PUBLIC RELATIONS DEPARTMENT CHANDIGARH ADMINISTRATION PRESS RELEASE CHANDIGARH TO HOST 5TH NATIONAL ORGANIC FARMING CONVENTION, THE LARGEST CONGREGATION OF ORGANIC FARMING EXPERTS IN INDIA Chandigarh, Feb. 26:- Chandigarh city would be hosting a large national convention on Organic Farming soon, actively supported by the UT Administration. The 5th National Organic Farming Convention to be organised by Organic Farming Association of India (OFAI), National Institute of Technical Teachers’ Training (NITTTR), Alliance for Sustainable & Holistic Agriculture (ASHA) and KhetiVirasat Mission (KVM) in NITTTR Campus in Sector 26 is expected to have the participation of nearly 2000 organic farmers from across India, in addition to scientists, policy-makers, media representatives and farm activists. From 28ThFebruary to 2nd March On 28th February The Convention will be inaugurated by Shri Manohar LalKhattar, Chief Minister of Haryana with Shri Om ParkashDhankar, Agriculture Minister, Haryana and Shri Vijay Dev, Advisor, Chandigarh Administration being the Special Guests of Honour. The Inauguration Ceremony will also be graced by Padma BhushanBibiInderjit Kaur of All India Pingalwara Society and Mr Andre Leu from Australia, President of International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFAOM). The Valedictory/Concluding Session will have Shri Parkash Singh Badal, Chief Minister of Punjab as the Chief Guest. On March 1st, which is the second day of the Convention, Ms Maneka Gandhi, Minister for Women & Child Development, Government of India will take part in the function and release various new publications. The second and third day of the convention (March 1st and 2nd) will also have a Scientific Conference as part of the Convention, organised by Society of Agro-Ecology, India. This Conference is being inaugurated by Prof Kaptan Singh Solanki, Governor of Punjab & Haryana. Apart from the scientific and technical sessions that will take place in NITTTTR, the convention will also celebrate organic farming through a Nature Festival, which will include a KisanHaat or Farmers’ Market, Urban Organic Gardening workshops for Chandigarh citizens, an organic food festival featuring authentic organic cuisine from various regions of India, a Kisan Panchayat to create a dialogue space between urban consumers and farmers, a biodiversity festival featuring thousands of heirloom seed varieties and cultural programmes including a solo performance by famous singer Rabbi Shergill. Shri Madan Mohan Mittal, Punjab’s Industry & Technical Education Minister and Shri Rao Narbir Singh, PWD Minister, Haryana will be part of the inauguration ceremony of the Festival. JathedarTota Singh, Minister for Agriculture, Punjab will also be a special guest of the convention. This Convention is expected to be a significant turning point in the farming approaches in this region, with its educational and motivational purpose. Chandigarh public is expected to benefit through the information and knowledge that can be gleaned from the various activities of this convention, which is a unique congregation of more than 2500 delegates from across 25 states of India, as well as international participants from around 7 countries..