ANANTNAG: The Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Anantnag, SKUAST-Kashmir, inaugurated a five-day training programme today under the National Mission on Natural Farming (NMNF), exclusively designed for Krishi Sakhis of district Anantnag.

The initiative aims to equip these grassroots women agricultural workers with the knowledge and skills necessary to promote sustainable and eco-friendly farming practices in their communities.

Dr. Ishtiyaq A. Khan, Scientist and Head, KVK-Anantnag in his keynote address, provided an insightful overview of the programme. He highlighted the significance of the NMNF initiative and KVK-Anantnag's pioneering role in promoting natural farming.

He noted that KVK-Anantnag was selected by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) in 2022-23 as one of the leading KVKs in the country to spearhead natural farming through a sanctioned project. Dr. Khan also outlined the remarkable achievements of the Kendra in advancing sustainable agricultural practices in the region.

Earlier, the inaugural session commenced with a welcome address by Dr. Shabeer A. Ganaie, Scientist and Training Coordinator, KVK-Anantnag, who emphasized the objectives of the training and the critical role of Krishi Sakhis in fostering natural farming.

Hakeem Imteyaz, District Programme Manager, JKNRLM, addressed the gathering and underscored the importance of natural farming in ensuring long-term agricultural sustainability. He praised the Krishi Sakhis for their pivotal role in taking this mission directly to the farming community and commended KVK-Anantnag for its exemplary efforts in organizing the training.

Showkat Mughal, District Agriculture Officer and Nodal Officer of Natural Farming, lauded the well-organized training programme stressed the critical role of Krishi Sakhis in advocating for natural farming and acknowledged the government's efforts in promoting environmentally sustainable agriculture.

The event witnessed participation from senior officials of the Department of Agriculture, including SDAO Dooru, SDAO Achabal, and all AEOs from various Agriculture Zones of District Anantnag, who expressed their strong commitment to supporting the mission.

This five-day intensive training programme marks a significant step toward empowering Krishi Sakhis with essential skills and practical knowledge to drive natural farming adoption in the district. The training will feature interactive sessions, hands-on demonstrations, and expert-led discussions, ensuring effective learning and real-world application of sustainable farming practices.