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27/11/24 18:53 PM IST

National Mission on Natural Farming

In News
  • The Union Cabinet recently approved the launch of the National Mission on Natural Farming (NMNF) as a standalone Centrally Sponsored Scheme under the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare.
Natural farming
  • The Agriculture Ministry defines natural farming as a “chemical-free” farming system that only uses inputs produced using livestock and plant resources.
  • The ministry plans to implement this first across the districts with high fertiliser consumption.
Area covered under Natural farming
  • An overall area of 22 lakh hectares has been brought under natural farming to date, with 34 lakh farmers engaged in the practice.
  • This includes 4 lakh hectares under BPKP and 88,000 hectares under Namami Gange.
  • About 17 lakh hectares are covered under various state government initiatives to promote natural farming.
  • The NMNF mission aims to bring an additional 7.5 lakh hectares of area under natural farming.
  • In the next two years, NMNF will be implemented in 15,000 clusters in Gram Panchayats, which are willing, & reach 1 crore farmers and initiate Natural Farming (NF) in 7.5 lakh Ha area.
  • Preference will be given to areas having prevalence of practising NF farmers, SRLM / PACS / FPOs, etc.
  • Further, need-based 10,000 Bio-input Resource Centres (BRCs) will be set-up to provide easy availability and accessibility to ready-to-use NF inputs for farmers.
Features of the scheme
  • The scheme has a total outlay of Rs. 2,481 crore of which the central government will contribute Rs.1584 crore and the states Rs.897 crore) till the 15th Finance Commission (2025-26).
  • Under NMNF, around 2000 NF Model Demonstration Farms shall be established at Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs), Agricultural Universities (AUs) and farmers’ fields, and shall be supported by experienced and trained Farmer Master Trainers.
  • The willing farmers will be trained in Model Demonstration Farms on the NF package of practices, preparation of NF inputs, etc. near their villages in KVKs, AUs and practising NF farmers’ fields.
  • 18.75 lakh trained willing farmers will prepare inputs like Jeevamrit, Beejamrit, etc. by using their livestock or procure from BRCs. 30,000 Krishi Sakhis/ CRPs will be deployed for awareness generation, mobilisation and handholding of willing farmers in the clusters,
  • Natural Farming practices will help farmers to reduce input cost of cultivation and dependency on externally purchased inputs while rejuvenating soil health, fertility & quality and building resilience to climate risks like waterlogging, flood, drought, etc.
  • These practices also reduce health risks from exposure to fertilisers, pesticides, etc. and provide healthy & nutritious food for the farmers’ family. Further, through Natural Farming, a healthy Mother Earth is bequeathed to the future generations.
  • Through improvement of soil carbon content & water use efficiency, there is an increase in soil microorganisms and biodiversity in NF.
Source- Indian Express

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