The Government of India launched the National Mission on Natural Farming (NMNF) on November 25, 2024. The NMNF would be a standalone centrally-sponsored scheme under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmer’s Welfare. The total outlay of the scheme is Rs 2,481 crore, with the Government of India contributing Rs 1,584 crore and the state contributing Rs 897 crore, covering the period till the 15th Finance Commission (2025–26). The scheme has been introduced to promote natural farming nationwide in mission mode.
Natural Farming
Natural farming is a chemical-free farming system that relies on livestock and locally available resources, rooted in Indian tradition. It focuses on promoting indigenous practices to free farmers from dependence on purchased inputs. Key practices include biomass mulching, maintaining year-round green cover, multi-species green manuring, and using on-farm desi cow dung-urine formulations for nutrient and soil fertility management. It emphasises diversity, multi-cropping, and on-farm made botanical extracts for plant protection. External purchased inputs, including organic and biological products, are avoided to reduce cultivation costs.
It relies on diversified multi-cropping, desi cow-based inputs for soil enrichment, and botanical concoctions for plant protection. Over time, practices have evolved to include innovations like pre-monsoon dry sowing, green manuring, and using farm yard manure and vermicompost. In some regions, farmer groups are preparing and supplying desi-cow derived inputs to other farmers without livestock.
Need for Natural Farming
Green revolution technologies have transformed Indian agriculture. However, excessive uses of chemicals have been harming the soil health, depleting resources, and causing contamination. This highlighted the need for a sustainable, non-degrading farming systems.
Natural farming practices aim to reduce cultivation costs and dependency on external inputs, while improving soil health, fertility, and resilience to climate risks such as water-logging, floods, and droughts. These practices also minimise health risks from fertilisers and pesticides, offering nutritious food for farmers’ families. Additionally, natural farming contributes to a healthier Earth for future generations, improving soil carbon content, water use efficiency, and increased soil microorganisms and biodiversity.
Organic Vs Natural Farming
Organic and natural farming systems are both non-chemical and rely on diversity, crop rotation, and efficient resource recycling. However, organic farming allows for off-farm purchased organic and biological inputs along with natural mined minerals for soil correction. In contrast, natural farming strictly excludes all purchased inputs using biomass, mulching, indigenous cow-based formulations, etc.
The Government of India has been promoting both these non-chemical systems of agriculture. Natural farming, through NMNF and organic farming through Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojna (PKVY) and Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North Eastern Region.
About National Mission on Natural Farming
The government began promoting natural farming through Bhartiya Prakritik Krishi Paddhati (BPKP) under PKVY from 2019–20 to 2024–25, covering 4.09 lakh hectares of land across eight states. It encouraged the use of indigenous practices and provides financial assistance of Rs 12,200 per hectare for three years to support farmers. In line with the Prime Minister’s vision to make natural farming a mass movement, BPKP is being expanded into the NMNF for nationwide implementation.
The objectives of NMNF are to promote alternative farming systems for reducing reliance on external inputs, cutting costs, and increasing farmers’ income. This includes popularising integrated agriculture-animal husbandry models using desi cows and local resources. It also aims to document and validate natural farming practices, encourage participatory research, raise awareness, build capacity, and promote demonstrations. It seeks to establish standards, certification, and branding for natural farming products for both national and international markets.
The NMNF is guided by a National Steering Committee (NSC) which comprises of ministers of various portfolios, NITI Aayog chairman, members of the Department of Agricultural Research and Education and Indian Council for Agricultural Research, Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, etc. The NSC serves as the policy-making body, providing direction, monitoring progress, and reviewing performance. It is further authorised to establish and amend operational guidelines for the mission. The NSC meets at least twice a year.
The NSC would be assisted by a National Executive Committee (NEC), established by the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare. The NEC would sanction proposals from central lead agencies and states, oversee mission implementation, monitor progress, and recommend any necessary adjustments.
The mission would be led by the joint secretary supported by a mission team for administration and finance and a project management unit to assist states with publicity, marketing, and national capacity building. Experts in natural farming may also be engaged for specific tasks.
The NMNF in the state would operate under the overall supervision of the state level sanctioning committee, chaired by the principal secretary/secretary of agriculture. To ensure effective implementation, the states are required to establish a dedicated mission management cell at the headquarters. At the district level, implementation would be overseen by a committee headed by the district collector, with the project director of Agricultural Technology Management Agency, head of Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) and district officers of agriculture, horticulture, and animal husbandry serving as members.
Over the next two years the NMNF would be implemented in 15,000 clusters in willing gram panchayats, aiming to reach one crore farmers and initiate natural farming across 7.5 lakh hectares of land. Additionally, 10,000 Bio-input Resource Centres (BRCs) would be established based on need, ensuring easy availability, and accessibility of ready-to-use natural farming inputs for farmers.
Under the NMNF, approximately 2,000 natural farming model demonstration farms would be established at KVKs, agricultural universities and farmers’ fields, supported by experienced and trained farmer master trainers. Around 18.75 lakh trained farmers would prepare inputs like Jeevamrit, Beejamrit, etc., using their livestock or purchasing from the BRCs. To support awareness and mobilisation, 30,000 Krishi Sakhis/Conservation Reserve Programs would be deployed to assist and guide farmers in the clusters.
Farmers would be given access to a simple and straightforward certification system, along with a dedicated common branding to help them market their natural farming produce. The implementation of NMNF would be monitored in real time through an online portal which would use geo-tagging and referencing for accurate tracking.
Convergence with existing schemes and support structures of the Government of India, state governments and national and international organisations would be explored to enhance the local livestock population, develop natural farming model demonstration farms at central cattle breeding farms/regional fodder stations, and establish market linkages at the district, block and gram panchayat levels.
However, the NMNF may not be advantageous for farmers who do not possess the essential knowledge and skills required to implement natural farming techniques. Also, the farmers who have limited access to necessary resources and infrastructure be negatively impacted.
Other Steps to Promote Natural Farming
Initiated in 2015, PKVY promotes organic farming through cluster-based approaches and emphasises soil health improvement. It supports farmers with training, certification, and marketing assistance, ensuring a holistic development of organic farming practices.
National Centre for Organic Farming was established in 2004 for implementing the National Project on Organic Farming. Renamed as the National Centre for Organic and Natural Farming in 2022 with five regional centres, it promotes chemical-free agricultural systems by serving as a national knowledge repository for organic and bio-fertilisers.
Zero Budget Natural Farming system was developed by Subhash Palekar, an Indian agriculturist and the Padma Shri recipient in mid 1990s, as an alternative to the green revolution methods. It was first followed by Andhra Pradesh, followed by Kerala, Himanchal Pradesh, and the Karnataka. The scheme focuses on promoting environment-friendly farming practices of growing crops without the use of any external inputs, such as pesticides and fertilisers with zero production cost. It aims to reduce cultivation costs while enhancing land fertility and empowering farmers through cluster formation.
In 2003, Sikkim officially committed to organic farming, aiming to ensure the long-term sustainability of soil fertility, safeguard the environment and ecology, promote healthy living, and reduce the risk of health issues. In 2016, Sikkim became India’s first ‘100 per cent organic’ state.
Conclusion
The approval of the NMNF by the union cabinet marks a significant step towards promoting sustainable agriculture in India. With an investment of Rs 2,481 crore, the mission aims to engage, one crore farmers in chemical free farming practices over the next two years. By emphasising local agroecological principles and traditional knowledge, NMNF seeks to reduce farmers’ dependency on external inputs, thereby lowering cultivation costs and enhancing soil health. This comprehensive approach not only aims to improve food safety and nutrition but also fosters biodiversity and climate resilience.
Overall, NMNF represents a strategic shift towards environment friendly farming practices, ensuring that agriculture remains sustainable while supporting the livelihoods of farmers and contributing positively to the ecosystem.
© Spectrum Books Pvt. Ltd.
