Lok Sabha Question No. 363 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-02-04
Subject: Small Farmers Enrollment for NMNF
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. 363

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 04 TH  FEBRUARY, 2025

## SMALL FARMERS ENROLLMENT FOR NMNF

363. SHRI JAGDAMBIKA PAL:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE क ृ िष और िकसान कʞाण मंũी be pleased to state: (a) the step-by-step process to enroll their land by small farmers interested in transitioning to natural farming under the National Mission on Natural Farming (NMNF) in Gram Panchayat or Block; (b) whether there are any specific forms, documents, or prerequisites required for applying in the Development Office, or Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), if so, the details thereof; (c) whether there are enrollments open year-round or season-specific and if a farmer misses the cluster deadline, whether they can enroll individually or in the next cycle, if so, the details thereof; (d) whether there are any designated officials or Krishi Sakhis to assist farmers and the accessible resource persons for those in remote areas and if so, the details thereof; (e) whether the farmers receive training immediately or wait for cluster formation, if so, the details thereof; (f) whether  financial  or  technical  assistance  is  guaranteed  upon  enrollment  or  linked  to milestones, if so, the details thereof; and (g) the manner in which the Ministry ensures that small landholders are not excluded from

- NMNF due to procedural or logistical barriers?

## ANSWER

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

(a) & (b): Under the National Mission on Natural Farming (NMNF), identification of clusters will be done by States/ UTs. Each cluster will be linked to a Training Institution, viz. Krishi Vigyan Kendras, Agriculture Universities or Local Natural Farming Institutions. In the selected clusters, two designated Krishi Sakhis/ Community Resource Persons (CRPs) will mobilise the farmers and enrol them.

- (c): New farmers can join the natural farming cluster at the beginning of each crop season.
- (d): Each State/ UT will designate two Krishi Sakhis/ CRPs per selected cluster.

(e): Training  to  the  farmers  will  commence  after  the  identification  of  the  clusters  by  the States/UTs.

(f): For the trained farmers, output based incentive is envisaged in the scheme for practicing NF  package  of  practices  like  Pre  Monsoon  Dry  Sowing  (PMDS),  application  of  Beejamrut, Jeevamrut,  etc.,  diversified  cropping  system,  etc.;  awareness  on  NF,  upkeep  of  livestock, preparing  NF  inputs  or  purchasing  NF  inputs  from  Bio-input  Resource  Centre  (BRC),  and purchasing  drums,  mixing  &  storage  containers,  etc.  Each  farmer  can  initiate  NF  in  small landholding, and eligible for support under NMNF upto a maximum area of one acre.

(g): All farmers, including small and marginal farmers, are eligible to avail the benefits under the  NMNF.  Further,  the  Mission  Unit  at  Centre/  State,  District  and  Block  Level  Monitoring Committees  are  mandated  to  conduct  regular  monitoring  of  farm-level  indicators,  farmer progression and extension of NF across all the clusters.

*****