National Mission on Natural Farming

Context: The Union Cabinet has approved the National Mission on Natural Farming as a standalone centrally sponsored scheme to create an ecosystem for sustainable farming, thereby generating benefits like improvement in the quality of soil and providing people with chemical-free food.

What is Natural Farming?

• Natural Farming (NF) is a chemical free farming which involves local livestock integrated natural farming methods, diversified crop systems, etc., allowing the optimum use of functional biodiversity.
• Natural Farming follows local agro-ecological principles rooted in local knowledge, location specific technologies and is evolved as per the local agro-ecology.

About National Mission on Natural Farming: 

• Vision: To implement self-sustainable and self-generating natural farming systems for freedom from purchased inputs with the aim to cut down:
  • cost of cultivation
  • enhance farmers income
  • ensure resource conservation, and 
  • safe & healthy soils, environment and food.

Objectives:

1. To promote an alternative system of farming for freedom from external purchased inputs, cost reduction and thereby increasing income of farmers.
2. To popularise integrated agriculture-animal husbandry models based on livestock and local resources.
3. To collect, validate and document Natural Farming being practiced across the country and encourage participatory research with farmers on up-scaling of the mission.
4. To undertake activities for awareness creation, capacity building, promotion and demonstration of Natural Farming.
5. To create standards, certification procedure and branding for Natural Farming products.

Key Provisions of the Mission:

• National Mission on Natural Farming (NMNF) is a centrally sponsored scheme under the Ministry of Agriculture.
• In the next two years, NMNF will be implemented in 15,000 clusters in Gram Panchayats, which are willing, & reach 1 crore farmers and initiate Natural Farming (NF) in 7.5 lakh Ha area. 
• Need-based 10,000 Bio-input Resource Centres (BRCs) will be set-up to provide easy availability and accessibility to ready-to-use NF inputs for farmers.
• Around 2000 NF Model Demonstration Farms shall be established at Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs), Agricultural Universities (AUs) and farmers’ fields, and shall be supported by experienced and trained Farmer Master Trainers.
• 30,000 Krishi Sakhis/ CRPs(Community Resource Persons) will be deployed for awareness generation, mobilisation and handholding of willing farmers in the clusters.
• Farmers will be provided with an easy simple certification system and dedicated common branding to provide access to market their natural farming produce. 
• Real time geo-tagged & referenced monitoring of NMNF implementation shall be done through an online portal.
• Incentive to farmers for one time on-farm manure production infrastructure: A financial assistance of Rs. 15000/- per ha @ Rs. 5000/- per ha/year for three years.  
• Training of farmers by Champion farmer and CRP: 6 such trainings of one day duration will be organized at village level for all the farmers in a batch of
  50 farmers. A sum of Rs. 30,000/- is provided for such training @ Rs. 50 per farmer per training. 
• Farmer Producer Organisations (FPO) formation for farmers practicing Natural Farming: 100 FPOs in the Gangetic belt (5 Km Corridor of Ganga Basin) and another 400 FPOs in the rest of the country from the 10,000 FPO scheme being implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare
• Farmer Field School: First year of the natural farming mission will be devoted to the awareness creation through Farmer Field School.

Need for Natural Farming: 

• Pressure on limited resources: The majority of Indians are small and marginal framers who practice subsistence farming. Hence, to increase production from a small area of land, there is greater pressure on soil and water resources. In the long run, it would result in soil degradation and receding water tables. Hence, the farmers need natural farming to transition to sustainable farming practices.
• Capital and input-intensive agriculture: High-cost of inputs for farming and declining farmers income requires a shift towards sustainable farming practices.
• Limitations of Conventional Farming Practices: Conventional farming practices, bolstered historically by the Green Revolution, are now showing signs of strain. Issues such as soil degradation, reduced nutrient content in food, and increased chemical residues are alarming. Apart from that there is a looming threat of climate change. Hence, natural farming presents a viable alternative to address these issues. 

Benefits of Natural Farming: 

1. Environmental Sustainability:

• Soil Health: Natural farming improves soil structure, organic matter content, and biodiversity. A study by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) found that natural farming methods can enhance soil organic carbon by up to 50% compared to conventional farming.
• Water Conservation: Natural Farming has proved to improve water retention capacity. It requires minimum water consumption, thus, ultimately preserving groundwater reserves, improving the water table, and reducing financial and labour stress on farmers.

2. Climate Resilience:

• Carbon Sequestration: Natural farming practices such as crop rotation, agroforestry, and cover cropping contribute to carbon sequestration. 
  • Over the past 50 years, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions resulting from ‘Agriculture, Forestry and Other Land Use’ (AFOLU) have nearly doubled, and projections suggest a further increase by 2050. 
  • As per FAO, the largest share of global methane and nitrous oxide emissions is contributed by Agriculture. Excessive use of fertilizers in conventional farming has significantly contributed to global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and climate change. 
• Climate Adaptation: Natural farming enhances biodiversity and soil health, making farms more resilient to climate extremes like droughts and floods.
  • During the Pethai and Titli cyclones of 2018, the crops cultivated through Natural Farming in Andhra Pradesh, showed greater resilience to heavy winds than the conventional crops. 

3. Biodiversity Enhancement:

• Agro-ecological Diversity: Natural farming promotes biodiversity through crop diversification and the use of native plant species. 
• Ecosystem Services: Natural farming practices enhance ecosystem services such as pollination, pest control, and soil fertility. 

4. Economic Benefits for Farmers:

• Cost Reduction: Natural farming reduces dependence on expensive chemical inputs or fertilisers. A report by CEEW states that Non-Zero Budget Natural Farming (ZBNF) farmers use three times more urea and DAP per acre than ZBNF farmers.
• Increased Profitability: Studies by the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) indicate that farmers practicing natural farming can achieve up to 50% higher net returns due to lower input costs and premium prices for organic produce.

5. Health and Nutrition:

• Nutrient-Rich Produce: As Natural Farming does not use any synthetic chemicals, health risks and hazards are eliminated. The food has higher nutrition density and therefore offers better health benefits.

6. Social and Cultural Benefits:

• Preservation of Traditional Knowledge: Natural farming practices are often rooted in traditional knowledge systems. This preservation promotes cultural heritage and community engagement.
• Community Health: By reducing chemical usage, natural farming minimizes pollution of air, water, and soil, leading to healthier living environments for rural communities.

Challenges related to Natural Farming:

1. Initial Decrease in Yield & Economic Viability: Transitioning from conventional to natural farming often results in an initial decrease in crop yield, which can deter farmers also, The economic viability of natural farming is uncertain due to lower initial yields.
2. Knowledge and Skill Gap: Farmers need extensive knowledge and skills to successfully implement natural farming techniques.
   • The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) reports that the majority of Indian farmers are not adequately trained in natural farming practices, resulting in poor adoption rates.
3. Market and Policy Support: There is a lack of established markets and supportive policies for naturally farmed produce. 
4. Certification and Market Access: Obtaining certification for natural products can be costly, and access to markets can be limited.
5. Pest and Disease Management: Natural farming relies on non-chemical methods for pest and disease control, which may not always be effective.
6. Climate Dependence: Natural farming heavily relies on climatic conditions, making it less resilient to climate change. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) notes that climate variability poses significant risks to the stability and predictability of natural farming systems.
7. Resistance to Change & Lessons from Sri Lanka: Farmers accustomed to conventional practices are often resistant to adopting new natural farming methods.
   • A couple of years ago, Sri Lanka went through economic and political turmoil after it decided to turn completely organic, and banned the import of chemical fertilisers.
   • The government’s policy shift had severe consequences with farmers struggling to get natural fertilisers. They faced a reduction in yields of key crops including rice, putting the country’s food security at risk.

Conclusion

Natural farming represents a critical shift in India's agricultural strategy, aimed at enhancing sustainability, climate resilience, and nutrition security. The transition, although challenging, is necessary to address the declining efficacy of the Green Revolution and the pressing environmental concerns. With strategic planning, technology development, and appropriate incentives, natural farming can pave the way for a more sustainable and secure agricultural future in India.