Natural Farming presents a promising approach to lowering cultivation costs by utilizing resources available within the farm itself, making it a strong alternative to conventional agriculture. By relying solely on farm-produced inputs and eliminating the need for external materials, it functions as a zero-budget farming system. Moving in this direction, Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Ropar, under the Directorate of Extension Education, Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), Ludhiana, organized a one-day training programme on Natural Farming on December 1, 2025, under the National Mission on Natural Farming (NMNF). The programme was conducted in partnership with the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Ropar. This marked the 19th training batch under the NMNF initiative, with 50 farmers and farm women from various blocks of Rupnagar district taking part.
The training programme was conducted under the able guidance of Dr. Satbir Singh, Associate Director (Training), KVK Ropar. He emphasized that the primary aim of NMNF is to promote sustainable and eco-friendly farming practices that completely eliminate the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, restore soil fertility, and ensure the production of safe, nutritious food. He urged farmers to embrace natural farming methods to lower production costs, enhance the resilience of their farming systems, prevent environmental degradation, and protect human health.
The sessions were coordinated by Dr. Sanjeev Ahuja, Associate Professor (Vegetable Science). The programme included detailed lectures, presentations, and hands-on demonstrations on Natural Farming, with a strong focus on preparing and using low-cost, locally sourced bio-inputs such as Jeevamrit, Beejamrit, Neemastra, Brahmastra, and Agniastra for crop nutrition and pest management. Mr. Jagmanjot Singh, Assistant Professor (Soil Science), informed the participants about the importance of soil in natural farming and highlighted the vital role of microbes in sustaining soil health. To further encourage sustainable practices, participants were provided with informative literature on natural farming, inspiring them to adopt these techniques and contribute to environmental conservation and the production of healthy food.