase farmer earnings.
To mark the program's commitment to organic farming, Scope Certificates and Biofertilizer Kits were distributed to successful organic clusters at Kisan Kendra, providing farmers with the tools they need to transition to organic practices effectively.
The program was attended by prominent officials, including Joint Director Agriculture (Extension/SLUB) Satish Sharma, Deputy Director (Trainings) Alok Pandotra, Regional Council PGS India (Divisional Seed Certification Officer Jammu) Prem Singh, and SMS-RL, along with other key figures in the agricultural sector.
Technical sessions were conducted by experts, including Shri Arvind Bali (PGS Auditor, DSCO Jammu), Shri Itwari Sharma (Organic Farming Expert, DSCO Jammu), and Shri Vishal Sharma (Expert in Organic and Natural Farming, DSCO Jammu), who shared valuable insights on sustainable farming methods. Shri Rajeev katoch Programme Manager conducted the proceedings of the event.
