Workshop on organic farming, millet promotion
The Jagori Rural Charitable Trust, Chamba Chapter, organised a two-day workshop for farmers from the Tissa development block, aiming to promote traditional nutritious grains like millets and raise awareness about organic farming practices.
Led by Som Krishna, the “Millet Promoter of Himachal Pradesh”, the workshop focused on sustainable agriculture by teaching farmers how to create organic fertilisers and pest control solutions from household materials.
Farmers were introduced to a variety of traditional millets, such as Kodra, Kauni, Bajra, Swan and Black-Purple Wheat. The sessions covered essential aspects of sowing, threshing, and harvesting, while emphasising the health and environmental benefits of these crops. Additionally, participants learned seed germination techniques, seed passports and crop certification processes to enhance their farming practices.
The workshop also highlighted millet-based recipes, such as ragi tea, ragi kheer and ragi-sesame laddoos, along with their nutritional advantages. To help farmers access broader markets, the formation of Farmer Producer Companies (FPC) and obtaining CETARA-NF certification were discussed.
Plans for rabi crop cultivation using natural farming methods were also introduced, encouraging sustainable practices in the region. The workshop was well-received, with farmers eager to implement their newfound knowledge to boost organic farming and millet production in Chamba.
