Natural Farming

Natural faming in India is promoted under Bharatiya Prakritik Krishi Paddhati Programme (BPKP). BPKP is aimed at promoting traditional indigenous practices which reduce externally purchased inputs. Natural Farming can be defined as “chemical- free and livestock-based farming”. Soundly grounded in agro-ecology, it is a diversified farming system that integrates crops, trees and livestock, allowing the optimum use of functional biodiversity.

Benefits of Natural Farming

• Minimizes cost of production and increases farmers’ production
• Ensures better health
• Employment generation for marginal or poor farmers
• Eliminates the application of chemical input • Reduces water consumption
• Rejuvenates soil health
• Promotes livestock sustainability
• Promotes women’s participation and community ownership for scaling up of natural farming
• Builds resilience of agricultural systems

Challenges to Natural Farming

• Drop in yield per hectare India’s first organic state, Sikkim, has started seeing decline in its yields after a few years.
• Conviction among Policy Makers: As of now, policy makers fear for the food security of the nation and are noncommittal on any major changes in the agriculture sector.
• Resistance by the Chemical inputs-based industry
• Lack of consensus among the scientific community: Though agreeing to its health and environmental benefits, the scientific community is divided on the impact of natural agriculture on crop yields.

Government Initiatives

The Government of India focused towards promoting chemical-free natural farming is clearly emphasized in Union Budget 2022- 23.

• The Central Government will promote natural farming throughout the country.
• Initial focus is on farmer’s lands in 5 Km wide corridors along river Ganga.
• Union Finance Minister highlighted that the states will be encouraged to revise syllabus of agricultural universities so as to meet the needs of natural, zero-budget and organic farming, modern-day agriculture, value addition and management.