MoRD and MoA&FW Join Forces to Educate Krishi Sakhis, Paving the Way for Natural Farming

The Ministry of Rural Development and the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare jointly launched training of Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana- National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY–NRLM)’s Krishi Sakhis for promotion of Natural Farming.

The initiative aimed to train and certify 50,000 Krishi Sakhis in a phased manner by the National Centre for Organic and Natural Farming (NCONF), a subordinate office of the MoA&FW as the Nodal institution.

For the 5-day training course, training modules have been prepared by NCONF and sent to the National Institute of Agricultural Extension Management (MANAGE) for the final review.

Additional Secretary, Rural Livelihoods, Charanjit Singh highlighted the role of Community Resource Persons in transforming rural areas through social and economic mobilization congratulated both ministries on the convergence moving forward.

He stated that the role of the natural farming initiative is of paramount importance for both ministries for transforming the villages as “Samrudhhi villages” and to create Lakhpati SHG members thereby realizing the dream of the Prime Minister.

Joint Secretary, Rural Livelihoods, Smriti Sharan stated that the transfer of technology from labs to land is critical. Community Resource Persons (CRPs) play a vital role in transferring technology from lab to land. She added that CRPs can handhold small and marginal farmers and enhance their productivity through Natural Farming.

Joint Secretary, Rural Livelihoods, Swati Sharma in her remarks stated that the coordinated efforts by the ministries through Natural Farming will play an important role in enabling 2 Crore Lakhpati Didis as guided by Prime Minister in his address from the Red Fort on creating two crore Lakhpati Didis.

Joint Secretary, Integrated Nutrient Management (INM), MoA&FW, Yogita Rana highlighted the contribution of Women towards nation building and how the empowering of Krishi Sakhis with the help of capacity building will ensure that Natural Farming reaches the farmers. She informed that Krishi Sakhis will be trained and certified in a phased manner and MoA&FW will use their services under various schemes.

Deputy Director, DAY – NRLM, Raman Wadhwa explained in detail the steps taken in the convergence efforts for promoting Natural Farming. He explained the collaboration process between the ministries and resource agencies to strengthen the capacity of Community Resource Persons.

To strengthen the economic status of the SHGs, the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare and the Ministry of Rural Development have decided to converge their various Schemes. To this effect, an MoU was signed between MoA&FW and DAY – NRLM, MoRD on August 30, 2023, to certify Krishi Sakhis as Para-Extension Workers by MANAGE, MoA&FW.

Source: - PIB