Lok Sabha Question No. 5260 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-24
Subject: Promotion of Natural Farming
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Smt. Poonamben Hematbhai Maadam

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5260

TO BE ANSWERED ON 24 TH  MARCH, 2026

## PROMOTION OF NATURAL FARMING

5260. SMT. POONAMBEN HEMATBHAI MAADAM:

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

- (a) whether the Government has undertaken comprehensive measures to promote natural farming practices across the country, if so, the details thereof; (b) whether any training programmes are being conducted to promote natural farming practices,  including  preparation  of  natural  inputs  such  as  Beejamrut,  land  preparation techniques, pest and disease management and soil health management practices; (c) if so, the details thereof; (d) whether any assessment has been conducted regarding the impact of natural farming
- on soil health, crop yield and farmers' income; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to (c): 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.

Under the mission, 18,786 clusters have been formed covering 8.80 lakh hectares' area  and  18.19  lakh  farmers  have  been  enrolled  to  promote  Natural  Farming  (as  on 05.03.2026). An output based incentive of ₹4000/- per acre per year per farmer for 2 years (up  to  1  acre  per  farmer)  is  provisioned  in  the  scheme  for  farmers  to  practice  natural farming, training, upkeep of livestock, preparation of natural farming inputs etc. Further, farmers are being supported by a simple certification system for increased market access. Under the implementation of the NMNF, Community Resource Persons (CRPs) such as Krishi Sakhis have been deployed to provide guidance and training support to farmers at the village level. 33,676 CRPs have been trained at Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs)/Agricultural  Universities  (AUs)/local  natural  farming  institutions.  Further,  a  Bioinput  Resource  Centre  (BRC)  is  a  cluster  level  enterprise  that  provides  ready  to  use Natural Farming bio-inputs such as Beejamrut, Jeevamrut etc. to local farmers who may not  themselves  be  making  on-farm  inputs  as  alternatives  to  chemical  fertilizers  and pesticides.  BRCs  also  disseminate  knowledge,  training  and  demonstration  on  these natural farming bio Inputs to farmers.

(d) & (e): Indian Council of Agricultural Research through All India Network on Natural Farming  is  carrying  out  research  programme  with  20  cooperation  centres  covering  16 States to develop package of practices for Natural Farming. The programme involves 11 State Agricultural Universities, 8 ICAR institutes/centres and 1 deemed to be university. The  study  shows  that  the  performance  of  Natural  Farming  is  highly  context  specific, dependent on the crop, region and perhaps at the transition stage of the soil. Soybean + maize-  vegetable  pea  +  coriander  (green  leaf)  recorded  mean  system  yield  (Soybean equivalent) of 6475 kg/ha/year at Bajaura (Himachal Pradesh), Almora (Uttarakhand) and Gangtok (Sikkim) under complete natural farming. Yield gain under Natural Farming was 5% over organic farming/integrated crop management.

The research outcome shows measurable improvements in soil health indicators. Over 2-3 years, Natural Farming plots showed rising soil organic carbon (SOC) levels for example, SOC increased from ~0.90% to 1.15% in Himalayan trials. Natural Farming soils had significantly higher microbial counts and diversity indices than chemical-fed soils. Richer microbial communities (e.g. more beneficial bacteria, fungi, and actinomycetes) and more  balanced  microbial  evenness  under  Natural  Farming  was  observed,  indicating  a healthier soil ecosystem developing over time. This boost in soil biota and organic matter under Natural Farming improves nutrient cycling and soil structure, laying the foundation for sustained fertility and yield stability.

Natural farming reduces the input cost of cultivation as it does not use externally purchased chemical inputs such as fertilisers, pesticides, weedicides, etc. (like Urea, Diammonium Phosphate (DAP), carbofuran, pendimethalin etc). Natural farming inputs are produced on-farm using cow dung, cow urine, plant leaves and household ingredients, which are sourced locally from the field or from within the villages. Reducing costs incurred due to transportation and market price fluctuations is associated with chemical inputs.

The  NITI  Aayog's  final  report  on  'Evaluation  of  Centrally  Sponsored  Schemes (CSS) in Package 1 Agriculture and Allied Sector' indicates that approximately 91.2% of farmers reported that adopting and continuously improving natural farming practices has increased  crop  productivity  and  significantly  improved  soil  health.  90.1%  of  farmers reported that adopting natural farming has reduced input costs (production costs). 68.5% of farmers reported that adopting natural farming has improved soil health.

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