(a) whether ICAR had organized Brain Storming Session on Organic farming in close association with Bharatiya Cattle Resource Development Foundation (BCRDF);
(b) if so, the details thereof alongwith the main recommendations of said session; and
(c) the recommendations accepted by the Union Government?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE (DR. DEBENDRA PRADHAN)
(a) Yes, Sir.
(b) & (c): As per Annexure.
MAIN RECOMMENDATIONS
1. Inventorization of available resources for Organic Farming.
2. Establishment of a `Centre of Excellence on Organic Farming` under NARS.
3. Establishment of a country-wide `Network for research on Organic Farming `
4. Documentation of available indigenous technological knowledge (ITK) and other technologies development by various public sector research centres/NGOs/individuals on different aspects of organic farming in India.
5. Introduction of core course(s) on `Concepts and Practices in Organic Farming` in the curriculum of under-graduate and post-graduate degree programmes at different SAUs and other agricultural Institutes.
6. Expert groups, comprising eminent Agricultural and Social Scientists and progressive farmers may be constituted for visiting successful farmers associated with organic farming practices. The group may submit a detailed report covering various aspects of
organic farming.
7. Standardisation of mechanisms/methods for suitably judging/classifying the `Organic Farming`.
8. Formulation of appropriate package of practices in the area of organic farming for important production systems of the country.
9. Dissemination of knowledge on organic farming through Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) field demonstrations, TV-programmes and other suitable media.
These recommendations have been examined. There is a proposal to strengthen a network on Organic Farming research during the current Five Year Plan under the All India Coordinated Research Project on `Microbial Decomposition and Recycling of Farm and City Wastes`.