Off-campus training programme was organized on ‘Protected Cultivation Techniques in Agriculture and Horticulture Crops’ from 24th to 27th November at KVK- Agricultural College and Research Institute, Madurai, Tamil Nadu.

Organizing training on testing, certification, and standard operating procedures for organic seed production is vital to ensure seed quality, purity, and compliance with organic standards. Such training equips Extension officers with the knowledge to meet certification requirements, thereby enhancing credibility and market access. Standard operating procedures provide consistency in seed handling, storage, and distribution, reducing risks and errors. By strengthening testing and certification practices, training supports sustainability, food security, and consumer confidence in organic products. Ultimately, it empowers Extension officers with skills that improve productivity while safeguarding environmental and economic benefits. Keeping this in view, a four day Off-campus training programme was organized on ‘Protected Cultivation Techniques in Agriculture and Horticulture Crops’ from 24th to 27th November, 2025 to the officials of the Officers of Department of Seed Certification & Organic Certification, KVK- Agricultural College and Research Institute, Madurai, Tamil Nadu. Content covered in the prgramme was- Organic Certification of Crop Production & Best Practices, Testing Procedure of Organic Commodities ,Organic Certification – Grower Group ,Processing, Handling, Storage & Transport of Organic Products ,PGS – Participatory Guarantee System for Organic Certification, QR codes& Website development, Seed Act & Rules, Seed Law ,Residue management for Organic farming ,State and Central Programmes, Schemes and Initiatives of Organic farming in India, Skill demonstrations on preparation of Organic farming inputs ,Visit to Organic farmer fields. During the inauguration, Dr. Subramaniam, PC, KVK, Madurai, Smt Mahalakshmi, ADA and Course coordinators took part in the inauguration. PC, KVK, Madurai speaking on the occasion said that Organic farming and Certification is vital for ensuring sustainable agriculture, environmental health and farmer well-being. He added that it minimizes the dependence on chemical inputs like chemical fertilizers and pesticides by using ecofriendly inputs such as Biocontrol agents, cow ingredients, leaf extracts, green manures, and plant-based preparations. He suggested all participants to interact with all speakers and clarify the doubts.During the valedictory, Dr. Subramaniam, PC, KVK, Madurai, Smt Mahalakshmi, ADA and Course coordinators took part in the valediction. Addressing the gathering, Dr. Subramaniam extended heartfelt appreciation to all participants, speakers and organizers who have contributed to its success. He said that over the past sessions, participants have deepened their understanding of the critical role that seed quality plays in ensuring sustainable agriculture, food security, and farmer prosperity. He added that through discussions on testing protocols, certification processes, and standard operating procedures, trainees have not only strengthened their technical knowledge but also reaffirmed a collective commitment to promoting organic seed systems that safeguard biodiversity and consumer trust. He felt this training has equipped officers with practical skills to uphold standards, maintain transparency, and empower farming communities with reliable organic seeds. He requested trainees to carry forward these learnings into their fields, institutions, and communities. Later Course coordinators requested the trainees to organize demonstrations and trainings to farmers on Organic farming inputs and rural youth on website preparation, QR codes and Info graphs development. 70% of trainees felt that training has fulfilled the expectations to a great extent. Many trainees felt that training provided them very useful skills on organic input preparation, QR codes preparation and website development. Participants felt that visit to farmers field is very useful. Some of them indicated that they would conduct awareness programmes to farmers of their jurisdiction on Organic production and Certification. The programme was organized for the twenty officers of Department of Seed Certification & Organic Certification, Tamilnadu State which was coordinated by Dr. P. Vijayalakshmi and Dr. R. Vasantha, Professors, EEI, Hyderabad.