New Delhi, 02 March (H.S.): NITI Aayog organized a two-day national workshop on natural farming under its State Support Mission (SSM), uniting farmers, policymakers, scientists, startups, and citizens nationwide.

Maharashtra and Gujarat Governor Acharya Devvrat, addressing virtually, underscored natural farming's role in soil health restoration, input cost reduction, and farmer income growth. New Hindi training manuals were launched to equip farmers, extension officers, and grassroots workers with region-specific, practical knowledge.

Key institutions like Junagadh Agricultural University, Dr. YS Parmar University of Horticulture & Forestry, and Gujarat Natural Farming Science University actively contributed. Farmers, officials, and Krishi Vigyan Kendra scientists from Punjab, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, and Odisha deliberated practices.

APEDA, NABARD, Cooperation Ministry, DAHD, Environment Ministry, and ATARI officials shared insights on convergence, certification, market linkages, and institutional support.

Agri-startups, civil society, farmer producer groups highlighted India's burgeoning natural farming ecosystem.Key DiscussionsDay one's open forum drew 770 participants voicing adoption hurdles, certification woes, market access, and field challenges—consensus formed on farmer-led models.

Day two featured on-site demonstrations of practices for exotic crops and bio-input preparation via manual/automated systems.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar