JAMMU : The Directorate of Agriculture Jammu organized a two-day training programme on organic/natural farming at Baba Jitto Kisan Kendra Talab Tillo. The programme, held under the Alternate Agriculture System for Sustainability Project of the Holistic Agriculture Development Programme (HADP) 2025-26, aimed to equip extension officers and field functionaries with the latest knowledge and techniques in organic farming.
As many as 50 officers/officials Agriculture Department officers from across Jammu Division actively took part in the training.
The event was inaugurated by Director Agriculture Production and Farmers Welfare Jammu Anil Gupta. He emphasized the pivotal role of organic farming in ensuring food safety, consumer health and sustainable income generation for farmers. He highlighted that organic farming not only provides healthier food options but also opens new market avenues for farmers through premium pricing of certified organic produce. He informed that 215 organic clusters have been registered on the PGS-India portal, 115 under PKVY and 100 under HADP, which will undergo a three-year certification process leading to PGS certification and the organic logo. “During this period, the farmers will be provided inputs, training, and marketing support to enhance branding and income opportunities,” he added.
Addressing the gathering, Deputy Director Central Sanjeev Rai Gupta lauded the initiative as a timely step toward promoting sustainable agriculture. He emphasized the need for capacity building of field staff and extension officers, noting that their role is crucial in motivating farmers to adopt organic methods. He urged participants to act as ambassadors of change by transferring the knowledge gained during the training to the grassroots level.
Earlier, welcoming the participants, Divisional Seed Certification Officer (DSCO) Nirmal Prakash Sharma extended his gratitude to the Directorate and Regional Council PGS-India for organizing the training. He highlighted the increasing importance of organic practices in the region and urged participants to take full advantage of the technical sessions for the benefit of farmers in their respective areas.
The technical sessions on the first day were led by experts including Dr. Sanjay Khajuria, Head KVK Samba; Dr. Balbir Dhotra, CONF SKUAST-Jammu; Vivek Shahi, Senior Manager Organic Production, Nature Bio Foods, Project Jammu and Dr. A.P. Rai, Professor, CONF SKUAST-Jammu. On the second day, sessions will be delivered by Dr. Brajeshwar Singh, Head Division of Microbiology SKUAST-Jammu; Dr. Satesh Kumar, CONF SKUAST-Jammu and Dr. Balbir Dhotra, CONF SKUAST-Jammu. Additionally, Saroop Sharma, a progressive farmer from Kishtwar, will share his practical experiences in organic farming.
Inaugural session was also attended by senior officials including Deputy Director Central, Sanjeev Rai Gupta, Deputy Director (Trainings) Karuna Nidhi, Assistant Entomologist Rajesh Verma and DSCO Nirmal Prakash Sharma, among others.. Veena Wazir, AEA conducted the proceedings of the programme.