2-day sustainable organic farming workshop begins at SKUAST-K
Srinagar, Oct 9: A two-day brainstorming workshop on ‘Integrating Agroforestry for Sustainable Organic Farming in Kashmir’ under the Holistic Agriculture Development Programme (HADP) Project on Alternate Agriculture System for Sustainability began at the Faculty of Forestry, Beehama Ganderbal, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, Kashmir (SKUAST-K) on Thursday.
The inaugural session was presided over by Vice Chancellor of Dr Y S Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Solan, Prof R S Chandel.
The event was attended by Director Research, SKUAST-K, Prof H R Naik; Director, CITH, Prof M K Verma; Dean, Faculty of Forestry, Benehama, A H Mughal, along with officers from line departments and research institutes of Kashmir.
The programme commenced with a formal welcome address by Head, Division of Silviculture and Agroforestry (SAF), Prof G M Bhat, who greeted participants and emphasised the need for collaborative efforts to promote agroforestry-based organic farming models in the region.
This was followed by an overview of the project on organic farming by the Principal Investigator of the project, Parmeet Singh.
He highlighted the key mandates and core pillars of the initiative – economy, equity, and ecology - that form the foundation of sustainable organic agriculture.
In his remarks, Faculty of Forestry, A H Mughal, Dean, presented a brief overview of the workshop’s agenda and expected outcomes.
He underlined the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration in developing agroforestry-based organic farming systems and integrating the principles of sustainability into practical agricultural frameworks.
Addressing the gathering, Director Research, SKUAST-K, Prof H R Naik, spoke about the critical role of agroforestry and organic farming in mitigating climate change impacts in Jammu and Kashmir.
He stressed the adoption of ecologically sound, economically viable, and socially equitable farming practices to achieve long-term sustainability.
Director, CITH, Prof M K Verma, discussed integrated organic farming approaches within agroforestry and horticulture systems, encouraging participants to develop scalable and region-specific models that could enhance both productivity and environmental resilience.
Delivering the keynote address, chief guest Vice Chancellor, Dr Y S Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Solan, Prof R S Chandel, highlighted the transformative potential of integrating sustainable organic farming with agroforestry practices, particularly in ecologically sensitive regions like Kashmir and other parts of the northwestern Himalayas.
He called for innovation and community participation in creating farming systems that are both environmentally sustainable and economically rewarding.
The session concluded with a formal vote of thanks by Head, Division of Forest Products and Utilisation (FPU), Prof P A Sofi, who expressed gratitude to all dignitaries, speakers, and participants for their valuable contributions.
The inaugural session was coordinated by Associate Professor, Division of SAF, N A Pala.
A total of 35 participants from diverse departments, including the Forest Department, Horticulture Department, Sericulture Department, Central Silk Training and Research Institute, ICAR-CITH, and IGFRI, are attending the workshop.
The event aims to foster interdisciplinary collaboration and develop actionable strategies for promoting sustainable, climate-resilient, and organic agroforestry systems in Kashmir.
