
Kerala delegation to undergo intensive training in natural farming in Andhra Pradesh
This initiative, part of the National Mission on Natural Farming (NMNF), represents a significant step in fostering inter-State collaboration in sustainable agricultural practices.
The training will be hosted by the Indo-German Global Academy for Agro Ecology Research and Learning (IGGAARL), recognised as a Centre of Natural Farming under the Andhra Pradesh Community Managed Natural Farming (APCNF) programme. IGGAARL is operated by the Rythu Sadhikara Samstha, a government-supported entity promoting natural farming in Andhra Pradesh.
During the programme, the Kerala delegation will receive classroom training on the core principles and practices of APCNF. They will also visit model farms and best-practice sites across Guntur and Prakasam districts, where they will engage with farmer groups, practitioners, and field facilitators who have successfully implemented natural farming methods.
This visit follows an earlier exposure tour in April 2025, during which Kerala's Agriculture Minister and a team of farmers expressed strong interest in adopting APCNF models in their home state.

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Hans India
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- Hans India
Natural farming effectively tackles climate change: Experts
Vijayawada: A four-day Natural Farming training programme began on Saturday at a private hotel in Guntur, hosted by the Centre of Natural Farming (CoNF) under the National Mission on Natural Farming (NMNF). Organised by Rythu Sadhikara Samstha (RySS) in collaboration with MANAGE, Hyderabad, the programme welcomed a 34-member delegation from Kerala, including scientists from agricultural vniversities, Krishi Vigyan Kendra experts, and Farmer Mentor Trainers. T Vijay Kumar, IAS (Retd.), executive vice-chairman of RySS, said that natural farming addresses the climate crisis through 365-day green cover, multi-layer cropping, and optimised photosynthesis without synthetic chemicals. He described it as an emerging science focused on biological mediation in nutrient and water cycling, pest management, and plant physiology. S M Vijayanand, IAS (Retd.), former chief secretary of Kerala, joined virtually, affirming Kerala's commitment to sustainable, climate-resilient farming through collaborative learning. D V Raidu, IAS (Retd.), senior advisor at RySS, emphasised that year-round green cover and multi-layer cropping reduce carbon emissions, enhance soil structure, and boost biodiversity. He advocated for farmer-centric models and knowledge sharing to scale Natural Farming. The programme included a presentation on the Andhra Pradesh Community-managed Natural Farming (APCNF) journey, showcasing improved soil organic matter, flood resilience, and sustainable crop production. Technical sessions were led by RySS experts, including Sudhakar, G R Dharmendar, K Ramachandram, and Vishy, alongside APCNF staff. The training will continue until July 29.


The Hindu
25-07-2025
- The Hindu
Kerala delegation to undergo intensive training in natural farming in Andhra Pradesh
A 34-member high-level delegation from Kerala will visit Andhra Pradesh from July 26 to 29 for an intensive training programme on natural farming. The team comprises scientists from agricultural universities, experts from Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs), and farmer mentor trainers. This initiative, part of the National Mission on Natural Farming (NMNF), represents a significant step in fostering inter-State collaboration in sustainable agricultural practices. The training will be hosted by the Indo-German Global Academy for Agro Ecology Research and Learning (IGGAARL), recognised as a Centre of Natural Farming under the Andhra Pradesh Community Managed Natural Farming (APCNF) programme. IGGAARL is operated by the Rythu Sadhikara Samstha, a government-supported entity promoting natural farming in Andhra Pradesh. During the programme, the Kerala delegation will receive classroom training on the core principles and practices of APCNF. They will also visit model farms and best-practice sites across Guntur and Prakasam districts, where they will engage with farmer groups, practitioners, and field facilitators who have successfully implemented natural farming methods. This visit follows an earlier exposure tour in April 2025, during which Kerala's Agriculture Minister and a team of farmers expressed strong interest in adopting APCNF models in their home state.


Indian Express
22-07-2025
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Need for accelerating research, innovation in agriculture: UP CM Adityanath
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday highlighted agriculture as Uttar Pradesh's largest employment sector, supporting nearly three crore farmers. Adityanath was speaking at an event to mark the 36th Foundation Day of UPCAR (UP Council of Agricultural Research). He stressed that agriculture should drive prosperity, not migration, and called for greater adoption of innovation and research to transform the sector. He noted that the MSME sector follows agriculture in employment, engaging 1.65 crore people. He addressed a national seminar titled 'Developed Agriculture – Developed Uttar Pradesh @ 2047'. He also felicitated distinguished agricultural scientists, young innovators and Farmer Producer Organisations for their contributions to the sector. The CM reaffirmed the state's commitment to contribute to the nation's goal of becoming a $5-trillion economy by aiming to build a $1-trillion economy in Uttar Pradesh by 2029. He said, 'We have vast, fertile land and abundant water resources. UP might be the only region in the world where over 86 per cent of agricultural land is irrigated.' The state also has a strong network of agricultural institutions, including four state-run agricultural universities, with a fifth under development, as well as centrally run universities and over 15 premier agricultural research institutes, Adityanath pointed out. In addition, 89 Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) are actively working to disseminate knowledge and technologies to farmers. Despite these resources, the CM acknowledged a concerning gap: 'Only 25–30 per cent of farmers in the state are currently able to adopt and implement scientific research in their farming practices'. He called for bridging this gap to ensure that the benefits of research and innovation truly reach the grassroots. The CM highlighted that while Uttar Pradesh is home to 16 per cent of the country's population, it holds only 11 per cent of India's cultivable land. Remarkably, this land produces over 20 per cent of the nation's food grains. He added, 'The state holds immense potential in agriculture, horticulture, and vegetable production. To unlock this, there is a pressing need to accelerate research tailored to local climatic zones and natural ecosystems.' The CM noted that the state has formulated a Vision 2047 action plan, and stressed the need for clear short- and medium-term milestones — by 2027, 2029, and 2035 — to ensure visible progress. The CM also called on agricultural universities, research bodies, and Krishi Vigyan Kendras to play an active role in achieving these goals. The CM recalled the establishment of a Centre of Excellence in collaboration with Israel, where the training and dedication of Indian scientists complemented Israeli technical expertise. He questioned the limited expansion of such models and called for renewed efforts. 'If Israel can achieve this, why can't our agricultural universities replicate and expand it?' he asked. He lamented that farmers are still being forced to migrate due to a lack of progress in agriculture and stressed the urgency of reversing this trend. Addressing climate change challenges, he noted that while heavy rains were expected during this season, 15-16 districts of UP have received below-average rainfall, while some neighbouring states are experiencing excessive rainfall. 'How prepared are we to deal with such fluctuations?' he asked. Adityanath also pointed out that a delay of just one month in sowing, coupled with the use of old seed varieties, could result in a 30 per cent reduction in yield. He asked whether farmers had access to late-sowing seed varieties and whether they were properly trained and guided. 'If Krishi Vigyan Kendras, agricultural universities, and research centers don't offer timely and credible demonstrations, farmers won't be convinced,' he said. 'If they are still relying on outdated methods, it is because we have failed to connect them with modern techniques and information.'