Why in News ?
- The Union Government plans to expand chemical-free natural farming to 3.25 million hectares (~1.8% of total 180.12 million ha farmland) by FY31, under the National Mission on Natural Farming (NMNF).
Relevance
- GS Paper III (Agriculture / Environment)
- Sustainable agriculture; natural farming transition
- Policy → National Mission on Natural Farming
Practice Question
Q. “Natural farming offers a pathway for sustainable agriculture but raises concerns regarding productivity and scalability.” Evaluate India’s strategy for scaling natural farming. (250 words)
Constitutional / Legal Dimensions
- Falls under State List (Entry 14 – Agriculture) but guided by Centre via schemes, reflecting cooperative federalism in sustainable agriculture transitions.
- Aligns with Article 48A (environment protection) and Article 21 (right to life – clean environment), strengthening ecological governance in agriculture.
Governance / Administrative Dimensions
- Proposal includes 65,000 clusters (50 ha each), ensuring decentralised, community-based adoption of natural farming practices.
- Institutional support via ICAR, Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs), agricultural universities, strengthening extension services and last-mile delivery.
- Capacity building through 26,000 Community Resource Persons (CRPs) and 5,000 Bio-Input Resource Centres (BRCs) to ensure ecosystem readiness.
Economic Dimensions
- Input cost reduction: Natural inputs like jeevamrit, beejamrit nearly zero-cost, improving net farm income despite stagnant MSP/market prices.
- Yield trade-off: Short-term yield decline (15–30%), but compensated by 20–40% premium prices in organised and export markets.
- Budgetary push: ₹750 crore (FY27) to cover 6.5 lakh hectares, indicating gradual scaling to avoid supply shocks.
Social / Ethical Dimensions
- Reduces farmer indebtedness by lowering dependence on costly chemical fertilisers and pesticides, addressing agrarian distress.
- Promotes community-led farming ecosystems, strengthening rural social capital and knowledge-sharing.
- Enhances consumer health safety via chemical-free produce, aligning with ethical consumption trends.
Environmental Dimensions
- Improves soil health, biodiversity, and water retention, reversing degradation caused by chemical-intensive agriculture.
- Supports climate-resilient agriculture through low-input systems and integrated crop–livestock models.
- Reduces GHG emissions from fertiliser use, contributing to India’s climate commitments (NDCs).
Data & Evidence
- Current coverage: ~8.8 lakh hectares under natural farming.
- Target: 3.25 million hectares by FY31 (~1.8% of total farmland).
- Infrastructure: 5,000 BRCs, 26,000 CRPs, 2,858 demonstration farms for scaling adoption.
Challenges / Criticisms
- Yield uncertainty during transition phase may threaten food security if scaled rapidly.
- Lack of certification and market linkages can limit price realisation for farmers.
- Scientific validation debates: Critics argue insufficient large-scale empirical evidence compared to conventional agriculture.
- Institutional gaps in input supply chains and extension services in remote regions.
Way Forward
- Gradual scaling with region-specific crop strategies to balance productivity and sustainability.
- Strengthen certification systems and export linkages for premium pricing realisation.
- Integrate with schemes like PMKSY, PMFBY, e-NAM for irrigation, risk mitigation, and market access.
- Enhance R&D through ICAR for evidence-based validation and standardisation of practices.
Prelims Pointers
- Natural Farming: Zero-budget, chemical-free farming relying on on-farm inputs.
- NMNF: Focuses on cluster-based expansion and capacity building.
- Jeevamrit/Beejamrit: Indigenous bio-input formulations.
Mains Enrichment
Intro Options
- “India’s transition to natural farming reflects a paradigm shift from input-intensive to sustainability-driven agriculture.”
- “Balancing productivity with ecological sustainability is central to India’s evolving agricultural policy framework.”
Conclusion Frameworks
- “Natural farming can ensure income security and ecological balance if supported by robust markets, science, and institutions.”
- “The future of Indian agriculture lies in harmonising food security with environmental sustainability through calibrated reforms.”
