Lok Sabha Question No. 4092 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-25
Subject: Challenges in Transition to Natural Farming
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Shri Jagdambika Pal

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4092

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 25 TH  MARCH, 2025

## CHALLENGES IN TRANSITION TO NATURAL FARMING

## 4092.  SHRI JAGDAMBIKA PAL:

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

- (a) the details of the concrete measures being taken to address the practical challenges faced by farmers during the transition to natural farming;
- (b) the manner in which the Ministry is planning to address yield fluctuations that farmers often face in the first few years of transitioning from chemical-based to natural farming;

(c) whether  there  are  any  provisions  for  compensating  farmers  for  income  loss  or production instability during this period, if so, details thereof

- (d) whether many small and marginal farmers lack access to essential resources like livestock for preparing bio-inputs, if so, the manner in which the Ministry ensure inclusivity for these farmers within NMNF's framework; and
- (e) the details of the scalable solutions being developed for regions where access to indigenous livestock or raw materials for Jeevamrut is limited?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE क ृ िष एवं िकसान कʞाण राǛ मंũी (SHRI RAMNATH THAKUR)

(a) to (c): To ease the transition to natural farming, National Mission on Natural Farming (NMNF) envisages comprehensive measures which include awareness & demonstration programs, training, continuous hand holding and financial support to farmers. NMNF also envisages certification and market linkages for naturally grown chemical free produce, to support farmer incomes.

Under the scheme, enrolled farmers are encouraged to initiate  natural farming in small landholding. Training Institutions like Krishi Vigyan Kendras, Agricultural Universities, Local  Natural  Farming  Institutions,  etc.  provide  training  on  natural  farming  package  of practices, preparation of natural farming inputs, soil health management practices etc. at natural  farming  Model  Demonstration  Farms  in  farmers'  fields.  Farmer  Master  Trainers associated with the training institutions are to support the clusters in all the Natural Farming package of practices and preparation of on farm inputs. The scheme envisages deployment of  two  Community  Resource  Persons/  Krishi  Sakhis  in  each  natural  farming  cluster  to handhold the farmers and for community awareness. For the trained farmers, output based incentive of ₹4000 per acre per farmer per year up to 2 years is provided in the scheme for practicing NF package of practices. Each farmer shall be eligible for support under NMNF up to a maximum area of one acre. (d) & (e): Under NMNF, there is provision for 10,000 need-based Bio-input Resource Centres for local availability of natural farming inputs for farmers to reduce their dependence on external markets for purchasing of inputs. These BRCs can be operated by practicing NF farmers, FPOs, SHG, PACS/ Cooperatives, local rural entrepreneurs, KVKs, etc. with Goshalas  at  Gram  Panchayat  or  any  other  agency  identified  by  the  State.  Through convergence  with  concerned  Departments  such  as  Department  of  Animal  Husbandry  & Dairying,  scalable  solutions for  widespread  availability of  natural  farming  inputs  such  as

Jeevamrut, etc. are envisaged.

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