Srinagar: Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir (SKUAST-K) has harvested pesticide-free apples in Kashmir for the first time, with laboratory tests showing that all 55 pesticides screened were below the quantification level, Vice-Chancellor Prof. Nazir Ahmad Ganai said on Friday.
Speaking at a seminar on natural farming organised by SKUAST-K in collaboration with the Bharatiya Kisan Sangh and the J&K Kisan Advisory Board at Shalimar, Ganai said the university was promoting natural and organic farming to reduce dependence on chemical pesticides and protect soil, water, biodiversity and human health.
“We have harvested a pesticide-free apple for the first time in Kashmir. We tested the apples for 55 pesticides, and all 55 were found to be below the quantification level,” he said.
Ganai said intensive agricultural practices and excessive use of chemicals and pesticides were adversely affecting the environment, soil, water and air, besides contributing to biodiversity loss.
He also expressed concern over the potential effects of chemical-intensive farming on human health, calling for greater emphasis on natural farming and organic agriculture.
“Ultimately, it has a bad effect on human health. We can see that the incidence of cancer is increasing. We need to focus on natural farming and organic agriculture,” he said.
The vice-chancellor said SKUAST-K had established a Centre of Excellence in Natural Farming and a major organic farming centre equipped with an industrial-scale bio-input production facility.
He said the university’s incubation facility was training young people and farmers in producing bio-fertilisers, biological control agents and other bio-inputs on a large scale, as well as their application in agriculture.
These initiatives, he said, were aimed at reducing chemical pesticide use and promoting environmentally sustainable farming practices.
Ganai added that the university was working with farmers, the government and agricultural experts to raise awareness across Jammu and Kashmir about sustainable farming methods. He also highlighted SKUAST-K’s One Health programme, which addresses environmental, agricultural, animal and human health in an integrated manner.
