Source: PIB
Context
The PIB detailed research findings and financial support under India’s natural farming push — including ICAR’s All India Network Programme on Natural Farming and the output-based incentive of ₹4,000/acre/year under the National Mission on Natural Farming (NMNF).
ICAR Research Programme
All India Network Programme on Natural Farming (AINP-NF)
- Initiated from 2020-21 (previously AINP-Organic Farming).
- 20 cooperating centres across 16 States; evaluates 8 major cropping systems and develops packages of practices.
- Involves 11 State Agricultural Universities, 8 ICAR institutes/centres, 1 deemed university.
Key Research Findings
Crop-System Packages Developed
| Region | Cropping System |
|---|---|
| Rajasthan & Gujarat | Groundnut + sesame – fennel + cabbage |
| Chhattisgarh & MP | Soybean + maize – wheat + mustard |
| Kerala | Cassava |
Soil Health Improvements
- Soil Organic Carbon (SOC) rose over 2–3 years — in Himalayan trials, from ~0.90% to 1.15%.
- Higher number and diversity of soil microorganisms than chemically farmed soils; balanced abundance of beneficial bacteria, fungi and actinomycetes.
- Improved nutrient cycling and soil structure → foundation for long-term fertility.
Practice-Level Benefits
- Mulching: maintains soil moisture, controls weeds, adds organic matter, boosts microbial activity.
- Multi-cropping: raises field biodiversity, reduces pest/disease incidence, improves nutrient use.
- Reduced chemical costs → higher net profits.
NITI Aayog Assessment Report
- ~91.2% of farmers adopting natural farming reported increased crop productivity and improved soil health.
- 90.1% reported reduced input/production costs.
Financial Assistance under NMNF
- Output-Based Incentive: ₹4,000 per acre per year for 2 years (up to 1 acre per farmer).
- Covers: practising natural farming, training more farmers, upkeep of livestock, preparation of natural farming inputs (including mixing/storage containers), or purchase of inputs from Bio-input Resource Centres (BRCs).
About NMNF
- A standalone Centrally Sponsored Scheme launched in November 2024, under the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare.
- Builds on the earlier Bharatiya Prakritik Krishi Paddhati (BPKP) under Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY).
- Community support: two Krishi Sakhis / Community Resource Persons (CRPs) per cluster.
- Certification: simple farmer-friendly system under Participatory Guarantee System (PGS)-India, managed by the National Centre for Organic & Natural Farming (NCONF), Ghaziabad (reconstituted from the National Centre of Organic Farming).
- Real-time geo-tagged monitoring via the NMNF portal.
