New Initiative of Natural Farming in Wheat at ICAR-IIWBR, Karnal
The ICAR-Indian Institute of Wheat and Barley Research, Karnal has initiated exploratory research on Natural Farming following standard operating procedure. We have laid experiments on different aspects of Natural Farming to finalize the Package of Practices taking four high-yielding varieties of wheat (DBW 303, DBW 222, DBW 187, and HD 2967) using natural farming, organic farming and conventional practices. This experiment was planted in November and since then has been shown to more than a thousand farmers from different states (Gujrat, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Rajasthan) students, researchers, extension functionaries, officers from NABARD, KRIBCHO, Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare and other stakeholders. In addition, 15 trainings also have been imparted to create awareness among the farmers of different states. Dr. Himanshu Pathak, Secretary, Department of Agriculture Research and Education and Director General, Indian Council of Agricultural Research; Dr Tilak Raj Sharma, Deputy Director General (Crop Science); Dr. Dheer Singh, Director, ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal; Dr. R.K. Yadav, Director, ICAR-Central Soil Salinity Research Institute and Dr. B.P. Mishra, Director, ICAR-National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources, Karnal have also visited this research platform for regenerative agriculture. Dr. B.S. Gill, Former Director, WGRC, Kansas State University, USA and Dr. H.S. Dhaliwal, Chairman, Research Advisory Committee, ICAR-IIWBR, and a large number of other dignitaries have also seen and interacted. This site is open for a visit till the harvesting of crop (15th April, 2023) for all visitors, farmers, and private industry representatives for interaction and promotion.