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100 DAYS ACTION PLAN SKILL DEVELOPMENT TRAINING PROGRAMME ON NATURAL FARMING

        ICAR-Krishi Vigyan Kendra, West Garo Hills organized six days skill development training programme on Natural Farming from 2nd-7th September 2024 for 50 farmers from five different villages as part of 100 Days Action Plan with an objective of educating the farmers of West Garo Hills District on Natural Farming and its multiple benefits. As it is a chemical free farming, it proved to be an excellent way out as it helps the farmers to reduce the cost of production by minimizing the reliance on artificial fertilizers and industrial pesticides. Recognizing its potential, ICAR -KVK organized a week long training programme on Natural farming by covering in depth lectures and hands on practicals during the programme. The programme started on 2nd September 2024 with an welcome note by Dr.Joyoshree Mahanta CTO(PP) who was also the course coordibnator of the programme. Senior Scientist and Head of KVK Dr. Monica Suresh Singh also briefed the farmers about the importance of Natural Farming. The training programme featured a series of lectures delivered by various experts of KVK Dr. Tarun Kumar Das, Dr. Sagarika Borah, Ms. Priyanka Saha, and Mr. Ramawatar Yadav on Organic versus Natural farming; Soil conservation; Livestock Integration in Natural farming, nutrient management, soil health management, Participatory guarantee system, Potential components for integrated farming system under natural farming, biological pest management, importance of mulching in natural farming; AESA based IPM etc. Hands on practicals on preparation of Bijamrutha; Jeevamrutha; Neem astra; Agni astra as well as FYM enrichment technique with bioagents (Trichoderma, Bacillus, Pseudomonas etc) were conducted by CTO (PP) Dr.J.Mahanta,.On the last day of the training program the participants were taken on an exposure visit to the Biofertilizer Production Laboratory at College of Community Science, Tura under CAU. The farmers were also supported with pheromone traps; yellow sticky trap and neem( Azadirecta india) saplings during the training to encourage ecofriendly management tactics of insect pests of crops. Farmers showed keen interest during the training programme and raised various queries which were answered satisfactorily. As the six days training programme came to an end on 7th September 2024 certificates were provided to the farmers. They also reciprocated by thanking KVK and expressed keen interest in adopting Natural farming techniques in their field especially in vegetable crop.