Ahmedabad: A “Natural Farming Market” will soon be launched in Ahmedabad to facilitate the sale of chemical-free farm produce and strengthen farmers’ incomes, District Development Officer Videh Khare announced.

The initiative aims to expand the reach of natural farming across the district and provide urban consumers access to certified, chemical-free agricultural products at a single location. Markets are proposed to be started at the Prahladnagar Vegetable Market operated by the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation and at the District Panchayat.

According to officials, a cluster has been formed in Ahmedabad district under the National Mission on Natural Farming, implemented by the Gujarat State Natural Agriculture Development Board and the Agriculture and Horticulture Department. Continuous efforts by cluster resource persons and village-level staff have led to more than 8,300 farmers adopting natural farming practices under both mission and non-mission components so far.

A meeting was held to expand the area under natural farming, enhance farmers’ economic prosperity, and ensure the availability of certified natural produce for urban residents. Farmers were encouraged to improve market access in metropolitan areas like Ahmedabad, where demand for pure and chemical-free food is increasing.

Khare stated that the district administration would extend support at every stage of selling natural produce. The District Panchayat will provide financial assistance through the convergence of government schemes for transportation, processing, and packaging. Farmers welcomed the decision to start the dedicated natural agriculture market and expressed readiness to participate.

The District Development Officer also visited farmers at designated locations, offered guidance, and assured full administrative support from value addition to the final sale of natural products. Directions were issued to concerned officials to take necessary follow-up action.

Training for extension workers was organised by the ATMA department, including guidance on certification procedures in coordination with GOPKA, enabling farmers’ chemical-free produce to receive proper certification. Participants were also informed about various government welfare schemes.

The programme was attended by GOPKA Director A.D. Patel, Joint Director of Agriculture Nitinbhai Gamit, Meena Trivedi, Project Director (ATMA) K.K. Patel, District Agriculture Officer H.I. Patel, officials and staff of the ATMA department, and a large number of farmers practising natural agriculture. DeshGujarat