Core focus included organic agriculture and integrated crop management strategies
The Skill Development Centre, Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), recently organized a two-day online training course on ’Integrated Farming System and Organic Farming’ for in-service candidates under the guidance of Dr Jaskran Singh Mahal, Director of Extension Education. A total of 17 agriculture and horticulture development officers, soil conservation officers, and scientists from PAU and its Krishi Vigyan Kendras participated. Dr Tejinder Singh Riar, Associate Director (Skill Development), informed that the course was designed to disseminate scientific knowledge on organic agriculture and integrated crop management strategies for production of safe food and improvement of natural resources.
Dr Kiran Grover, Senior Extension Specialist (Food and Nutrition) and Course Coordinator, highlighted that integrated farming systems provide balanced food/nutritional security as components of different nature are linked, enabling the production of different sources of nutrients from the same unit. “Organic foods provide various benefits to our health as well as our environment”, she added.
Dr Sohan Singh Walia, Principal Agronomist and Technical Coordinator, demonstrated the development of integrated farming system models for small and marginal farmers for improving their livelihood. He also emphasized that the sustainable development in agriculture must include integrated farming system. In integrated crop – livestock farming system, crop residues can be used for animal feed, while manure from livestock can enhance agricultural productivity.
