19 March 2024, Kanpur: The 16th Institute Foundation Day celebration of ICAR-Agricultural Technology Application Research Institute, Zone-III, Kanpur was organized today. A 2-day National Seminar on ‘Consonance with Nature (CoWiN-24): Cultivating Sustainability through Natural Farming Practices’ was also inaugurated during the event.
Dr. U.S. Gautam, DDG (AE), ICAR, attended the program through online mode and stated that the Krishi Vigyan Kendras is completing 50 years on 21st March 2024, and on this occasion, the Golden Jubilee program will be celebrated throughout the year.
The Chief Guest Shri. Abhay Mahajan, Organization Secretary, Deendayal Research Institute, New Delhi, said that the importance of Krishi Vigyan Kendra has increased a lot in the country, and natural farming is historically linked to the culture and tradition of India. There is a need to revive it and in this direction, the participation of farmers, extension experts, and researchers is very important.
The Chairman of the inaugural programme Prof. Sudhir Kumar Awasthi, Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Chhatrapati Shahu Ji Maharaj University, Kanpur stated that the university and ICAR-ATARI, Kanpur are working together to promote natural farming. He stressed the importance of fossils in soil.
The Guest of Honor Dr. G.P. Dixit, Director, ICAR-Indian Institute of Pulses Research, Kanpur, and Dr. R. Viswanathan, Director, ICAR-Indian Institute of Sugarcane Research, Lucknow, were also present during the programme.
Dr. Shantanu Kumar Dubey, Director, ICAR-ATARI, Kanpur, spoke about the background of this seminar, stating that KVKs of 52 districts of Uttar Pradesh have Natural Farming projects, including 26 districts along the banks of Ganga. Dr. Dubey further added that ICAR-ATARI, Kanpur Institute works to develop an action plan for 89 Krishi Vigyan Kendras of Uttar Pradesh, monitor and evaluate the works, and get new technologies tested and demonstrated on the fields of farmers through KVKs. He highlighted that KVKs are working to make farmers organized and self-reliant by creating FPOs.
A MoU was signed and exchanged between Chandra Shekhar Azad University of Agriculture & Technology, Kanpur, and ICAR-ATARI Kanpur.
Scientists of 52 KVKs of the Natural Farming Project, farmers, researchers, and students also participated in the seminar.
