National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture

The National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture was launched during the Twelfth Five Year Plan in 2013. NMSA seeks to transform Indian agriculture into a climate resilient production system through suitable adaptation and mitigation measures in domains of both crops and animal husbandry.

Objectives

• To make agriculture more productive, sustainable, remunerative and climate resilient by promoting location specific Integrated/Composite Farming Systems;
• To conserve natural resources through appropriate soil and moisture conservation measures, judicious use of fertilizers etc.
• To optimize utilization of water resources through efficient water management to expand coverage for achieving ‘more crop per drop’ ;
• To develop capacity of farmers & stakeholders, in conjunction with other ongoing Missions.
• To establish an effective inter and intra Departmental/Ministerial co-ordination

Components

NMSA has four major programme components or activities:

1. Rainfed Area Development Programme focuses on promoting Integrated Farming System like horticulture, livestock, fishery etc. for enhancing productivity and minimizing risks associated with climatic variability.
2. On Farm Water Management (OFWM) aims to enhance water use efficiency by promoting technological interventions like drip & sprinkler technologies, efficient water application & distribution system.
3. Soil Health Management (SHM) aims at promoting Integrated Nutrient Management (INM) through judicious use of chemical fertilizers and promotes greater use of organic manures and bio fertilizers for improving soil health.
4. Climate Change and Sustainable Agriculture: Monitoring, Modeling and Networking (CCSAMMN) provides bidirectional dissemination of climate change related information and pilots climate smart sustainable management practices through integrated farming systems suitable to local agro - climatic conditions.

Challenges

• Interoperability and communication gap between various agricultural institutions like ICAR, Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) and State Agricultural Universities.
• Lack of consultation with grass root institutions in identifying appropriate technology and specific localized farm practices.
• Departmental website of agriculture does not voluntarily upload data in public domain regarding implementation strategies of NMSA.

Possibilities and Prospects

• Involve Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) in ensuring decentralized planning and implementation of NMSA.
• Support micro level water storage or water conservation /management activities to supplement source creation.
• Allow evaluation of NMSA on bi-annual basis through ‘third party agency’ for assessing efficacy, performance, outcome and shortcomings to facilitate mid-course corrections.