PAU Holds Virtual Mass Awareness Campaign on Organic Farming
19 May 2021, Punjab, IN: The School of Organic Farming, Punjab Agricultural University and ICAR- Indian Institute of Farming Systems Research (IIFSR), Modipuram jointly organized a virtual mass awareness campaign on organic farming in which more than 300 farmers, students and other stakeholders participated.
Dr N Ravishankar, National Principal Investigator of the All India Network Programme on Organic Farming (AINPOF), welcomed the participants and briefed about the awareness campaign.
Dr Peyush Punia, Director (in-charge), ICAR-IIFSR, informed that series of awareness programmes on organic farming were being conducted in different regions of the country to observe the commemoration of 75thyear of India’s Independence.
Dr Navtej Singh Bains, Director of Research, PAU, also graced the occasion. Dr Bains emphasized that safe food production is equally important as is the organic farming. He highlighted the research efforts of PAU in the development of production and protection technology for the organic and safe food production. He informed that PAU has also taken initiatives of introducing minor millets and development of crop varieties suitable for organic farming.
Dr CS Aulakh, Director, School of Organic Farming, PAU, and Principal Investigator of the AINPOF, highlighted the project activities at Ludhiana centre. He also presented a key lecture on organic standards and production technology, and informed about the newly established ‘PAU-SAFEFOOD Production Practices’ certification scheme.
Dr Neeraj Rani, Dr Subhash Singh and Dr Manmohan Dhakal, experts from PAU, delivered lectures on soil health management, insect-pest management and disease management in organic farming, respectively.
Mr Sriniwasmurthy from National Centre of Organic Farming, Ghaziabad discussed the certification and marketing of organic produce.
Dr Umendra Dutt from Kheti Virasat Mission also shared his views followed by interaction with farmers.
Experts from PAU, namely, Dr SS Walia and Dr Vinay Sindhu coordinated the programme. Later, Dr Walia proposed a vote of thanks.
