National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA)

Objectives

• Natural resources:
  • Conserved by soil and moisture conservation measures
  • Improve water use efficiency through proper water management
• Promote sustainable farming systems:
  • Through integrated farming, crop diversification, and crop-livestock farming systems
• Improving soil health:
  • Through soil health management practices based on soil fertility maps
• Developing farmer capacity:
  • Through training and other capacity development programs

Major Programmes of NMSA

Rainfed Area Development (RAD

• Rainfed Area Development (RAD) is a component of the National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture under the Government of India.
• It focuses on improving the livelihood of farmers in rainfed areas through sustainable and climate-resilient farming practices.
• Implemented by the:
  • Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare

Objectives of Rainfed Area Development (RAD)

The National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture’s Rainfed Area Development (RAD) programme aims to:

• Enhance agricultural productivity in rainfed areas
• Minimise climatic and weather-related risks
• Promote Integrated Farming Systems (IFS)
• Diversify farm-based income sources
• Improve livelihood security of small and marginal farmers
• Encourage sustainable and climate-resilient agriculture
• Improve soil health and efficient water use
• Reduce dependence on single-crop farming (monoculture)

On-Farm Water Management (OFWM)

• Develops advanced on-farm water conservation equipment and technologies with efficient harvesting and management of rainwater. Launched in 2014.
• Water helps germinate crops, grow their roots, absorb nutrients, and support other activities of crop growth.
• Soil fertility is assured so that crop water usage isn’t hindered by limitations on nutrient and physical availability.
• Thus, the OFWM practices help to conserve water and recharge the groundwater.

Soil Health Management

• Encourages sustainable practices that maintain the health of soil based on a specific location and the type of crops that could be grown in those locations.
• A Soil Health Card (SHC) is a printed report that provides information about the health of a farmer’s soil. 
• Soil health indicators: The status of the soil’s health, including its pH levels, organic content, and macro and micronutrients 

Climate Change and Sustainable Agriculture: Monitoring, Modeling and Networking (CCSAMMN):

• It a program under the National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA). The program’s objectives include: 
• Creating and sharing knowledge
  • CCSAMMN creates and shares information and knowledge about climate change in both directions, from land and farmers to research and scientific institutions, and vice versa.
• Supporting pilot blocks
  • CCSAMMN supports pilot blocks to demonstrate how rainfed technologies can be distributed.
• Coordinating with other programs
  • CCSAMMN coordinates with other programs and missions, such as MGNREGS, IWMP, RKVY, NFSM, NHM, and NMAET.
• Making production sustainable
  • CCSAMMN aims to make local production systems sustainable while managing climate change concerns.

NMSA Stratergies

• Implementation of sustainable paths for development
• Using energy-saving machinery
• Agri-insurance
• Credit services
• Availability of good quality crop, animal, and fish culture
• Control of pests
• Practices in agricultural sector
• Nutrient management
• Availability of Market
• Availability of Information