India’s National Mission on Natural Farming

Source: The post India’s National Mission on Natural Farming has been created, based on the article “Natural farming: Ambitious plan, but will it work?” published in “Live Mint” on 29th November 2024

UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper3- Agriculture

Context: The article discusses India’s National Mission on Natural Farming. It promotes chemical-free farming using local inputs like manure and herbs. The scheme aims to improve soil health, cut costs, and diversify crops, with training and resources for farmers to adopt this method.

For detailed information on Launch of National Mission on Natural Farming (NMNF)

What is the National Mission on Natural Farming?

1. Objective: Promotes chemical-free farming to improve soil health, reduce costs, and provide safe food.
2. Budget: ₹2,481 crore to benefit 10 million farmers and cover 750,000 hectares in two years.
3. Support: 10,000 bio-input centers, hands-on training on model farms, and deployment of 30,000 krishi sakhis.
4. Methods: Encourages local inputs like livestock manure and biopesticides made from herbs.
5. Significance: Targets 15,000 clusters to ensure wide adoption, addressing the demand for low-chemical residue produce.

How Does Natural Farming Differ from Organic Farming?

1. Certification: Organic farming requires third-party certification, but natural farming does not.
2. Transition Period: Organic farming needs a 2–3 year conversion period, while natural farming allows gradual transition.
3. Market Price: Organic produce fetches higher prices due to certification. Natural produce faces marketing challenges.
4. Adoption Flexibility: Natural farming lets farmers experiment with local inputs, ensuring no sudden yield drops.

Coverage: Organic farming covers 4.5 million hectares, while natural farming covers 0.65 million hectares.

Does natural farming affect yields?

1. A 2023 study by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research found mixed results.
2. Paddy yields were 4% higher, and costs were 5% lower in Andhra Pradesh. However, yields for crops like sugarcane and black gram were lower. More scientific studies are needed.

What is the Science Behind Natural Farming?

1. Natural farming believes that soil, air, and water naturally contain enough nutrients. By creating a healthy soil environment, these nutrients can be unlocked.
2. This is done by fermenting cow dung with urine, jaggery, and pulses flour to increase soil microbes. These microbes help deliver nutrients to plants, improve soil structure, and increase its ability to hold water.
   3. Planting multiple crops together also helps improve soil fertility.

Question for practice:

Discuss the objectives, methods, and significance of the National Mission on Natural Farming (NMNF).