Tarun Karthick
Sri Vijaya Puram, 15 May 2025
A national workshop on “Sustainable Agriculture through Natural Farming” was successfully organized on Tuesday at the Dr. T. R. Dutta Conference Hall, ICAR-Central Island Agricultural Research Institute (CIARI), Sri Vijaya Puram. The event, jointly hosted by ICAR-CIARI, the Andaman Science Association (ASA), and Gujarat Natural Farming Science University (GNFSU), drew participation from agricultural scientists, extension workers, and farmers across the islands and the mainland.
The workshop aimed to promote eco-friendly farming practices tailored to the unique conditions of island ecosystems. The inaugural session opened with the ICAR song and a ceremonial lamp lighting, followed by a warm welcome from Mr. Talaviya Harshang Kumar, Scientist, NRM Division. Dr. E. B. Chakurkar, Director of ICAR-CIARI and President of ASA, delivered the formal welcome address.
Eminent agricultural experts addressed the gathering during the opening session. Dr. R. A. Gurjar, Director of Extension at GNFSU; Dr. N. Ravisankar, Project Coordinator of AICRP on Integrated Farming Systems (IFS); and Dr. A. Velmurugan, Assistant Director General (SWM), ICAR, served as Guests of Honour. They highlighted the growing relevance of natural farming for improving soil health, boosting farmer incomes, and enhancing ecological sustainability.
Several knowledge resources and publications were released on the occasion to support wider dissemination of natural farming practices. The keynote address was delivered by Chief Guest Dr. C. K. Timbadia, Vice Chancellor of GNFSU, who underscored the transformative potential of natural farming in building self-reliant and climate-resilient agricultural systems.
The technical session featured a series of insightful presentations. Dr. Timbadia opened the session with a talk on the “Principles & Practices in Natural Farming,” detailing sustainable techniques that minimize chemical inputs. Dr. Velmurugan elaborated on “Harnessing Microbial Dynamics in Natural Farming,” focusing on the critical role of soil microbiota in maintaining farm productivity. Dr. Ravisankar shared findings from recent research in his session titled “Natural Farming: Recent Research and Agro-Ecological Benefits.” Rounding off the discussions, Dr. Gurjar presented a practical session on “Bio-input Preparation & Multilayer Farming,” offering simple, replicable methods for farmers.
The event witnessed enthusiastic participation from scientists, farmers, and institutions including KVK, South Andaman, and virtual attendees from ICAR-CIARI’s Regional Station in Minicoy (Lakshadweep), KVK Nimbudera, and KVK Nicobar. The day concluded with a vote of thanks by Dr. Abhilash, Scientist, NRM Division, expressing gratitude to all speakers and participants.
The workshop reinforced ICAR-CIARI’s continued commitment to advancing low-input, environmentally sustainable farming practices tailored to the island context, empowering farmers with the tools and knowledge to transition toward a more resilient agricultural future.