Farmers’ association president chosen member of bio-products working group

Lovleen Bains

Doraha, May 23

Pavittar Pal Singh Pangli, president of the Borlaug Farmers’ Association for South Asia, Chairman of the United Farmer Empowerment Initiative and the president emeritus of Punjab Agricultural University Kisan Club, has been chosen as a member of the working group of eco-agriculture and bio-products.

He was invited during the launch of the working group of the Indian Council of Food and Agriculture (ICFA) at the National Round Table of CEOs on ‘Bio-Inputs for Eco Agriculture’ at the Indian International Centre in New Delhi yesterday.

The Indian Council of Food and Agriculture (ICFA) has constituted the working group to mark International Day for Biodiversity, recognising the significance of organic farming and bio-products for health, environment, biodiversity, preservation and sustainability of human civilisation. The group will be chaired by Padma Shree awardee Dr MH Mehta, Chairman, Science Ashram/ Gujarat Life Sciences, and former Vice-Chancellor, Gujarat Agricultural University.

The working group of which PPS Pangli has been chosen to be the member will coordinator stakeholders, enabling an interface by organising workshops, seminars, policy dialogues, various critical aspects of organic agriculture. The forum will follow up on important recommendations with national and international agencies concerned; facilitate farmer’s sensitisation, promote quality certification infrastructure and international collaborations. Pangli, as a member of this working group, shall draft a road map and action plan for the impending Eco-Agriculture Revolution.

The Indian Council of Food and Agriculture (ICFA) is serving as a global platform for partnerships for addressing policy issues concerning framers, food and agro industries. With increasing globalisation, there are critical challenges emerging in the Indian Agricultural domain that need to be addressed for growth, international competition and food security.

The basic motive of this working group is to make known the eco agricultural bylaws, bylaws on residues of agro chemicals, detoxification of soil to promote local dynamics to create bio-media at arm level with minimal cost.

The working group will organise a global organic meet on September 5 and September 6, in which a number of countries from all over the world will participate.