NITI Aayog released a comprehensive report and training manual titled “Empowering Farmers: Natural Farming Training Toolkit & Best Practices Guide”. The toolkit aim to promotes a chemical-free, livestock-based farming system to enhance biodiversity and ecological harmony. It also seeks to support the promotion and scaling up of natural farming practices in India by providing guidance on training frameworks, implementation strategies, and best practices.
What is Natural Farming?
Natural Farming is a chemical-free, livestock-based agricultural system rooted in ecological principles.
Key Characteristics
- Eliminates the use of synthetic chemical fertilizers and pesticides.
- Relies on natural biological processes within the farm ecosystem.
- Integrates crops, trees and livestock to enhance biodiversity and ecological balance.
Difference from Organic Farming
- Organic farming allows the use of externally sourced certified organic fertilizers and bio-pesticides.
- Natural farming relies entirely on on-farm inputs and natural processes, avoiding external inputs.
Key benefits of natural farming highlighted in the report include:
Economic Benefits
- Reduces paid-out cost of cultivation by 5–10% across major crops.
- In some cases, cost reductions can reach 20–55%.
- Diversified natural farms can achieve 20–40% higher net incomes compared to monocropped conventional farms.
Environmental and Ecological Benefits
- Reduces greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 55–85%.
- Conserves natural resources with 50–60% savings in water and significant reduction in electricity consumption.
Soil Health and Resilience
- Increases Soil Organic Carbon (SOC) by up to 45%.
- Boosts beneficial soil microorganisms.
- Leads to stronger root development and improved soil fertility.
Health and Nutritional Security
- Protects farmers and consumers by eliminating exposure to synthetic pesticides and fertilizers.
- Promotes production of safer and healthier food.
Livestock Integration
- Natural farming integrates livestock into agricultural systems.
- Directly utilizes animal by-products (dung and urine) for on-farm inputs, making livestock economically viable.
- This makes livestock economically viable within agroecological farming systems.
Practical Protocols
- Provides granular steps for seed selection, microbial soil enrichment, botanical pest control, and water conservation
National-Level Initiatives Promoting Natural Farming
Bharatiya Prakritik Krishi Paddhati (BPKP)
- Implemented as a sub-scheme under Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY).
- Promotes chemical-free farming through cluster-based approaches.
National Mission on Natural Farming (NMNF)
- Aims to bring 1 crore farmers under natural farming with outlay of Rs 2,481 crore
- Alos seeks to support the establishment of 10,000 Bio-Input Resource Centres (BRCs) and strengthening certification processes.
Other Major Government Initiatives supporting the transition from chemical farming include PM PRANAM, SATAT (Sustainable Alternative Towards Affordable Transportation), and GOBARDHAN (Galvanizing Organic Bio Agro Resources Dhan).