The School of Organic Farming, Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), started a 21-day Residential Certificate Course on “Organic Farming and Certification” at the Skill Development Centre of PAU today. Sponsored by the Regional Centre for Organic and Natural Farming (RCONF), Ghaziabad, the course will provide participants with the in-depth, hands-on training in organic and natural farming practices. Free boarding and lodging will also be provided, ensuring a fully immersive experience for the participants.
In his inaugural address, Dr AS Dhatt, Director of Research, stressed the need for advanced research to make the organic farming more profitable and sustainable for the farmers. He also focused on innovative practices that enhanced productivity while preserving ecological balance.
The Director of Extension Education Dr MS Bhullar emphasized the importance of engaging farmers directly in promoting organic methods. Besides, he advocated a farmer-centric approach to ensure the widespread adoption of organic farming techniques.
At the inaugural session, Dr SS Walia, Director, School of Organic Farming, welcomed the participants and emphasized the growing importance of organic farming in achieving sustainable agricultural practices.
The Course Coordinator Dr Manoj Kumar, Director, Regional Centre for Organic and Natural Farming, Panchkula, explained the structure of the programme, which was designed to provide a balance of theoretical knowledge and practical skills, enabling farmers to adopt organic farming practices efficiently. Dr Kumar emphasized the importance of promoting organic agriculture to enhance soil health, biodiversity, and farmer income; and highlighted the need for knowledge-sharing platforms like this one to equip the farmers with the latest techniques.
Dr Rupinder Kaur Toor, Associate Director (Skill Development), gave an overview of the training programme, highlighting the economic and environmental benefits of the organic farming. Later, she proposed a vote of thanks.
During the training, participants will be introduced to organic certification process, learning about regulations, record-keeping, and compliance standards needed to achieve certification for both national and international markets. Additionally, the course will cover value addition techniques, field demonstrations and visits to successful organic farms, helping the trainees understand how to implement organic practices in their own farming operations effectively.
The programme, coordinated by Dr AS Sidhu, ensured that participants shall not only gain theoretical knowledge but also practical skills to directly apply organic farming techniques in their fields.
Read more: https://www.pau.edu/index.php?_act=manageEvent&DO=viewEventDetail&dataE=datae&intID=9650
