MUMBAI, 7 July 2025: In an ambitious push to transform India’s food systems, the government is scaling up its National Mission on Natural Farming to encourage small-holder farmers to adopt chemical-free and ecologically sustainable methods.
The mission, launched formally in late 2024 with a budget of INR 2,481 crore, is aimed at reversing decades of soil degradation and dependence on synthetic fertilisers by promoting natural, local, and regenerative agricultural practices.
According to the Ministry of Agriculture, over 0.8 million small-holder farmers have already signed up to convert a portion of their land to natural farming, against a target of 1.8 million. Over the next two years, the mission aims to enrol 10 million farmers out of India’s total farming population of around 140 million.
Clusters and incentives: a model for scale
At the heart of the mission are 14,500 demonstration clusters, each covering 50 hectares, where farmers can observe natural farming methods in action. These models include the use of local livestock-based inputs, intercropping, mulching, minimum tillage, and year-round soil cover to naturally build fertility, conserve moisture, and reduce pest outbreaks.
Farmers are eligible for financial support of up to INR 4,000 per acre per year to help with the transition, especially since yields often drop initially before soil health recovers. The mission’s philosophy is to encourage farmers to first adopt natural farming on a single acre before expanding further.
“Although shifting from chemical to natural farming methods leads to an initial output dip, it improves soil health and reduces production costs over time,” said Sanjay Yadav, a farmer from Rajasthan’s Sikar district, who has been growing wheat, vegetables, and fruits under natural methods for a decade.
Monitoring, technology, and certification push
To ensure the credibility of the mission, the progress of farmers is being monitored in real time using GIS technology. Over 30,000 community resource persons and 10,000 bio-input resource centres are being established to provide guidance and support.
Additionally, the mission is implementing the Participatory Guarantee System (PGS)-India certification for natural farming produce. This grassroots certification approach, recognised under India’s organic food regulations, allows farmers to market their produce as chemical-free, helping them tap premium markets.
“Farmers need confidence that they can market what they grow naturally at a fair price. PGS helps build that trust,” an agriculture ministry official explained.
Focus on river corridors, tribal and high-input districts
The mission is prioritising sensitive areas including a 5 km belt along the Ganga river, tribal regions, and districts with both high and low fertiliser consumption. The hope is to reduce fertiliser runoff and contamination, while restoring soil organic matter.
In 1970, India used an average of 13 kg of chemical fertiliser per hectare, but this figure has skyrocketed to 138 kg per hectare by 2022-23, raising concerns about long-term soil fertility and food safety.
Soil organic carbon, a critical measure of soil vitality, has dropped from 1% to 0.3% in the last 70 years, according to official data. At the same time, India’s fertiliser subsidy for 2025-26 is projected to reach INR 1.67 lakh crore — a huge outlay that critics say could be better balanced by promoting more regenerative practices.
States leading the way
Natural farming clusters have already emerged in Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu.
Action plans from 33 states and union territories have been approved, providing a policy framework for training, extension services, and monitoring.
In Andhra Pradesh, the Community Managed Natural Farming programme has been a key inspiration for the national rollout. Farmers have reported improvements in soil texture, water retention, and reduced pest incidence after moving away from chemicals.
Building resilient farming systems
Experts say natural farming’s emphasis on multi-cropping, minimal tillage, soil cover, and local inputs improves biodiversity, supports pollinators, and builds resilience against climate stress.
“The biggest benefit is reducing the input cost burden,” explained an official involved in the programme. “When farmers do not have to buy expensive synthetic fertilisers and pesticides, their net incomes rise in the long term, even if initial yields are lower.”
The mission also hopes to encourage community seed banks, integrated livestock farming, and biofertiliser use to create closed-loop systems that are less vulnerable to price shocks and global supply chain disruptions.
Way ahead
The National Mission on Natural Farming is seen as one of India’s most ambitious agri-reform pushes in decades. While challenges remain in changing mindsets and establishing steady markets, its integrated approach offers hope for rebuilding soil health, conserving water, and boosting rural incomes.
As the scheme scales up, close coordination between state agencies, farmers’ cooperatives, and civil society groups will be critical to delivering its benefits on the ground.
For India’s 140 million farmers, the next few years could mark a major pivot from an input-intensive chemical model to a knowledge-intensive natural system — with the potential to secure the nation’s food and nutrition future for decades to come.
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