Introduced by the Government of India, the National Mission on Natural Farming (NMNF) is an independent scheme aimed to boost chemical-free and climate-smart agriculture. Begun as an upscale version of the Bhartiya Prakritik Krishi Paddhati (BPKP), this mission has now set its sights on promoting natural farming across the nation.
Under NMNF, the plan is to cover a 7.5 lakh hectare area through the formation of 15,000 clusters. The farmers willing to practice natural farming on their land are eligible to register as cluster members, where each cluster can consist of 50 farmers or more owning 50 hectares of land. The clusters can span a single village or extend to 2-3 nearby villages, provided they are under the same gram panchayat.
Financial Assistance and Implementation Monitoring
To aid the farmers transitioning into natural farming, financial assistance of ₹15,000 per hectare per year for three years will be provided under NMNF. However, this incentive is contingent upon the farmers committing and transitioning to natural farming. A lapse in commitment will result in discontinuation of the financial aid.
To track the progress and facilitate the promotion of natural farming, a web portal has been launched. The portal contains information about the implementation framework, resources, on-going implementations, farmer’s registration, and more.
Training Programs and Resource Centres
The scheme emphasizes capacity development of farmers through large-scale training programs conducted by the National Institute of Agricultural Extension Management (MANAGE) and the National Centre of Organic and Natural Farming (NCONF). Training sessions will be organized for master trainers, ‘champion’ farmers and practising farmers in natural farming techniques.
As part of this initiative, the government plans to establish 15,000 Bhartiya Prakritik Kheti Bio-inputs Resources Centres (BRCs). These centres will facilitate easy access to bio-resources like cow dung and urine, neem, and bioculture.
Natural Farming: A Closer Look
Natural farming is an environmentally friendly farming method that heavily promotes indigenous practices and eliminates the use of synthetic chemicals. Some of the key features include biomass recycling, use of desi cow-dung urine formulation, pest management through diversity, use of botanical concoctions, and total exclusion of synthetic chemical inputs.
Benefits of Natural Farming
Adoption of natural farming can mitigate health risks associated with synthetic chemicals used in farming. Food produced through natural farming tends to have higher nutritional content, which results in better overall health benefits. The method also helps improve soil health, thus increasing productivity.
Additionally, it aims to increase farmers’ income by reducing cost and risk factors and promoting intercropping for additional income.
Challenges in Implementing Natural Farming
Despite the numerous benefits, natural farming faces several challenges. Only 52% of India’s Gross Cropped Area (GCA) has proper irrigation facilities. Additionally, farmers report difficulties in sourcing natural inputs for farming, as the process is time-consuming and labour-intensive. Lastly, a lack of crop diversification due to skewed Minimum Support Prices favoring cereals acts as another barrier to the widespread adaptation of natural farming.
Other Initiatives Supporting Natural Farming
Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY) is a sub-scheme under which the NMNF operates. PKVY provides financial support to farmers transitioning into organic farming and encourages the use of eco-friendly techniques for pest and soil fertility management. Another initiative, Climate Smart Agriculture, aims to balance food security and climate change mitigation through integrated management of cropland, livestock, forests, and fisheries.
