:dateline:In an attempt to offer healthy food at world’s largest community Guru Ram Dass Langar, the apex Sikh body Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhik Committee has expanded organic farming in farming land situated near Gurdwara Satlani Sahib to 21 acres. In 2014, the SGPC had begun organic farming on an experimental basis in seven acres and later this farming was expanded to 13 acres.
Sharing the development with media, SGPC’s chief secretary Dr. Roop Singh the Punjab Agro Industries Corporation Limited has been roped in to get the soil examined and gain expertise in growing vegetables organically.
“Organic cabbage, peas, radish, garlic and spinach have already become part of the Guru Ram Dass Langar while saplings of fruits like guava, mango, kinnow, dried plum and peach have been planted now,” he added.
“The entire chunk of land has been taken on contract, a cost-effective measure for the SGPC. This also ensures fixed income to the management of Gurdwara Satlani Sahib,” he added.
He further said the SGPC is able to sustain the cost of organic farming of vegetables. “No doubt, some vegetables are still purchased from the market or received by way of donation,” he added.
He was, however, concerned that the initiative could not be replicated in other SGPC Gurdwaras.
