Lok Sabha Question No. 3199 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-03-22
Subject: Training on Natural Farming
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Guman Singh Damor

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

## DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3199 TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 22 ND  MARCH, 2022

## TRAINING ON NATURAL FARMING

3199:     SHRI GUMAN SINGH DAMOR:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ ष एवं कसान कयाण मंी be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  made  some  arrangements  for  imparting  training  of techniques of natural farming;
- (b) if so, the details thereof, State-wise;
- (c) whether the farmers are doing natural farming at present;
- (d) if so, the details of the crops being grown under natural farming, State-wise;
- (e) whether the Government has announced the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for food  grains produced under natural farming; and
- (f) if not, the time by which the Government would take steps in this regard?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ ष एवं कसान कयाण मंी (SHRI NARENDRA SINGH TOMAR)

- (a) to (f):   ICAR-Indian Institute of Farming Systems Research (ICAR-IIFSR), Modipuram in collaboration with State and Central Institutions is organizing training on natural farming as per need.
-  A total of 36 Assistant Field Officer /Agricultural Officers/Senior Agriculture Officer/Assistant  Director  of  Agriculture/Deputy  Director  of  Agriculture  from  Kerala have  been  trained  on  'Upscaling  of  Natural  Farming  Practices  through  BPKP  for Sustainable Agriculture' during 27-29 July 2021.
-  Organized training programme under Certified Farm Advisor on Natural Farming from 2018-19 in collaboration with National Institute of Agricultural Extension Management, Hyderabad. Under Module-II of the programme, hands on training are being given by ICAR-IIFSR.  In Module-III, candidates  are involved in training of  farmers  and implementation of natural farming practices. A total of 183 candidates from 23 States have completed the module-2 of Certified Farm Advisor and are involved in training and awareness on natural farming among farmers.

O.l.H.

-  A  total  of  82  Subject  Matter  Specialists/Farm  Manager/research  scholars/University officials from 24 KVKs& 2 institutions (SVPUAT & ATARI) in Uttar Pradesh have been trained on Natural during 2-3 March 2022.

National  Centre  of  Organic  farming  and  Natural  Farming  (NCONF),  Ghaziabad,  a subordinate office of Ministry of Agriculture and Farmer Welfare, Government of India   has a  mandate  to  promote  chemical  free  farming  including  natural  farming  in  the  country through capacity building of stakeholders.

Recently, National Institute of Agricultural Extension Management (MANAGE)  has been  nominated  as  a  Nodal  organization  and  knowledge  repository  for  Bhartiya  Prakritik Krishi Padhati (BPKP)  for organization of training for master trainer on natural farming and training for farmers' for State level in collaboration with State and district level institutes and also for development of video ,films and interactive  digital training module and data base for master trainer, champion farmers and Natural farming export.

Government is promoting Natural Farming through Bhartiya Prakritik Krishi Padhati (BPKP) as a sub scheme of Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY) for the promotion of traditional indigenous practices including Natural Farming. The scheme mainly emphasises on exclusion of all synthetic chemical inputs and promotes on-farm biomass recycling with major  stress  on  biomass  mulching,  use  of  cow  dung-urine  formulations  and  other  plantbased preparations. Training and capacity building in natural farming practices are inbuilt component of the scheme. Until now, under natural farming, an area of 4.09 lakh ha area has been covered in 8 States across the country. The State -wise details of funds released, area and the major crops under BPKP is given at Annexure - I.

Government has not yet considered extending any separate Minimum Support Price (MSP) for food grains produced under natural farming.

Annexure- I The  State  -wise  details  of  funds  released  and  area  covered  under  Bhartiya

## Prakritik Krishi Padhthi (BPKP)

| Sl. No .   | States           | Released date   |   Area in Ha |   Amount released (Rs in lakh) | Crops under natural farming                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |
|------------|------------------|-----------------|--------------|--------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 1.         | Andhra Pradesh   | 30.09.20        |       100000 |                         750    | Maize, Groundnut Cashew, Citrus, Palmoil, Tomato, Cotton, Paddy                                                                                                                                                                               |
| 2.         | Chhattisgarh     | 09.12.20        |        85000 |                        1352.52 | Rice,Wheat, Pulses                                                                                                                                                                                                                            |
| 3.         | Kerala           | 30.09.20        |        84000 |                        1336.6  | Paddy, Banana, Leafy Vegetables, Cucurbits, Solanaceous varieties, Bhindi, Cool Season Vegetables, Spices and Condiments., Tubers Coconut based inter crops garden like fruit plans, cocoa, nutmeg, coffee, Cashew, Pepper, Coconut, Arecanut |
| 4.         | Himachal Pradesh | 24.12.20        |        12000 |                         286.42 | Wheat, Maize, Peas, Apple, Stone fruits, Pulses, paddy, coriander and other leafy vegetables                                                                                                                                                  |
| 5          | Jharkhand        | 02.12.20        |         3400 |                          54.1  | Paddy, Wheat, vegetables , pulses, oilseeds                                                                                                                                                                                                   |
| 6.         | Odisha           | 02.02.21        |        24000 |                         381.89 | Rice, Turmeric, Ginger and Pulses                                                                                                                                                                                                             |
| 7.         | Madhya Pradesh   | 16.02.21        |        99000 |                         787.64 | Wheat, Rice, Pulses, Soyabean,                                                                                                                                                                                                                |
| 8.         | Tamil Nadu       | 16.02.21        |         2000 |                          31.82 | Vegetable crops                                                                                                                                                                                                                               |
| Total      | Total            |                 |       409400 |                        4980.99 |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               |

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