- Natural farming (NF) is an approach that relies on nature’s processes to grow crops sustainably and holistically. It follows local agroecological principles rooted in Indigenous knowledge, region-specific technologies, and adaptations to local agroecology.
- The central idea of NF is to minimise reliance on external inputs and create a system that can sustain itself over the long term.
- Key practices in natural farming: Minimal Soil Disturbance; Use of Organic Inputs; conservation of water, natural methods to manage pests, etc.
Natural vs Organic Farming
- Natural farming emphasizes minimal intervention with nature, avoiding tilling, fertilizers, and even weeding.
- It ensures self-sustaining ecosystems with little to no external inputs, relying on nature to maintain soil health and manage pests.
- Organic farming follows specific certification standards, which prohibit artificial chemicals and genetically modified organisms (GMOs).
- It allows the usage of organic fertilizers, pesticides, and tilling.
- It is more structured and regulated than natural farming
Need
- There is a need to improve the quality of soil and maintain the health of the people with chemical-free food.
- The Mission is designed to support farmers in reducing the input cost of cultivation and dependency on externally purchased inputs.
- To scientifically revive and strengthen agriculture practices towards sustainability, climate resilience and healthy food.
Significance of Natural Farming
- Improved Yield: By maximizing labour, soil, and equipment and by avoiding the use of non-natural inputs like fertilizers, herbicides and pesticides.
- Enhanced income: Encouraging local resources like Jivamrit reduces reliance on costly fertilizers and chemicals, boosting farmers’ incomes.
- Ensure better health: As NF avoids synthetic chemicals, it eliminates health risks and hazards while offering higher nutrient density and better health benefits.
- Employment generation: By creating job opportunities across the agricultural value chain, from production and distribution to market linkages for natural produce.
- Environment Conservation: NF ensures better soil biology, improved agro-biodiversity and a more judicious usage of water with much smaller carbon and nitrogen footprints.
- Rejuvenates Soil Health: NF revitalizes soil microbiota, improving soil health by using bio-inoculums and natural pesticides, which enhance nutrient content in plants and increase bioavailability for humans.
Issues associated with Natural Farming
- Uncertainty of yield: NF often produces lower yields and requires higher investments in the initial phase, creating income risks for farmers.
- Input Supply Issues: The Availability of cow dung and urine for bio-fertilizers is often inconsistent.
- Knowledge and Skill Gap: Lack of extension services, training, as well as labour intensive nature hinder widespread adoption.
- Challenges of market: Lack of dedicated supply chain, consumer awareness, marketing support, etc., altogether make it difficult for farmers to secure fair prices.
- Gaps in policy: Unclear guidelines on quality and standards of natural inputs, limited government funding, and slow innovation and adoption.
- Climate Change and Pest Attacks: NF practices are undoubtedly more prone to climate change-induced extremes and pest outbreaks ( eg, Locust attacks in Rajasthan), increasing risks of crop failure.
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Government Initiatives
- Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY): The promotion of drip and sprinkler irrigation can be adapted to natural farming practices.
- Soil Health Card Scheme: It will provide farmers with these cards for detailed information about nutrient content and pH levels of soil.
- National Mission on Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA): It encourages the adoption of sustainable farming techniques, like natural farming, to improve soil health, conserve water, and enhance productivity.
- National Mission on Natural Farming (NMNF): A standalone Centre-sponsored scheme under the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare
Way Forward
- Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs): Streamlined procurement of produce, implementing robust supply chain, building consumer trust, undoubtedly enhance adoption of natural farming.
- Training of framers: Trained framers should be there for preparing inputs(desi cow dung-urine formulations, bio-inputs, and botanical extracts).
- Awareness generation: Awareness and training on practices like soil health management, pest control, and crop rotation are indeed important for adoption.
- Marketing Support: Dedicated retail outlets in urban centres and the introduction of self-assessed certification systems to authenticate natural produce will surely strengthen marketing.
- Adopting best practices: eg, the Andhra Pradesh Community Managed Natural Farming (APCNF) programme promoting natural farming practices has helped around 6 million farmers.
CONCLUSION
The Government is recognizing the importance of natural farming to address environmental challenges, improving farmer incomes, consequently ensuring food security. Combining the above efforts with local farmer participation and state-level innovation hold great promise for the future of sustainable agriculture in India.