Seminar-cum-Training on Regenerative Agriculture and Precision Farming Organized under ICAR–IARI–SMSF Collaborative Project

A seminar-cum-training programme on “Regenerative Agriculture and precision Farming integration for sustainable production and climate resilience” was organized at Water Technology Centre, Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), New Delhi, under the ICAR–IARI–SMSF collaborative project “Application of Advanced Technologies for Improved Productivity and Resource-Use Efficiency in Regenerative Agriculture Production Systems.”

The objective of the seminar-cum-training programme was to create awareness among farmers about regenerative agriculture and precision farming an approach aimed at restoring and improving soil health while sustaining crop productivity and farm profitability. Regenerative and precision farming agriculture emphasizes managing agricultural systems in ways that enhance natural soil processes, improve resource-use efficiency, and build resilience to climate extremes.

Dr. Sanjay Singh Rathore, Head, Division of Agronomy, emphasized the importance of conserving natural resources such as water and soil, stating that modern farming must be guided by both “Pani and Gyani” (water and knowledge). He highlighted that crop cultivation should be undertaken with the precise application of water, and that knowledge of advanced cultivation technologies will play a vital role in enhancing agricultural productivity and restoring soil health.

Dr. P. K. Sahoo, Head, Division of Agricultural Engineering, briefed the participants on the use of farm machinery in crop cultivation, covering operations from planting to harvesting. He also explained to the farmers the utilization of paddy straw through both in-situ and ex-situ management practices, including the processing of paddy straw.

Dr. Anchal Dass, Principal Scientist, Division of Agronomy, explained that crop diversification plays a vital role in improving soil fertility. He shared that it leads to better soil aggregation, increased organic matter, improved water infiltration and moisture retention. By strengthening soil functions, regenerative agriculture improves the farming system’s ability to withstand drought, heat stress, and erratic rainfall, making it a critical component of climate-resilient agriculture.

Ms. Anjali Makhija, CEO and Trustee, S M Sehgal Foundation (SMSF), highlighted the importance of regenerative agriculture in restoring ecological balance and strengthening long-term farm sustainability. She shared insights into SMSF’s initiatives focused on reducing dependence on chemical fertilizers, promoting crop residue management through such as Super Seeder machines, enhancing the inclusion of women farmers, advancing water-efficient irrigation practices, and supporting regenerative coffee cultivation in Karnataka.

Dr. P. S. Brahmanand, Director, Water Technology Centre, emphasized the role of climate-smart technologies in building resilient farming systems. Cautioning against the impacts of glacier melt and increasing water security challenges, he stressed a farmer-first approach.

Prof. T. K. Das, Division of Agronomy, and Dr. Livleen Shukla, Principal Scientist, Division of Microbiology, IARI, apprised the farmers about conservation tillage practices, weed management strategies, and crop residue management using decomposer technology.

The programme brought together over 130 participants, including scientists, farmers, practitioners, and representatives from non-governmental organizations. More than 60 farmers from Kaithal, Kurukshetra, Mahendragarh, Pingwan and Alwar actively participated, making the event highly interactive and practice-oriented.

A major highlight was the on-ground field visit, which enabled farmers to observe the functional models. During the visit, water-saving and precision-based technologies were demonstrated and explained by Dr. Anchal Dass, Dr. Arjun Singh, Shri Rajpal Singh, and Dr. Arti Bhatia at the IARI experimental fields. Farmers expressed great satisfaction with the field visit, noting that seeing the techniques in practice helped them better understand the new technologies.

A panel discussion on emerging innovations such as AI-based precision tools, smart irrigation sensors, smartphone applications, and cybersecurity in digital agriculture provided a platform for farmers to interact directly with agricultural scientists. Shri Chandrasekhar Banukule, Saguna Baug a progressive farmer practicing SRT-based regenerative and conservation agriculture, shared practical experiences, motivating fellow farmers to adopt sustainable, technology-enabled practices.

The seminar-cum-training programme successfully facilitated knowledge exchange between scientists and farmers, underscored the importance of technology-driven regenerative agriculture, and strengthened collaborative efforts toward sustainable agricultural production and climate resilience.