In less than a week after Prime Minister Narendra Modi appealed to farmers to steer away from chemical-based farming, the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has decided to include natural farming in its syllabus at both undergraduate and post-graduate levels.
ICAR’s Education Division will create syllabus in consultation with Agricultural Universities and Natural Farming Experts to be included in UG/PG courses, said SP Kimothi, ICAR’s Assistant Director General, in a letter to all ICAR institute directors and vice chancellors of agriculture universities.
According to the letter dated December 22, the issue (of natural farming) was also “emphasized by the Hon’ble Prime Minister during his address to the nation at the Vivrant Gujarat Summit on December 16.”
Zero budget farming
Kimothi made the statement in response to a communication received from the Cabinet Secretariat informing the cabinet of a decision to promote natural farming.
The topic of zero budget natural farming has also been highlighted for inclusion in school textbooks at the undergraduate and graduate levels.”
In the Council (ICAR), the matter was further examined, and it was decided to incorporate it into the curriculum as well as carry out research on the matter.
“The concerned ICAR institutes and KVKs of the country shall earmark a portion of their land for Natural Farming and demonstrate the technology to farmers and other stakeholders,” the letter stated.
During a virtual address at the National Conclave on Natural Farming on December 16, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, “For the emerging possibilities of the future, we have to work today. At this historic moment, India is in a position to provide the world with a solution to food security in harmony with nature.”