Monday, March 27 2006 15:40 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Fatehgarh Sahib: Britain's Prince Charles watched a potter work on his wheel and interacted with farmers at Majra village in the district today (Mar 27, 2006) as he began a two-day visit to Punjab to promote organic farming and sustainable agriculture.

The Prince was accompanied by Chief Minister Amarinder Singh and others after he arrived by helicopter from Chandigarh where he was brought by aircraft from New Delhi.

His wife, Duchess of Cornwall Camilla Parker, however, drove to Patiala with Preneet Kaur, MP and wife of Amarinder Singh.

On arrival in Bhatt Majra village, Charles met the local farmers and villagers and saw a potter working at his wheel.

The Prince of Wales, currently on a 6-day visit to the country, will spend two days in Punjab to promote organic farming in the state, the soil of which has deteriorated due to excess use of pesticides.

He is scheduled to visit Punjab Agri Food Park in the district, the site for the headquarters of the Bhumi Vardaan Foundation that he will formally launch at a function later in the day at Yadvindra Public School, Patiala.

The Foundation is aimed at assisting and promoting farmers who want to engage in sustainable agriculture.

The royal couple is accompanied by 26 officials from London and seven from the British High Commission in New Delhi and are scheduled to spend the night at New Moti Bagh Palace,the private residence of the Chief Minister in Patiala.

Tomorrow morning, Charles and Camilla will visit Kila Fort in Patiala before proceeding to Anandpur Sahib, the birth place of 10th Sikh Guru Gobind Singh. During the Anandpur Sahib stopover, he will visit Takht Keshgarh Sahab and witness a display of Sikh martial arts.

He will wind up his tour of Punjab with a visit to the National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER) at Mohali to see Medicinal Plants Garden heading for Jodhpur in Rajashtan.