The three days X annual group meeting of ICAR –Network Project on Organic Farming was inaugurated in the Directorate of Research, Maharana Pratap University of Agriculture and Technology, Udaipur. The group meeting will continue till Friday.

The Chairman of the inaugural session Honb’le Vice-Chancellor, MPUAT, Prof. P. K. Dashora welcomed all the participants and appraised that since independence, India has made significant strides in diverse areas of human endeavor. The magnificent achievement of food sufficiency and self-reliance is a shining vindication of efforts of scientists and farmers of this country.

However, during the last decades consumer’s trust in food quality and safety has drastically decreased, mainly due to several food scandals and growing ecological awareness. Consumers have started to look safer and better controlled foods, produced in more environmentally friendly, authentic and local systems.

He also mentioned that India has made significant progress in the research & development of Organic Farming in terms of policy declaration, formulation of organic standards, certification procedures & governmental programmes for promotion of organic farming. However, application of organic farming practices at field level is a challenge for scientists, farmers developmental departments. He stressed that Organic Farming is the need of the hour for the benefit of the farming community and the society.

The Chief Guest this morning, Chandra Singh Kothari, Mayor expressed his concern about the ill effect of indiscriminate use of synthetic fertilizers and chemicals in agriculture.

Dr. J.P. Singh, Director, Indian Institute of Farming Systems Research, Modipuram (U.P.) outlined the genesis of this project and activities of the institute. He stated that the institute is running this project through 20 centres covering 16 states of the country.

At the outset Dr. G.S. Ameta, Director Research, gave his welcome address. He expressed his views on the progress and scope of organic farming in the state. He anticipated that scientists in the meeting will be able to reach on a concrete strategy to meet out the challenges like weed and pest menace, nutrient management, soil erosion and degrading fertility of the soil and environmental challenges posing threat to the present agriculture.

Dr. S.K. Sharma, Organizing Secretary of the group meeting communicated that the three days meeting is being attended by 80 scientists and stake holders. The group will discuss about the evaluation of inorganic and organic resources, disease, pest and weed management in organic farming and issues like environmental changes. The meeting was attended by Deans, Directors, Head of the Departments, distinguished guests, Scientists, delegates and Media persons. Dr Gayatri Tiwari convened the inaugural session.