Experts highlight prospects of chemical-free farming

Patna: A three-day national seminar on “Status and prospects of natural farming” organised by Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University (RPCAU) kicked off on Sunday, with the experts highlighting the urgent need to align modern agricultural practices with ecological balance.

Eminent research scientists, academics and policy influencers drawn from across the country deliberated on the prospects of chemical-free farming in the country. They observed that while the prospects of natural farming, driven by rising consumer demand for healthy produce, are immense, the transition requires robust institutional support and scientific hand-holding for the farming community. The seminar would serve as a critical milestone for the university engaged in its mission to lead the “evergreen revolution” in eastern India, they said.

Inaugurating the seminar, RPCAU’s vice-chancellor P S Pandey emphasised that natural farming is not only a healthy alternative to the present-day commercial farming, but a necessity for economic and environmental sustainability. “Natural farming significantly enhances farmers’ income by reducing dependency on expensive external inputs,” he said, adding that the seminar aims to bridge the gap between traditional wisdom and scientific validation.

Speaking as the chief guest on the occasion, former dean of the College of Agriculture, Khandwa (MP), P P Shastry, said natural farming can preserve soil fertility and biodiversity which have, of late, been depleted by intensive chemical use.

Extension education director R K Jha, in his welcome address, focused on the extension strategies required to take these practices from the laboratory to the farm land. Seminar’s organising secretary Satya Prakash presented a comprehensive overview of the technical sessions. Dean of Postgraduate College of Agriculture (PGCA) , Mayank Rai, pointed out that the insights gained here would be instrumental in shaping future agricultural policies and academic curricula.