Natural Farming: A Pathway to Sustainable Agriculture, Rural Employment
Dr. R S Sengar
Natural farming is emerging as a powerful solution for fostering rural development, generating employment, and mitigating the adverse effects of conventional farming practices. Government of India's National Mission on Natural Farming (NMNF) marks a significant step toward transforming Indian agriculture by promoting natural farming. This mission aims to involve one crore farmers by 2025-26 in adopting natural farming with the intent of enhancing soil health, improving biodiversity, and empowering rural communities with sustainable employment opportunities. This initiative aligns with India's broader vision of achieving ecological balance while addressing the socio-economic challenges faced by farmers, especially in rural areas.
This standalone Centrally Sponsored Scheme seeks to promote chemical-free, sustainable agriculture rooted in traditional practices. With a budget of Rs 2,481 crore allocated until 2025-26, the mission aims to establish 15,000 clusters in Gram Panchayats and implement natural farming across 7.5 lakh hectares. Key initiatives include the establishment of 10,000 Bio-input Resource Centres, 2,000 Model Demonstration Farms, training 18.75 lakh farmers, and deploying 30,000 Krishi Sakhis for outreach. NMNF focusses on reducing input costs, enhancing soil health, fostering biodiversity, and providing pesticide-free, nutritious food, while promoting sustainability, climate resilience, and market access through certification, branding, and convergence with existing schemes.
What is Natural Farming?
Natural farming is an agricultural approach rooted in ecological harmony, minimising external inputs and human intervention. Popularised by Mr. Masanobu Fukuoka, a Japanese farmer and philosopher, through his book The One-Straw Revolution, natural farming relies on nature's processes to maintain soil fertility, crop health, and biodiversity. Unlike conventional farming, which depends heavily on synthetic fertilisers, pesticides, and mechanisation, natural farming utilises techniques like mulching, intercropping, and the use of locally sourced organic matter.
Key principles of natural farming include:
• Minimal Human Intervention: Natural farming leverages ecosystems' natural processes, such as no-till farming, to maintain soil structure and encourage microbial activity.
• Avoidance of Synthetic Chemicals: The method completely excludes synthetic fertilisers and pesticides, ensuring healthier ecosystems and chemical-free food production.
• Indigenous Microorganisms (IMOs): Beneficial microbes are introduced to decompose organic matter and release nutrients, enhancing soil fertility and structure.
• Soil Health: Natural farming relies heavily on healthy soil. Techniques like mulching and cover crops are used to provide organic matter to the soil, encourage microbial activity, and guarantee fertility over the long run.
• Biodiversity and Polyculture: Encouraging multiple crops in a single field improves pest resistance, pro-motes soil health, and reduces risks of monoculture failure.
• Water Conservation: Techniques like mulching help retain soil moisture and reduce dependency on irrigation.
• Economic Viability: By eliminating costly inputs and utilising on-farm resources, natural farming lowers production costs while maintaining or enhancing yields.
These principles not only reduce the environmental footprint of agriculture but also create a cost-effective and sustain-able alternative for farmers.
Government Initiatives Promo-ting Natural Farming
To accelerate the adoption of natural farming, the government has introduced several programmes aimed at training farmers, providing financial support, and creating market linkages. Key initiatives include:
1. National Mission on Natural Farming (NMNF)
• Budget Allocation: Rs. 2,481 crore, with Rs. 1,584 crore for the central government and Rs. 897 crore for states, to be utilised by 2025-26.
• Targeted Outreach: Engaging one crore farmers in adopting natural farming methods over the next two years, focussing on regions with existing practices.
• Bio-input Resource Centres (BRCs): Establishing 10,000 BRCs to supply farmers with natural farming inputs.
• Model Demonstration Farms: Setting up 2,000 farms at Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs), Agricultural Universities, and farmers' fields to train farmers in natural farming techniques.
• Certification and Branding: Developing systems to certify and market naturally farmed products, enhancing consumer confidence and market demand.
• Farmer Training: Training 1.9 million farmers in preparing inputs like Jeevamrit and Beejamrit using locally sourced materials.
2. Skill Development through STRY
The Skill Training of Rural Youth (STRY) initiative equips rural youth with the skills needed for sustainable agricultural practices, including natural farming. This programme fosters self-employment and encourages innovation in farming techniques.
3. State-level Initiatives
States like Andhra Pradesh have implemented community-managed natural farming programmes, increasing the number of farmers adopting these methods from 40,000 in 2012 to nearly 800,000 today. These programmes offer resources, training, and incentives to farmers, promoting large-scale adoption.
4. Budgetary Allocations and Support
The Union Budget for 2024-25 reflects the government's commitment to natural farming. Significant allocations have been made to train farmers, establish infrastructure, and promote sustainable agriculture.
Broader Impacts of Natural Farming
The adoption of natural farming extends beyond agriculture, influencing environ-mental sustainability, rural economies, and public health. Key impacts include:
1. Improved Soil Health and Biodiversity:
By eliminating chemical inputs, natural farming restores soil fertility and promotes biodiversity, creating resilient eco-systems.
2. Climate Change Mitigation:
Techniques like mulching and no-till farming reduce carbon emissions and enhance the land's ability to sequester carbon.
3. Food Security:
Diversified cropping systems and lower production costs ensure steady food supplies and economic stability for farmers.
4. Health Benefits:
Chemical-free produce reduces health risks for consumers and improves the quality of life for farming communities.
5. Economic Resilience:
By reducing dependency on external inputs and fostering local industries, natural farming strengthens rural economies and creates self-reliant communities.
Challenges and Way Forward
While natural farming holds immense promise, its large-scale implementation faces challenges, such as:
• Lack of Awareness: Many farmers are unaware of natural farming techniques and their benefits.
• Initial Resistance: Farmers accustomed to conventional methods may hesitate to adopt natural farming.
• Resource Constraints: Establishing infrastructure like Bio-input Resource Centres requires significant investment and coordination.
Addressing these challenges require a multi-pronged approach:
• Awareness Campaigns: Educating farmers through workshops, demonstration farms, and media outreach.
• Incentives and Subsidies: Offering financial support for transitioning to natural farming.
• Policy Support: Strengthening government programmes to ensure effective implementation and monitoring.
Natural farming represents a trans-formative approach to agriculture, blending traditional wisdom with modern ecological principles. By reducing costs, improving sustainability, and creating employment opportunities, it addresses critical challenges faced by rural communities. The National Mission on Natural Farming reflects India's commitment to this vision, paving the way for a resilient agricultural sector and healthier ecosystems.
Through continued government support, community engagement, and innovation, natural farming can become a cornerstone of India's sustainable development, empowering farmers and fostering economic resilience in agrarian societies.
Employment Generation through Natural Farming
Natural farming has immense potential to create employment opportunities, especially for rural youth. Conventional farming faces challenges such as high input costs, climate change, and diminishing interest among younger generations. Natural farming offers a sustainable, innovative alternative, attracting rural youth and addressing pressing issues such as unemployment, rural migration, and economic disparity.
• Engaging Youth in Agriculture: With minimal costs and innovative techniques, natural farming is reviving interest among rural youth. Workshops, training sessions, and social media campaigns highlight its benefits and potential as a sustainable livelihood.
• Growing Markets for Organic Produce: The global shift toward eco-friendly and organic products has created a high demand for naturally farmed goods. This opens opportunities for entrepreneurship, local food production, and participation in agricultural value chains.
• Allied Industries and Entrepreneurship: Natural farming supports allied industries such as organic seed production, composting, and agro-tourism, diversifying the employment landscape. These industries not only provide direct jobs but also foster entrepreneurial ventures.
• Addressing Rural Migration: By making agriculture economically viable and sustainable, natural farming reduces the need for rural youth to migrate to urban areas in search of work.
(The author is Head, Division of Plant Biotechnology, Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel University of Agriculture and Technology, Meerut. Feedback can be sent to feedback.employmentnews@ gmail.com).
Views expressed are personal.