Gujarat Vidyapith in Ahmedabad is conducting structured natural farming training for students through monthly practical sessions on its campus, equipping them to prepare bio-inputs such as Beejamrit, Jeevamrit, and Ghan Jeevamrit as part of a broader push for chemical-free agriculture and environmental conservation.

How the Programme Works

Students receive 20 hours of training every month, blending classroom instruction with hands-on cultivation. The curriculum covers natural farming theory, vegetable cultivation using natural methods, and the potential benefits of reducing chemical fertiliser dependence. Campus plots serve as live laboratories where students apply what they learn directly to growing crops.

Under the university's guiding motto of 'health, prosperity and conservation of resources', the administration has integrated natural farming as a formal subject within the BRS curriculum. Vice-Chancellor Harshad Patel confirmed the decision, noting that campus vegetable beds were set up specifically to give students practical exposure alongside theoretical knowledge.

What Students Are Learning

The training introduces students to cow-dung-based bio-formulations — Beejamrit (a seed treatment), Jeevamrit (a liquid soil inoculant), and Ghan Jeevamrit (a solid variant) — which are staples of India's natural farming movement. For pest and disease management, Agniastra and Neemastra, both plant-derived formulations, are taught as chemical-free alternatives to synthetic pesticides.

Assistant Professor Shailesh Chaudhary said students prepare these inputs themselves for use on crops. 'Once the entire crop has grown, if there is any problem related to disease or pests, we use Agniastra and Neemastra to control the pests,' he said.

Student Voices

Binesh Kothiwar, a student at the university, said the programme had broadened his understanding of farming's impact beyond yields. 'We have learnt that natural farming can bring significant improvements to our lives, including improvements in crop yields, soil, food and health. Therefore, our effort is to implement natural farming across Gujarat,' he said.

Fellow student Janvi Jadav linked the shift to public health concerns. 'At present, chemical fertilisers are being used extensively, and this is leading to the spread of several diseases. Therefore, it would be good if we give importance to natural farming and work towards it,' she said, adding that the training had given her both the knowledge and practical skills to do so.

Broader Context

The initiative aligns with national-level efforts to expand natural farming across India, including the government-backed Pradhan Mantri Prakritik Kheti Khushhal Kisan Yojana. Gujarat has been among the states at the forefront of this movement, and embedding the practice within university education marks a step toward institutionalising chemical-free agriculture for the next generation of farmers and agronomists. As student cohorts complete the programme and return to rural communities, their influence on ground-level farming practices could gradually widen the reach of natural methods beyond the campus.