National Seminar on Organic Farming Concludes in Ghaziabad, Emphasizes Sustainable Agriculture

Ghaziabad: A two-day National Seminar cum Exhibition on Organic Farming, organized by the National Centre for Organic & Natural Farming (NCONF), concluded on March 19, 2025, in Ghaziabad. The event, held to promote organic and natural farming practices, brought together farmers, policymakers, researchers, and industry stakeholders to discuss advancements and opportunities in the sector.

The seminar was inaugurated by Chief Guest K.M.S. Khalsa, Director (Finance), Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, alongside Dr. Gagnesh Sharma, Director of NCONF, and Dr. A.K. Yadav, Advisor to the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare. Padma Shri awardee Dr. Bharat Bhushan Tyagi and organic farming expert Gopal Bhai Sutariya also participated in the event. During the inaugural session, the “Manual of Organic Farming” and a commemorative “Souvenir” were released to support knowledge sharing in the organic agriculture domain.

In his address, K.M.S. Khalsa underscored the significance of organic farming in today’s agricultural landscape and assured that proposals related to organic and natural farming would be given priority by the government. Dr. Gagnesh Sharma provided an overview of NCONF’s achievements and emphasized the importance of certification, quality management, and expanding market access for organic products to enhance farmers’ incomes.

Dr. A.K. Yadav encouraged farmers and stakeholders to engage in organic production and processing, highlighting its potential for strengthening both farmers and the national economy. Padma Shri awardee Dr. Bharat Bhushan Tyagi called for scaling up organic farming through a cluster-based approach, urging greater land coverage under organic certification. Meanwhile, Gopal Bhai Sutariya introduced the “Gaukripa Krishi” model, which advocates cow-based natural farming and assured that the model would be made freely available to farmers.

The seminar featured four technical sessions with 18 expert discussions covering various aspects of organic farming, including innovative farming techniques, sustainable agri-food systems, certification, processing, and marketing strategies. Participants also explored the role of Farmers’ Producer Organizations (FPOs) in strengthening the organic farming ecosystem.

A highlight of the event was the felicitation of champion farmers who have made significant contributions to organic farming. Additionally, 23 exhibitors from across the country showcased their initiatives and achievements in organic and natural farming, further promoting awareness and knowledge exchange.

Officers from the Regional Centres of Organic & Natural Farming (RCONFs) in Ghaziabad, Nagpur, Bengaluru, Bhubaneswar, and Imphal also participated in the seminar. More than 200 farmers, entrepreneurs, and industry experts attended the event, marking a successful platform for dialogue and collaboration on sustainable agricultural practices.