ICAR – National Academy of Agricultural Research Management (NAARM), Rajendranagar, Hyderabad, organized an Interaction Session on “Natural and Organic Farming: Discourses and Experience Sharing by Experts and Practicing Farmers” with young ARS probationers as part of the ongoing 115th Foundation Course for Agricultural Research Service (FoCARS) on August 23, 2025.
Session began with welcome and introductory remarks by Dr. D. Damodar Reddy, Course Coordinator, 115th FoCARS, who briefly highlighted the objectives of the session and about the participating ARS probationers.
In his address, Dr. Gopal Lal, Director, ICAR–NAARM, highlighted the critical role of natural and organic farming in addressing contemporary challenges of food quality, environmental degradation, and soil health decline. He emphasized that sustainable agricultural systems are not only vital for maintaining soil fertility but also for ensuring the nutritional security of future generations. Drawing attention to the harmful impacts of indiscriminate pesticide usage on both human and ecosystem health, Dr. Lal urged young agricultural scientists to concentrate on understanding and developing locally compatible organic and natural farming systems.
A highly inspiring session followed with Shri Yadlapally Venkateswara Rao, Padma Shri Awardee and Founder of Rythunestham, who shared his remarkable journey of initiating the Rythunestham magazine and foundation. He narrated how the distressing trend of farmer suicides motivated him to work relentlessly for farmer welfare and the promotion of sustainable farming systems. He explained the negative consequences of excessive fertilizer and pesticide use on soil quality, biodiversity and human health, and detailed the initiatives of his foundation in training farmers and rural youth on diverse natural farming models, including Palekar’s ZBNF. He also highlighted the challenges of declining agricultural labor availability and its impact on farming, stressing the need for innovation and modern technologies such as drones to support natural farming. Further, he emphasized diversification, value addition, millet-based diets, terrace gardening as pathways for farmers to enhance their income and resilience.
Dr. Ravindra Singh, Head, Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Kolhapur, provided a historical perspective on India’s transformation from food deficiency in the 1950s to self-sufficiency in the present day. He stressed the importance of indigenous cow conservation in natural farming systems and explained how farmer adoption of improved technologies has contributed to national food security. He also elaborated on the promotion of organic products, farmer training on processing and value addition and the need to strengthen household-level kitchen and nutritional gardens for improving food and nutrition security.
Sri Hari Babu Sukhavasi, a progressive natural farmer from Telangana, spoke about the practical aspects and benefits of natural farming. He explained how natural farming practices enhance microbial activity in the soil, increase soil organic carbon and thereby improve fertility and crop productivity. He presented examples of high-density planting, cow-based farming systemsand other innovative practices, illustrating their positive impact on soil health and human well-being.
Shri Kan Singh Nirvana, an expert in natural and organic farming from Rajasthan, emphasized the vital role of soil microbiota in maintaining soil fertility and productivity. He drew comparisons between pre-Green Revolution farming systems and the present scenario, highlighting the urgent need to conserve natural resources land, water, and soil by minimizing chemical inputs. He underlined the importance of indigenous cow-based farming systems, citing their role in providing essential bio-inputs that enrich soil health and enhance crop resilience. He stressed that promoting these traditional practices, combined with modern innovations, can reduce dependency on costly external inputs while restoring ecological balance. Shri Nirvana called upon the younger generation of agricultural scientists to adopt and promote sustainable agricultural practices that balance productivity and ecosystem health.
The session concluded with a Vote of Thanks delivered by Dr. M. Ramesh Naik, Course Coordinator, 115th FoCARS, ICAR–NAARM, who expressed gratitude to the distinguished experts and progressive farmers for sharing their invaluable insights.
The interaction witnessed active participation and vibrant discussions, enabling young scientists to appreciate the depth of traditional knowledge, the relevance of farmer innovations, and the necessity of integrating sustainable principles with scientific advancement.
https://naarm.org.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/New-item-August-23-2025-115-FoCARS.pdf
