Lok Sabha Question No. 3765 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-08-12
Subject: Natural Farming in Tirupati
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Shri Maddila Gurumoorthy

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3765

TO BE ANSWERED ON 12 TH  AUGUST, 2025

## NATURAL FARMING IN TIRUPATI

3765. SHRI MADDILA GURUMOORTHY:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ ͪष और ͩकसान कãयाण मंğी be pleased to state :

- (a) the funds allocated and released to Andhra Pradesh and specifically to Tirupati district for the promotion of natural farming during the last and current financial year; (b) whether the Government is aware that the yield in natural farming is comparatively lower than in conventional farming, especially during the transition period; (c) if so, whether the Government is providing any financial incentives, subsidies, or income support  to  farmers  adopting  natural  farming  practices  to  compensate  for  yield  loss  and ensure income stability; (d) if so, the details of such support provided; and (e) if not, the reasons for not providing direct incentives despite actively promoting natural
- farming across the country?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ ͪष एवं ͩकसान कãयाण राÏय मंğी (SHRI RAMNATH THAKUR)

- (a): Rs.  94.371  lakhs  have  been  allocated  under  National  Mission  on  Natural  Farming (NMNF) to Andhra Pradesh for 2024-25. Against the allocation, Rs. 47.185 lakhs have been released. Allocation for 2025-26 the funds allocated is Rs. 12251.46 lakhs, out of which Rs. 5810.8875  lakhs  have  been  released.  District  wise  fund  allocation  is  not  maintained centrally.
- (b): 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. 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  (ICAR-NAARM)  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  3  States.  Further,  Independent studies commissioned by Government of Andhra Pradesh have shown that there is no yield penalty in natural farming besides reduction in cost of cultivation and resulting in higher net incomes when compared to conventional farming.

(c) to (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. Further, the Scheme has been on boarded on Direct  Benefit  Transfer  (DBT)  Portal  to  provide  the  support  to  farmers  adopting  natural farming practices.

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