SKUAST-K launches natural farming training programmes at Ladakh

Srinagar, Apr 17: Two specialised training programs on Natural Farming were inaugurated today at the Directorate of Extension/SAMETI under SKUAST-K’s Centre of Natural Farming.

The four-day initiatives, running until April 20, are being conducted in collaboration with MANAGE Hyderabad, Department of Agriculture, and the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of India.

The programmes aim to build capacity among KVK Scientists, state and district officials, and Farmer Master Trainers from both Ladakh and Jammu & Kashmir in climate-resilient agricultural practices under the National Mission on Natural Farming.

SKUAST-K Vice Chancellor Prof. Nazir Ahmed Ganai, who served as Chief Guest, characterised Ladakh as “Naturally Natural” with significant potential to become a model region for natural farming implementation. He urged large-scale adoption of sustainable practices to preserve the region’s fragile ecosystem while maintaining food security.

During his address, Prof. Ganai called for the development of a dedicated mobile application to create a comprehensive database tracking crop chronology of farm families practicing natural farming in Ladakh, emphasizing the importance of data-driven agriculture.

Prof. Raihana Habib Kanth, Director Extension/SAMETI, provided detailed insights on natural farming principles and their relevance to Ladakh’s unique agro-ecological conditions.

The training modules include brainstorming sessions on natural farming techniques, field visits to demonstration sites, and hands-on training for preparing bio-decoctions and other natural inputs.

The event drew participation from extension scientists, resource persons, officials from Leh and Kargil districts, and Farmer Master Trainers, representing a crucial step toward establishing resilient, low-input farming systems across the Himalayan region.