A
new year of 2006 has heralded a new way of taking
the organic farming movement in Maharashtra and
Karnataka forward. Collaboration agreement between
Agriculture University of Turin-Italy and Rahuri
Krishi Vidyapeeth and Agricultural University of
University of Agricultural sciences-Karnataka was
signed during the workshop on the Organic farming
organised by NGO-MADHYAM with the support of Division
of Technology, Industry and Economics of United
Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and University
of Turin –Italy. The seminar, participated
by more than 90 experts from NGOs, producers, farmers,
traders, financial institutes like National Bank
for Agriculture and Rural Development-NABARD and
Bank of Maharashtra, Agricultural and processed
food products exports development authority-APEDA,
Mahratta Chamber of Commerce, industries and agriculture,
Department of Agriculture-Government of Maharashtra
and Ministry of Commerce and Industry-Government
of India among others, concluded with very specific
action plans to develop the collaborative efforts
over next two years.
‘Organic Farming ensures environmental sustainability
and farmers prosperity in long term, but it would
need to overcome the barriers related to the further
research and development, market access, consumer
awareness and financial incentives. Green Revolution
in India was major milestone, but now India needs
‘ever green revolution’. These were
some of the reverberating messages from the workshop
which was attended by key personalities and the
resource persons like Agriculture Commissioner of
Government of Maharashtra, Counsellor from Italian
consulate, Vice Chancellor of Rahuri Krishi Vidyapeeth,
Head of the Centre of the University of Turin, Programme
officer of UNEP, Director of Organic farming Development
Centre in China, Chairman and Managing Director
of Bank of Maharashtra, Director Head of the Programme
from Centre for the Environment and Education, Head
of Gomukh –well known NGO in Pune.
The Agreement between University of Turin, and Universities
in Maharashtra and Karnataka, was signed in the
hut in the organic farm, symbolising the fact that
Organic-farming movement needs to be brought ‘down
to earth’ as it deals with the Mother Earth
and the poor framers. Professor MS.M.L.GULLINO Director
of AGROINNOVA and chair of the Committee for International
Affairs of the University of Turin- Italy and Vice
Chancellor of Rahuri Krishi Vidyapeeth and Prof.
Babalad Associate Professor and Nodal Officer-University
of Agricultural sciences- Karnataka signed the agreement.
The agreement provides for the full financial assistance
to 3 students from India for the post-doctoral research
on organic farming in the University of Turin, The
selection of the students and subjects would be
done in consultation with MADHYAM and UNEP. The
initial fellowship of one year is likely to be increased
to second year depending on the out come of the
research. The number of students is likely to increase
if the Indian Financial Institutes could further
support this initiative. MADHYAM and UNEP would
also ensure that the results of the R&D are
disseminated to the framers in user-friendly languages.
Before the workshop, MADHYAM facilitated the finalization
of agreement between the Universities.
The workshop was designed around three days- called
Plantation day, Cultivation Day and Harvesting Day.
The Plantation day included the review of the status
of the Organic farming in the States and internationally.
The Cultivation day was organised in the Organic
farms and included the working group discussion
in identifying the barriers and opportunities for
the stakeholders. The last day- Harvesting Day included
the round table to draw up the follow up action
plan. The follow up action groups were finalised
for the collaborative efforts to take the recommendations
from the workshop forward.
The key outcomes of the workshop, apart from the
specific agreements between the University of Turin
and Agricultural Universities in Maharashtra and
Karnataka, included:
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