Gandhinagar: Six universities, including five agriculture universities, will begin offering graduate and post-graduate programs in natural farming. The universities which will offer the said programs are Sardar Krishi Nagar Dantewada, Navsari Krishi University, Anand Krishi University, Junagarh Krishi University, The Gujarat Prakrutik ane Jaivik Krishi University, and Gujarat University.

The final discussions on starting these academic programs on natural farming were held at a meeting presided over by governor Acharya Devavrat and attended by the senior advisor (Agriculture), Niti Aayog, Dr Neelam Patel, chancellors of these six universities, agri-scientists and subject experts.

All subjects starting from ancient times to the modern age have been deeply explored before including them in these academic programs on natural farming. Experiences of a lot of farmers too have been included. The basis for these academic programs will be scientific research and scientific references.

While addressing the chancellors of the agricultural universities, Acharya Devavrat said that they must focus on improving the quality of Indian seeds so as to achieve maximum production and make efforts for the conservation of such seeds at the level of these universities. He also asked universities to encourage more and more students to complete PhDs in natural farming because it is the future of farming.

He also expressed his desire that Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh should emerge as leaders in the mission to popularize natural farming.

Besides graduate and post-graduate programs, these six universities should also look at offering three-month certificate programs in the area of natural farming. These certificate courses should be open for any ordinary farmer or person. Besides Gujarat, plans are also afoot to start offering academic graduate and post-graduate programs in natural farming in other states such as Himachal Pradesh, and Haryana.

DeshGujarat