Varanasi: To promote sustainable, low-cost farming practices to address rising input costs and climate challenges, the International Rice Research Institute – South Asia Regional Centre (ISARC), Varanasi in collaboration with the department of Agriculture, Himachal Pradesh, conducted a series of training programmes and field visits on natural farming across Mandi and Kangra districts from April 16 to 19.The programmes were organised at Mahadev Panchayat (Mandi), Paprola Farm, and Bhattu Farm (Kangra), with participation from over 200 farmers.The sessions were led by IRRI experts Ajay Kumar Mishra, Sreenivasa Reddy, and Gayatri Hetta, supported by field technicians. Officials from the department of Agriculture and ATMA, including Dr Kiran, Assistant Scientist (SPIU, PK3Y), Shimla; Preeti and Sachin Sharma, Agricultural Technology Managers along with Dr. Shashi Pal Attri, Project Director (ATMA), Kangra, also contributed and shared field-level insights. During the program, experts emphasized that natural farming offers a sustainable pathway to reduce dependency on chemical inputs while improving soil health and long-term farm productivity. The trainings combined interactive sessions with hands-on demonstrations on preparation and application of key natural farming inputs. Field visits provided practical exposure, helping farmers better understand on-ground implementation. Participants showed strong interest in adopting these practices, recognizing benefits such as reduced input costs and improved soil health under natural farming. The initiative reflects the growing interest among farmers and reinforces the importance of capacity-building programs in promoting natural farming. It is expected to support wider adoption of sustainable agricultural practices across the region.
