Lok Sabha Question No. 24 (STARRED), answered on 2025-02-04
Subject: National Mission on Natural Farming
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Dr. Shrikant Eknath Shinde, Shri Naresh Ganpat Mhaske

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

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 24

TO BE ANSWERED ON 04 TH  FEBRUARY, 2025

## NATIONAL MISSION ON NATURAL FARMING

*24. SHRI NARESH GANPAT MHASKE: DR. SHRIKANT EKNATH SHINDE:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE & FARMERS WELFARE क ृ िष एवं िकसान कʞाण मंũी

be pleased to state: (a) whether the Government has proposed for adoption of natural farming practices in the country under the National Mission on Natural Farming (NMNF) and if so, the details thereof; (b) whether the establishment of Bio-input Resource Centres will ensure timely access to  natural farming inputs for farmers and its impact on the cost of cultivation and soil health, if so, the details thereof; (c) whether the training of farmers in natural farming practices and the deployment of Krishi Sakhis/ Community Resource Persons will significantly accelerate the adoption of natural farming methods and if so, the outcomes thereof; (d) the  impact  of  NMNF's  focus  on  local  agro-ecological  principles  on  climate sustainability and the method adopted for measuring the outcomes thereof; and whether the integration of NMNF with existing schemes and local market linkages improves branding and marketing opportunities for farmers' produce and if so, the details

- (e) of measures planned for effective convergence thereof?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER 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. 24  DUE FOR  ANSWER ON 04 TH   FEBRUARY,  2025  REGARDING 'NATIONAL MISSION ON NATURAL FARMING'

(a) & (b): Yes,  Sir.  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 (Government of India share of ₹1584 crore and States' share of ₹897  crore).  The  aim  of  the  Mission  is  to  promote  natural  farming  through  extensive training  programmes  on  natural  farming  package  of  practices,  preparation  of  natural inputs, etc.

The scheme envisaged the formation of 15,000 natural farming clusters in 7.5 lakh Ha area in various States/ Union Territories. Each cluster shall be formed of contiguous area of about 50 Ha and approximately 125 farmers. The focus of the scheme is on the on-farm production of natural farming inputs by the farmers. 10,000 need-based Bio-input Resource  Centres  will  support  with  easy  availability  of  natural  farming  inputs  for  the farmers  of  these  clusters,  thus  reducing  the  dependency  on  externally  purchased chemical inputs. The usage of natural inputs significantly enhances the soil fertility and promotes overall ecological balance.

(c): The scheme envisages deployment of two Krishi Sakhis/ CRPs in each natural farming cluster to handhold the farmers on natural farming practices and to  generate community wide awareness by involving Self Help Groups, Anganwadi, Gram Sabha, Krishi  Vigyan  Kendras,  etc.  Under  the  Scheme,  extensive  training  programmes  for farmers, scientists, Farmer Master Trainers, Krishi Sakhi/ Community Resource Person (CRP), etc. are envisaged. These training programmes for the farmers and deployment of Krishi Sakhis/ CRPs in the clusters are aimed to foster adoption of natural farming.

(d): Natural Farming principles and practices aim to enhance climate sustainability in agriculture by promoting location-specific agro-ecological practices that reduce dependency on chemical inputs and strengthen natural ecosystems. It also focuses on improving  soil  health  and  moisture  content  by  encouraging  in-situ  soil  organic  matter generation  through  multi-crop  systems,  biomass  mulching,  etc..  Natural  farming  also enhances  biodiversity  by  fostering  the  presence  of  beneficial  insects,  birds  and microorganisms that support natural pest control and pollination. With the improvement in soil health, natural farming practices enhance agricultural resilience, thereby helping farmers cope with extreme climate events.

(e): For impactful outcome of the mission, convergence with various schemes of both Central and State Governments, such as other schemes of the Department of Agriculture &  Farmers  Welfare,  Department  of  Rural  Development,  Ministry  of  Food  Processing Industries,  Ministry  of  Panchayati  Raj,  Ministry  of  Ayush,  Ministry  of  Cooperation  and Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying, is envisaged. The Mission also provides for a simple participatory certification system and creation of a common national brand for naturally grown chemical free produce to significantly boost the market access & linkages and facilitate wider adoption of natural farming.

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