Leh, Jan 03: Two-days training programme on Natural Farming under the project “Outscaling of Natural Farming through KVKs” being organized by Krishi Vigyan Kendra, SKUAST-K Nyoma concluded here today.The programme was at training the community and making them aware in Natural farming, a self-sustainable farming system newly introduced in Changthang. About 42 farmers from Mudh village have participated in the said training programme.
On first day and last day of the training programme, a benchmark survey was conducted and all the participants were ask to fill up a questionnaire to know whether they are well aware with the concept of Natural Farming.
Thereafter, the farmers and rural youth were well educated with the concept of Padma-Shri Subash Palekar’s Natural Farming, scope and their significance in Changthang region through powerpoint presentation mode by Dr Phuntsog Tundup, Head KVK Nyoma.
On the 2nd day of the programme, they were appraised with live demonstration on bio-formulation of “Jeewamrit” by the officer. On both days, the trainees were served with lunch and Hi-tea. In the last financial year, the Kendra has provided 15 demonstrations and 06 demonstrations has been planned this year at farmer’s field.
Besides, different issues related to crop pests and diseases faced by the farming community was highlighted and resolved during the programme.
Before 2019-20, the farmers in Ladakh region have practice farming based on limited chemical fertilizer and pesticides. With the initiatives of the local governing body i.e. LAHDCs in Leh and Kargil and with the support of UT administration, Ladakh is advancing towards Sustainable agriculture and various schemes were enforce to implement the mission.
In a region like Changthang, where the farming system is totally based on livestocks, this mission of sustainable or Natural Farming can be a successful one, that will benefits the farming community in terms of better yield, healthy soil, more income for farmers, reduces the health cost for both farmers and consumers and increases social cohesion that ultimately loops back into an increase in productivity.
The basic tenets of zero budget natural farming (ZBNF) include inoculations made from local inputs (like cow dung and urine) thereby eliminating the need for chemical fertilisers and pesticides, covering the soil with mulch, minimal disturbance of soil, and using indigenous seeds, integrating animals in farming and increasing organic residue in the soil.
