All about the central government scheme to promote natural farming

Is the NMNF a caller initiative?

No. The projected NMNF is an betterment of the Bhartiya Prakritik Krishi Paddhti (BPKP) launched by the NDA authorities successful its 2nd word (2019-24). The inaugural was launched nether an umbrella strategy of Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojna (PKVY). The Centre besides promoted earthy farming successful a five-kilometre loop on the Ganga River nether the Namami Gange strategy successful the fiscal twelvemonth 2022-23.

The NDA’s instrumentality to powerfulness successful June aft the Lok Sabha elections saw a renewed absorption connected promoting earthy farming, with the authorities launching the NMNF successful the archetypal 100 days. The authorities decided to upscale the acquisition gained from the BPKP into a ngo mode done the NMNF.

In her Budget Speech connected July 23, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced a program to initiate 1 crore farmers countrywide into earthy farming successful the adjacent 2 years. “In the adjacent 2 years, 1 crore farmers crossed the state volition beryllium initiated into earthy farming supported by certification and branding. Implementation volition beryllium done technological institutions and consenting gram panchayats. 10,000 need-based bio-input assets centres volition beryllium established,” she announced.

In his Independence Day speech, Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his gratitude to the farmers who had embraced earthy farming for taking connected “the work of biology conservation.”

How overmuch country has been covered nether earthy farming truthful far?

An wide country of 22 lakh hectares has been brought nether earthy farming to date, with 34 lakh farmers engaged successful the practice. This includes 4 lakh hectares nether BPKP and 88,000 hectares nether Namami Gange. About 17 lakh hectares are covered nether assorted authorities authorities initiatives to beforehand earthy farming.

The NMNF ngo aims to bring an further 7.5 lakh hectares of country nether earthy farming. According to the statement, “In the adjacent 2 years, NMNF volition beryllium implemented successful 15,000 clusters successful Gram Panchayats, which are willing, & scope 1 crore farmers and initiate Natural Farming (NF) successful 7.5 lakh Ha area. Preference volition beryllium fixed to areas having prevalence of practising NF farmers, SRLM / PACS / FPOs, etc. Further, need-based 10,000 Bio-input Resource Centres (BRCs) volition beryllium set-up to supply casual availability and accessibility to ready-to-use NF inputs for farmers.

How is the ngo antithetic from the earlier interventions?

The earthy farming ngo is antithetic from the earlier initiatives successful respective ways. First, it has a higher budgetary outlay. Second, it targets implicit 1 crore farmers. Moreover, it aims to make an ecosystem for sustainable earthy farming successful the country. It besides aims to found “scientifically supported communal standards and casual husbandman affable certification procedures for people grown chemic escaped produce.” It besides envisages a azygous nationalist marque for people grown chemical-free produce.

According to an authoritative statement, the strategy has a full outlay of Rs. 2,481 crore of which the cardinal authorities volition lend Rs.1584 crore and the states Rs.897 crore) till the 15th Finance Commission (2025-26).

“Under NMNF, astir 2000 NF Model Demonstration Farms shall beryllium established astatine Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs), Agricultural Universities (AUs) and farmers’ fields, and shall beryllium supported by experienced and trained Farmer Master Trainers. The consenting farmers volition beryllium trained successful Model Demonstration Farms connected the NF bundle of practices, mentation of NF inputs, etc. adjacent their villages successful KVKs, AUs and practising NF farmers’ fields. 18.75 lakh trained consenting farmers volition hole inputs similar Jeevamrit, Beejamrit, etc. by utilizing their livestock oregon procure from BRCs. 30,000 Krishi Sakhis/ CRPs volition beryllium deployed for consciousness generation, mobilisation and handholding of consenting farmers successful the clusters,” it said.

Why a ngo connected earthy farming?

The ngo to beforehand earthy farming aims to combat the excessive usage of fertilisers.

According to sources, the Agriculture Ministry has identified 228 districts crossed 16 states—Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Punjab, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and West Bengal— with input (fertiliser) income supra the all-India mean (138 kg/hectare) during 2022-23. In contrast, the fig of farmers practising earthy farming was minimal successful these districts. Thus, the ministry volition absorption connected districts with precocious chemic fertiliser income (above 200 kg/ hectares), isolated from the Namami Gange portion (5 kg area) on the main stem of stream Ganga.

According to the authoritative statement, “Natural Farming practices volition assistance farmers to trim input outgo of cultivation and dependency connected externally purchased inputs portion rejuvenating ungraded health, fertility & prime and gathering resilience to clime risks similar waterlogging, flood, drought, etc.”

“These practices besides trim wellness risks from vulnerability to fertilisers, pesticides, etc. and supply steadfast & nutritious nutrient for the farmers’ family. Further, done Natural Farming, a steadfast Mother Earth is bequeathed to the aboriginal generations. Through betterment of ungraded c contented & h2o usage efficiency, determination is an summation successful ungraded microorganisms and biodiversity successful NF,” it said.