Natural farming: ICAR to research on, demonstrate and promote natural farming

What is the News?

Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR) has issued a notification to all ICAR institutes and vice-chancellors of agriculture universities to take initiatives for the promotion of natural farming in India. 

What are the steps taken by ICAR to promote Natural Farming?

ICAR will develop a curriculum in consultation with agriculture universities to include zero-budget natural farming in the syllabus at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels.

Research, demonstration and training on natural farming shall be carried out mandatorily by the concerned ICAR institutes, State Agriculture Universities(SAUs) and Central Agriculture Universities(CAUs). 

Further, CAUs, ICAR institutes and Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) of the Country shall earmark a dedicated portion of the available land for natural farming and demonstrate technology among the farmers and other stakeholders.

Other News Covered in the Article

Report of Parliamentary Standing Committee on Agriculture 

In March 2021, the committee asked the ​​Centre to launch a scheme for procurement of cattle dung from farmers while citing the Godhan Nyay Yojana — Chhattisgarh government’s cow dung procurement scheme.

The procurement of cattle dung directly from the farmers will not only augment their income and provide employment opportunities, but also address the problem of stray cattle and promote organic farming in the country, as the country has a vast cattle population.

Source: This post is based on the article ‘ICAR to research on, demonstrate and promote natural farming’ published in PIB on 29th Dec 2021.