District Level Farmers’ Orientation-cum-Workshop & Exposure Visit
Chittorgarh & Pratapgarh, Rajasthan, May-June, 2014
District Level Farmers’ Orientation-cum-Workshop & Exposure Visit
CUTS, in partnership with Swedish Society for Nature Conservation (SSNC), Sweden is implementing a two-year project entitled, ‘Promote Organic Consumption in the State of Rajasthan’ (ProOrganic). The objective of the project is to promote organic consumption in the State of Rajasthan (India) covering six major agriculture potential districts by awareness generation, sensitisation, capacity-building and advocacy activities. Increased awareness is expected to result in increased consumer demand which will further push demand for availability and affordability of organic products contributing towards decreasing health hazards of consumers.
The project is expected to result in better informed consumers and farmers about organic consumption and farming; better policies and enforcement thereof by sensitised policymakers in the State. This will boost organic farming and consumption in the State; and in the long run will provide sustainable environment and lifestyle.
In Chittorgarh and Pratapgarh districts, CUTS Centre for Human Development (CUTS CHD) is responsible for implementing this project. In this context, two district-level farmers’ orientation and exposure visit programme were organised at Chittorgarh and Pratapgarh districts respectively during May-June 2014.
In Chittorgarh, district level farmers’ orientation-cum-workshop and exposure visit was organised by CUTS CHD on May 06-07, 2014. More than 60 participants from 11 blocks of the district including farmers, self-help group (SHG) women, guests, resource persons and CUTS’ representatives from Jaipur and Chittorgarh participated.
In Pratapgarh, district level farmers’ orientation-cum-workshop and exposure visit was organised by CUTS CHD on June 11-12, 2014. More than 50 participants from 11 blocks of the district including farmers, self-help group (SHG) women, guests, resource persons and CUTS’ representatives from Jaipur and Chittorgarh participated.
Proceedings
The workshop was conducted by Dharamveer Yadav, Centre Coordinator, CUTS CHD. He provided a brief overview of the project and its objectives. He discussed the importance of organic farming. Subject matter experts from Krishi Vijnan Kendra (KVK) and Horticulture Department provided information on organic fertilisers and soil management treatment through technical sessions.
Objective
Dharmveer Yadav shared the objective of the project and shed light on the need and importance of organic farming in future. Through organic farming, farmer’s income will be increased and they will be able to take healthy food.
He also said that the Centre will initiate efforts to make farmers and consumers aware of organic farming and products and also build their capacity to adopt it in next two years.
Outcome
- It will result in better informed consumers and farmers about organic consumption and farming
- Almost all participating farmers, who at present, are not involved in organic farming will agree/show willingness to switch over
- Farmers will be made aware of side-effects of chemical farming
- The knowledge of farmers about organic farming, vermi compost, vermi wash, soil treatment and organic certification and marketing methods will increase
- Famers will be linked with KVK and other related departments to avail benefits during the organic farming