Under the able guidance of Honourable Vice Chancellor, Dr. J. P. Sharma, SKUAST Jammu today conducted a training programme on the Organic Sources of Nutrients for sustainable management of cropping systems at the village Kot (Block: Bhalwal). The training was conducted under the Women Oriented Scheme-B of the Department of Science of Technology, India in execution of the objective of Promotion of Organic Sources of Nutrients in the region under the investigatorship of Dr. Sweeta Manhas and mentorship of Dr. Vikas Sharma, Prof and Head, Soil Science. The programme was supported from resource persons from Division of Soil Science, Organic Farming Research Centre and KVK Jammu of SKUAST-J. The programme was conducted with the active support of the field functionaries and resource persons of the Agriculture Department, Jammu. Dr. Vikas Sharma, Prof and Head, Soil Science and Incharge, OFRC made the farmers aware regarding the ill effects of conventional fertilizers on soils and sustainability of production systems. He also invited the farmers to visit the University during the Kisan Mela being held from 7th to 11th March, 2022. Dr. Narinder Panotra spoke in detail about the ways in which organic sources of nutrients can be prepared such as compost, vermicompost and other bioformulations on the farm itself. Dr. Amitesh apprised the farmers about organic farming and its benefits. Dr. Sweeta Manhas spoke about how biofertilizers are beneficial for agriculture and how they can applied and used for increasing productivity. Resource persons from the agriculture department, Dr. Vandana Kotwal (Agriculture Officer), Ms. Sudakshana Verma (JAEO), Ms. Sonika Kotwal (AEA) and Ms. Rajini Sharma (JAEO), also contributed to the various aspects of organic sources of nutrient and answered the queries of the farmers to their satisfaction. Literature pertaining to the subject was also distributed among the farmers. The programme ended with a thanks to KVK Jammu, especially Dr. Punit Chaudhary (Head, KVK Jammu) as well as Agriculture Department, Jammu for its support in organizing and conducting the programme under the DST project by the Principal Investigator.
