Natural farming impetus

Source: The post “Natural farming impetus” has been created based on “Natural farming impetus” published in “Business Line” on 7 July 2026. Natural farming impetus.

UPSC Syllabus: GS Paper 3– Economy

Context: Natural farming has become a resilience imperative because India’s agriculture remains heavily dependent on imported fertilizers, fossil fuels, groundwater extraction, and other external inputs. Global shocks, such as conflicts affecting fertilizer and energy markets and climate change-induced risks like El Niño, have increased the need for a more resilient agricultural system.

Reason behind Natural Farming Becoming a Resilience Imperative

1. Natural farming reduces India’s dependence on imported fertilizers and fossil fuel-based agricultural inputs, thereby improving national resilience.
2. It helps agriculture withstand climate-related shocks by promoting sustainable and resource-efficient farming practices.
3. It encourages the conservation of natural resources through recycling and reduced dependence on external inputs.
4. It strengthens the long-term sustainability of India’s food systems by making agriculture less vulnerable to global supply disruptions.

Government Initiatives

1. The Central Government has launched the National Mission on Natural Farming to promote the adoption of natural farming practices.
2. The PM-PRANAM scheme has been introduced to encourage States to reduce their dependence on chemical fertilizers.
3. Several States, including Himachal Pradesh, Gujarat, Kerala, and the North-Eastern States, have announced policies to promote natural farming, agroecology, and organic farming.
4. Andhra Pradesh’s natural farming programme has demonstrated the potential of natural farming and has received international recognition through the Food Planet Prize 2026.

Institutional Ecosystem Required for Scaling Up Natural Farming

1. States should implement natural farming through mission-mode programmes with dedicated staff, adequate funding, and long-term institutional support.
2. Every State should identify contiguous clusters of villages and develop them as “living landscapes” for demonstrating natural farming.
3. These clusters should be supported by trained field facilitators who can provide continuous guidance and handholding to farmers.
4. Bio-input resource centres should be established to ensure the local availability of natural farming inputs.
5. Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) should be strengthened to improve aggregation, processing, and marketing of natural farming produce.
6. Soil health monitoring systems and demonstration plots should be created to build farmers’ confidence in the transition process.
7. Transition finance and effective market linkages should be provided to reduce the financial risks faced by farmers.
8. Institutions such as ICAR, State Agricultural Universities (SAUs), and Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) should undertake scientific research and extension activities on natural farming.
9. States should adopt the FAO’s agroecology framework, which promotes diversity, recycling, resilience, local knowledge, farmer participation, circular economies, and supportive institutions.

Challenges

1. Policy announcements have progressed faster than the creation of institutional support systems for natural farming.
2. Unlike the Green Revolution, natural farming does not yet have a comprehensive ecosystem consisting of research, extension services, credit, procurement, and market support.
3. Farmers may hesitate to adopt natural farming if markets continue to favour input-intensive agricultural practices.
4. The experience of Sri Lanka shows that an abrupt transition without proper planning and institutional support can adversely affect agricultural production.

Way Forward

1. India should build a comprehensive institutional ecosystem for natural farming similar to the one created during the Green Revolution.
2. States should adopt a phased and cluster-based approach to expand natural farming across different agroecological regions.
3. Continuous research, extension services, farmer training, transition finance, and market support should be provided to ensure successful adoption.
4. The expansion of natural farming should follow the gradual institution-building approach that enabled India’s Self-Help Group movement to become a successful national programme.

Conclusion: Natural farming should be promoted as a strategy for enhancing the resilience and sustainability of Indian agriculture rather than as an ideological alternative. A carefully planned transition supported by strong institutions, scientific research, and market incentives will be essential for scaling up natural farming while ensuring food security and farmer welfare.

Question: Natural farming has emerged as a resilience imperative rather than merely an ideological proposition. Discuss. Also examine the institutional ecosystem required for scaling up natural farming in India.

Source: Business Line