ICAR preparing new M.Sc., Ph.D. programmes in natural farming

New curricula to focus on soil health, biological inputs, certification, digital technologies and entrepreneurship

New Delhi, October 7: The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has consulted industry experts and academic stakeholders on proposed postgraduate and Ph.D. programmes in natural farming, with a focus on developing multidisciplinary, competency-based curricula aligned with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.

The consultation meeting was organised by ICAR’s Agricultural Education Division to obtain inputs for strengthening and finalising the proposed curricula in line with the emerging needs of natural farming, farmers and the wider agricultural sector.

Chairing the meeting, Dr M. L. Jat, Secretary, Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE), and Director General, ICAR, said the programmes should be future-ready, globally relevant and closely connected with farmers, industry and society.

He highlighted the need to incorporate emerging areas such as biological inputs, soil health, certification, value chains, marketing, digital technologies and entrepreneurship into the curriculum.

Dr Jat also stressed the importance of establishing conceptual clarity on different streams and approaches to chemical-free farming to help students and researchers understand the principles, practices and evolving dimensions of natural farming.

Earlier, Dr Yashpal Singh Malik, Deputy Director General (Agricultural Education), ICAR, underscored the need for multidisciplinary, competency-based and industry-oriented curricula aligned with NEP 2020. He highlighted emerging opportunities in natural farming and the importance of equipping students with relevant knowledge and skills to meet the sector’s changing requirements.

Dr C. K. Timbadia, Vice-Chancellor of Gujarat Natural Farming Science University (GNFSU) and chairman of the Syllabus Formulation Committee, and Dr A. S. Yadav, Assistant Director General (Education Quality Assurance and Reform), ICAR, presented the proposed M.Sc. and Ph.D. curricula to the stakeholders.

The meeting concluded with inputs from industry and academic representatives, which ICAR said would contribute to the finalisation and implementation of the proposed postgraduate and doctoral programmes in natural farming.