Port Blair, Jan 31: Port Blair, Jan 31: ICAR-Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Central Island Agricultural Research Institute, Port Blair, and South Andaman organized awareness programme on natural farming at Shoal Bay on 30.01.2023. Mr. A. R. Kumar, Pradhan, Shoal Bay Gram Panchayat was chief guest of the programme. He advised the farming community that over usage of fertilizers and pesticides causes environmental damage and impacted in human and soil health. Avoidance of agro-chemicals like fertilizers and pesticides in the field will prevent runoff into water sources and also preserve our fragile ecosystem. Dr .Y Ramakrishna, Principal Scientist & Head emphasized that natural farming is a good alternative practices to conventional farming that directly or indirectly impacts sustainable development in agricultural production. It is low input based, climate resilient and low cost farming practices because of all the inputs are made by using locally available inputs which lead to reduce the use of synthetic fertilizers and fertilizers. Dr. N.Bommayasamy, SMS (Agro./Agrl.Extn.) briefed the importance of adoption of natural farming practices which enhances soil health and fertility, soil organic carbon content, macro and micro nutrients, soil enzymes, earthworms, soil respiration and microbial biomass of the soil. Dr. Pooja Kapoor, SMS (Home Science) enlighten that involvement of farm women in natural farming leads to rural employment generation at grass root levels and urged farm women’s to motivate their neighbor farm holdings to adopt natural farming for own family consumption. As part of the programme, they demonstrated jeevamrut, beejamrit preparations and distributed Ghanajeevamrit, agniastra, and neemastra to the participants. Sixty two participants were participated and benefited from this programme. The programme concluded with vote of thanks proposed by Mrs. Anbumalar. The programme was organized under supervision and guidance of Dr. E.B. Chakurkar, Director, ICAR-CIARI, Port Blair.
