|
|
|
You can get e-magazine links on WhatsApp. Click here
|
|
|
|
|
|
ICAR consults stakeholders on natural farming programmes
|
|
Friday, 09 October, 2026, 08 : 00 AM [IST]
|
|
Our Bureau, Mumbai
|
The Agricultural Education Division of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has held a consultation meeting with industry experts and academic stakeholders on the proposed postgraduate (PG) and Ph.D. programmes in natural farming.
The meeting was chaired by Dr. M. L. Jat, Secretary, Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE) and Director General, ICAR. The consultation aimed to gather inputs for strengthening and finalising the proposed curricula and ensuring that the programmes address the emerging needs of Natural Farming, farmers and the wider agricultural sector.
Addressing the stakeholders, Dr. Jat said the proposed programmes should be future-ready, globally relevant and closely linked with farmers, industry and society. He highlighted the need to incorporate areas such as biological inputs, soil health, certification, value chains, marketing, digital technologies and entrepreneurship into the curriculum.
He also stressed the importance of developing conceptual clarity around different streams and approaches to chemical-free farming, enabling students and researchers to gain a comprehensive understanding of the principles, practices and emerging dimensions of Natural Farming.
Earlier, Dr. Yashpal Singh Malik, Deputy Director General (Agricultural Education), ICAR, called for multidisciplinary, competency-based and industry-oriented curricula aligned with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. He noted the growing opportunities in Natural Farming and the need to equip students with relevant knowledge and skills to meet evolving sector requirements.
Dr. C. K. Timbadia, Vice-Chancellor, Gujarat Natural Farming Science University (GNFSU) and Chairman of the Syllabus Formulation Committee, along with Dr. A. S. Yadav, Assistant Director General (Education Quality Assurance and Reform), ICAR, presented the proposed M.Sc. and Ph.D. curricula to the stakeholders.
The consultation concluded with inputs from industry and academia, which are expected to support the finalisation and implementation of the proposed PG and Ph.D. programmes in natural farming.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|