Lok Sabha Question No. 236 (STARRED), answered on 2025-08-05
Subject: Zero Budget Natural Farming
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Shri Ravindra Dattaram Waikar, Shri Naresh Ganpat Mhaske

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS' WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS' WELFARE

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 236

TO BE ANSWERED ON 05 TH  AUGUST, 2025

## ZERO BUDGET NATURAL FARMING

## * 236.    SHRI NARESH GANPAT MHASKE: SHRI RAVINDRA DATTARAM WAIKAR:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE क ृ िष एवं िकसान कʞाण मंũी be pleased to state:

- (a) the data on the number of farmers and hectares of land covered under Zero Budget Natural Farming (ZBNF) along with the comparative data on input cost reduction, net income increase, and soil health improvement for farmers practicing ZBNF, State-wise and year-wise;
- (b) the details of the partnerships which have been established with State Governments, Agricultural Universities, and Civil Society Organizations for large-scale outreach of the ZBNF model and the outcomes achieved thereof;
- (c)  the  details  of  the  capacity-building  programs  and  training  modules  that  have  been introduced to educate farmers, SHGs, and extension workers;
- (d) the details of the key steps which have been taken by the Government to promote Zero Budget  Natural  Farming  (ZBNF)  across  States  as  an  alternative  to  input-intensive farming; and
- (e)  whether  the  Government  is  considering  to  provide  direct  benefit  transfer  (DBT)  or incentives to farmers transitioning from conventional to ZBNF methods?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE क ृ िष एवं िकसान कʞाण मंũी (SHRI SHIVRAJ SINGH CHOUHAN)

- (a) to (e): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

## STATEMENT IN RESPECT OF PARTS (a) TO (e) OF THE LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 236 DUE FOR ANSWER ON 05 TH  AUGUST, 2025 REGARDING 'ZERO BUDGET NATURAL FARMING'.

(a): The Union Cabinet approved the National Mission on Natural Farming (NMNF) on 25th November 2024 as a centrally sponsored scheme with an overall outlay of ₹2481 crore. The Mission aims to strengthen agriculture practices with scientifically backed approaches, towards sustainability, climate resilience and safe food. The Mission focuses on improving soil health, restoring ecosystems and reducing input cost to the farmers.

The scheme envisages the formation of 15,000 natural farming clusters in 7.5 lakh Ha area covering 18.75 lakh farmers and setting up 10,000 need-based Bio-input Resource Centres  (BRCs)  for  easy  availability  of  natural  farming  inputs.  This  will  reduce  the dependency on externally purchased chemical inputs. The progress of the Mission is given at Annexure-I. Area cover 5.37 Lakh hectare has been initiated under natural farming.

As  per  the  study  conducted  by  Indian  Council  of  Agricultural  Research  (ICAR)  Indian Institute of Farming Systems Research (IIFSR) at 20 locations across 16 States on the fields of 484 farmers, there are several benefits of Natural Farming. This include yield enhancement through intercropping with pulses, mulching using crop residues, and use of cover crops. Increase of up to 0.25% in soil organic carbon content and reduction of up to 29% in input costs of production was observed under Natural Farming conditions. Further, study conducted by ICAR - National Academy of Agricultural Research Management (ICARNAARM)  in  Andhra  Pradesh,  Karnataka  and  Maharashtra  shows  that  Natural  Farming helped in improving farmers' income by reducing cost of cultivation, and attracting better product price. The benefit cost (B:C) ratio improved by 15 to 270% across the 3 States under natural farming.

(b):   Under the Mission scientists, Farmer Master Trainers (FMTs), Community Resource Persons  (CRPs)  and  Government  Officials  are  trained  and  deployed  to  undertake awareness generation, training, on-field demonstration and provide continuous handholding support to farmers. More than 3900 Scientists, FMTs & Government officials have been trained on Natural Farming and about 28,000 CRPs have been identified under the Mission. Till  date  1,100  Natural  Farming  Model  Farms  have  been  developed  in  Krishi  Vigyan Kendras, Agricultural Universities and on fields of practicing natural farming farmers for the training of farmers. Also, 806 training institutions consisting of Krishi Vigyan Kendras(KVKs),

Agricultural  Universities  and  Local  Natural  Farming  Institutions  have  been  involved  by States/UTs to support the implementation of the Mission.

(c):       18 Centres of Natural Farming have been identified to impart training to Scientists, FMTs and State/ District/ Block officials. Scientists and FMTs undergo 2 rounds of 4 day training each. State/ District/ Block Officials undergo 1 round of 3 day training. The training is on Principles of Natural Farming, Soil Health Management, Cropping System, Livestock integration, Exposure visit to Natural Farming fields, etc. CRPs undergo 2 rounds of 5 day training each by Scientists and FMTs at Natural Farming Model Farms. Farmers undergo 4 rounds of  1  day  training  per  year  by  Scientists  and  FMTs  at  farms  of  practising  natural farming farmers and on natural farming model farms.  They are trained on methodology of natural farming, practices of improving soil organic matter such as mulching, crop rotation, pest  management,  crop  selection,  etc.  BRC  entrepreneurs  undergo  2  rounds  of  3  day training each on principles of natural farming, preparation, storage and dosage of different natural farming bio-inputs, pest & disease management practices, roles and responsibilities of BRC, business enterprise development, etc. at designated training institutions.

(d):     Annual Action Plans for NMNF have been approved for all States and funds made available.

(e): Under the Mission, there is provision for an output based incentive of ₹4000/- per acre, per year to a farmer for 2 years (upto 1 acre per farmer). The incentive support is for farmers to practice natural farming, undergo training, upkeep of livestock, preparation of natural farming inputs including purchase of mixing & storage containers or purchase of inputs from Bio-input Resource Centers etc.

## Progress under National Mission on Natural Farming

Annexure-I

| S No.   | State/ UT                            |   Farmers enrolled |   Soil samples collected of enrolled farmers |
|---------|--------------------------------------|--------------------|----------------------------------------------|
| 1       | Andaman & Nicobar Islands            |                250 |                                          123 |
| 2       | Andhra Pradesh                       |              34102 |                                         5130 |
| 3       | Arunachal Pradesh                    |               4474 |                                         4474 |
| 4       | Assam                                |               3750 |                                         1802 |
| 5       | Bihar                                |              35465 |                                         5228 |
| 6       | Chhattisgarh                         |              50565 |                                        42304 |
| 7       | Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu |                  0 |                                            0 |
| 8       | Delhi                                |                195 |                                            0 |
| 9       | Goa                                  |               1250 |                                          988 |
| 10      | Gujarat                              |              47905 |                                          862 |
| 11      | Haryana                              |              15375 |                                            0 |
| 12      | Himachal Pradesh                     |              61998 |                                        26900 |
| 13      | Jammu & Kashmir                      |              19125 |                                        17243 |
| 14      | Jharkhand                            |               9200 |                                            0 |
| 15      | Karnataka                            |             112665 |                                        87447 |
| 16      | Kerala                               |               6090 |                                            0 |
| 17      | Ladakh                               |                405 |                                           78 |
| 18      | Madhya Pradesh                       |             152248 |                                         9642 |
| 19      | Maharashtra                          |             201011 |                                         9276 |
| 20      | Manipur                              |               4400 |                                         1350 |
| 21      | Meghalaya                            |               9875 |                                            0 |
| 22      | Mizoram                              |              13125 |                                        12500 |
| 23      | Nagaland                             |              15125 |                                            0 |
| 24      | Odisha                               |              52350 |                                        12350 |
| 25      | Puducherry                           |                272 |                                            0 |
| 26      | Punjab                               |               5079 |                                         1550 |
| 27      | Rajasthan                            |             115000 |                                        68234 |
| 28      | Tamil Nadu                           |               7233 |                                         1919 |
| 29      | Telangana                            |              60446 |                                        51049 |
| 30      | Tripura                              |               2750 |                                          321 |
| 31      | Uttar Pradesh                        |             223293 |                                        60820 |
| 32      | Uttarakhand                          |              25000 |                                         1874 |
| 33      | West Bengal                          |                  0 |                                            0 |
|         | Total                                |            1290021 |                                       423464 |

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