Tarun Karthick
Sri Vijaya Puram, 23 December 2024
A two-day training program on Participatory Guarantee System (PGS) Certification was organized by the Regional Council of Organic & Natural Farming (RCONF), Bhubaneswar, in association with the Department of Agriculture, Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The event, held at the Directorate of Agriculture, Sri Vijaya Puram, on December 16 and 17, 2024, saw active participation from officers of the Department of Agriculture, scientists from ICAR-CIARI, and progressive farmers.
The program was inaugurated by Mr. Jagat Singh, Regional Director of RCONF, who highlighted the significance of organic and natural farming. In his address, Mr. Singh discussed the potential of organic farming, particularly emphasising soil water conservation and effective on-farm input management as key aspects of initiating organic farming.
Mr. Ramesh Kumar, Joint Director (Agri) HQ, also spoke at the event, shedding light on the growing potential of organic farming in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. He acknowledged the challenges faced by local farmers and called for increased support to address these issues.
Mr. S.R. Ingle, Assistant Director of RCONF, elaborated on the PGS certification process and emphasized the significant role it can play in promoting organic farming, particularly in horticultural crops such as spices and coconut. He encouraged the UT Government to support large-scale organic farming, which would help farmers transition their land back to organic cultivation.
The training program, which was aimed at equipping participants with knowledge about PGS certification and organic farming practices, concluded on December 17, with discussions on the potential growth of organic farming in the region.