Call to promote organic farming

A four-day "national conference on organic farming in horticultural crops with special reference to plantation crops" held at the Central Plantation Crops Research Institute, Kasaragod, from October 15 concluded with a call to develop and popularise cost-effective organic farming technologies.Cluster approach covering a minimum of one or more villages should be given emphasis while schemes for promoting organic farming in horticultural crops are implemented, participants in the event remarked.H.P. Singh, Deputy Director-General (Horticulture), ICAR, New Delhi, in his valedictory address stressed the need for concerted efforts to address the various issues related to production, processing, marketing and exports, so that there would be accelerated growth of organic horticulture.He emphasised that selection of appropriate crops with high potential for organic production and export was necessary. Delineation of specific zones having ideal conditions for development of sustainable organic production systems had to be done.George V Thomas, Director, CPCRI, Kasaragod, presented the recommendations that emerged during the conference. These included package of practices for organic production of plantation crops such as coconut, cashew, vegetables, spices, fruit crops, aromatic plants and tuber crops. The participants also called for eco-friendly management of pests and diseases through use of microbial inoculants, parasites and predators.The conference was inaugurated by K.V. Ahamed Bavappa, former director, CPCRI, and FAO consultant. P.Rethinam, former executive director, APCC, presided over the function. K.R. Viswambaran, Vice-Chancellor, KAU; G.K Veeresh, former Vice-Chancellor, UAS, Bangalore; M.K. Nair, former director, CPCRI, spoke. Two hundred delegates from different parts of the country participated in the conference.

The Hindu, 19^th October 2008