Gujarat plans four centres to train farmers in natural farming

Gandhinagar, Aug 11 (IANS) The Gujarat government has approved the establishment of four Centres of Excellence for natural farming in Navsari, Morbi, Bhavnagar and Chhota Udepur, with the state government allocating Rs 20 crore for the initiative in 2026-27.

The centres, being established under the guidance of Governor Acharya Devvrat, will provide farmers with training, technical guidance and access to agricultural inputs, with each centre equipped to train up to 100 farmers at a time.

The Gujarat Prakrutik Krishi Vikas Board has been entrusted with implementing the scheme.

In the first phase, the centres will come up at Nani Bhamti village in Vansda taluka of Navsari district, Halvad in Morbi district, Valavad village in Sihor taluka of Bhavnagar district and Chudel village in Jetpur Pavi taluka of Chhota Udepur district.

The facilities are planned not merely as training centres but as model campuses for natural farming.

Farmers already doing natural farming, as well as those looking to adopt it, will be able to receive guidance on farming-related issues and access various facilities at the centres.

Training will include the preparation and use of bio-inputs such as Jeevamrut, Ghan Jeevamrut, Beejamrut and Neemastra. The centres will also produce these inputs and make them available to farmers at nominal prices.

Facilities will additionally be developed for producing and selling mulching materials, crop seeds, horticultural saplings, cuttings, grafts and other planting material.

Farmers will receive guidance on soil testing and testing the quality of agricultural produce. The centres will also assist them with new technology, primary agricultural inputs, value addition and post-harvest processing.

Practical demonstrations will form a key part of the training. These will cover the five-layer natural farming model, mixed cropping and intercropping, besides methods of preparing and properly using Beejamrut, Jeevamrut and natural pesticides.

Officials and experts will also visit farmers’ fields to provide demonstrations and guidance, while crop-specific training will be provided on standard natural farming practices.

“The initiative is intended to provide farmers adopting natural farming with training, technology, guidance and essential agricultural materials at a single location. Training in value addition, processing, storage and packaging is also expected to support better returns from farm produce,” officials said.

The four centres are planned to serve as hubs for training and experimentation in natural farming as the state seeks to expand its adoption across Gujarat.

–IANS

mys/rad