Udhagamandalam (Tamil Nadu) [India], September 17 : A six-day 'International Training of Trainers on Biodynamic Agriculture ', an international seminar and consultation on organic farming, began at Puthu Mandhu near Udhagamandalam (Ooty) in the Nilgiris district bringing together agricultural delegates and organic farming enthusiasts from several countries as part of what organisers described as Asia's first biodynamic Training of Trainers programme.
The workshop, focused on organic farming and traditional cultivation methods, was organised by a farmers' association and saw participation from delegates representing India, Japan, Taiwan, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Nepal, the Philippines and other countries. The event was chaired by Indian Bio-Dynamic Association President Chandrasekharan and presided over by Organising Secretary Mahesh Melvin.
Speaking about the objective of the programme, Chandrasekharan said the six-phase training was designed to prepare master trainers from eight different countries in both the theoretical and practical aspects of biodynamic agriculture.
"We are organising a six-phase training program for the trainers from eight different countries. Biodynamic agriculture is one level above organic. This six-phase training we are giving both theoretically and practically: how to prepare various biodynamic preparations, including the compost," he said.
He said the aim was to equip trainers to return to their home countries and spread awareness about biodynamic farming among thousands of farmers.
"The purpose of this training is to train the people who come from various countries so that they can go back to their countries and communicate this to thousands of farmers as to how biodynamic agriculture is being carried out in India. The Government of India is also trying to go in for organic and biodynamic agriculture, but we need to inform the farmers, the consumers, the students, universities and all other stakeholders what biodynamic is all about and what benefit people will get by following the biodynamic method," Chandrasekharan said.
He added that the method involved zero use of chemical or synthetic inputs.
"We will not use even 1 gram of chemical or synthetic fertiliser and pesticides so that we will get the best, healthy product for the farmers. Biodynamic Federation from Germany and all other stakeholders believe that this training will give the trainers the much-needed knowledge. Therefore, they will go back to their country and talk to the stakeholders and make them get interested in biodynamic, so that the biodynamic movement will definitely get a big boost," he said.
Anbu, in-charge of Training and Development at the Biodynamic Association of India, said the six-day programme aimed to develop participants into master trainers who would carry forward the knowledge in their respective countries.
"About 8 to 10 countries are participating in this training programme. We want them to be master trainers; whatever they learn here, they will take it to their country and develop their own country in whatever ways they want," he said.
Anbu added that the training covered key biodynamic practices such as compost-making and Cow Pat Pit (CPP) preparation, essential inputs for plant growth and soil fertility without the use of chemicals or fertilisers.
He said, "This training is happening in collaboration with the Biodynamic Federation International in Germany, along with the Biodynamic Association of India, and it is a collaborative project involving all these 10 countries in Asia. This is the first Asia training of trainers happening in India, in Ooty, and we are delighted that this participation will be a beginning for more transformation in the biodynamic movement." 
Organising Secretary Mahesh Melvin said the training was being conducted at his farm, Jezreel Biodynamic Farms, in Ooty, which has been operational for around 25 years.
"We are conducting a training program for the Asian-level trainers. We have invited people from different countries; two or three representatives from each country have come here to learn about biodynamic agriculture in our Ooty farm, Jezreel Biodynamic Farms," he said.
During the workshop, participants discussed methods of preserving soil fertility without chemical fertilisers, along with natural farming techniques suited to hilly terrain. Farmers from Japan shared natural fertiliser preparation methods aimed at multiplying soil microorganisms, along with technologies to achieve higher crop yields using less water, while Indian farmers explained traditional natural pesticide methods practised for generations, along with their experience in cultivating hill crops locally.
Participants also emphasised that reducing dependence on chemical fertilisers and adopting organic and biodynamic farming methods could help protect the ecologically sensitive Nilgiris region.
At the conclusion of the event, foreign delegates visited and inspected organic farms in the Puthu Mandhu area. Participants noted that such international knowledge-sharing initiatives would significantly help advance organic and biodynamic farming practices to the next level.
Training coordinator Anbazhagan, along with executive committee members Jason Jerome, Chrystelle and several others, also took part in the event.