Sunday Farming Program for Farming Enthusiasts

Sunday farming means sustenance through nurturing and dignifying approaches for youth in farming. It may be a new term for many peoples and through Sundayfarming@gmail.com, hundreds of progressive youth and students in Kerala state have been harnessing agri-technologies.

In 2003 Sunday farming had launched family farming for nutritional security, soil wisdom, seed security and decentralized waste management as slogans for the past one decade. Many among them are now sharing their experiences through social media group and page on Sunday farming.

Sunday farming was developed by P.K. Abdul Jabbar, Assistant Professor (Agriculture Extension) of the Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Wayanad under the Kerala Agricultural University to nurture and dignify farming in budding generation.

P.K. Abdul Jabbar developed the concept while working as an agriculture officer at Vattamkulam Krishi Bhavan in Malappuram district in 2003. The avid interest shown by a group of part-time famers prompted him to launch the initiative.

Dr. Jabbar said “Though they were enthusiastic, many lacked professional guidance as were involved in farming only on holidays.”

Dr. M.J. Chandre Gowda, Principal scientist ,Agriculture Technology Application Research Institute under the ICAR (Bangaluru) says 'The programme is a wonderful initiative for the farming enthusiasts ,including government officials ,youths and business men, in urban and semi urban areas of the country as the group would get only a day in a week for spending agriculture.'

Dr.Abdul Jabbar demonstrating treadle pumping to the BSC agriculture students of the College of Agriculture at Padannakadu under the Kerala Agricultural University on a Sunday farming session held at Thirunelly in Wayanad district recently.

Website:http://www.kau.in/

Source: http://www.thehindu.com/business