Union Agriculture Minister Shri Narendra Singh Tomar chaired first steering committee meeting of National Natural Farming Mission at Krishi Bhawan, New Delhi on November 3.
- In the meeting, Shri Tomar launched the National Natural Farming Mission portal.
- The portal has been developed by the Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare. It contains all the information about the mission, implementation outline, resources, implementation progress, farmer registration, blog etc., which will be useful for the farmers. Also, this website will help in promoting natural farming in the country.
- It contains all the information about the mission, implementation outline, resources, implementation progress, farmer registration, blog etc., which will be useful for the farmers.
- Also, this website will help in promoting natural farming in the country.
About Natural Farming
- Natural farming is an urine based farming system that does not involve any external Chemical or Organic Fertilizers.
- It is known by various names like; Zero Budget Natural Farming, Prakrithik Krishi, Cow Based Natural Farming, Shashwat Kheti, Chemical Free Agriculture, etc.
- Important practices, essential for adoption of natural farming includes: No external inputs, Local seeds (use of local varieties), On-farm produced microbial formulation for seed treatment (such as bijamrita), On-farm made microbial inoculants (Jivamrita) for soil enrichment, Cover crops and mulching with green and dry organic matter for nutrient recycling and for creating a suitable micro-climate for maximum beneficial microbial activity in soil, Mixed cropping.
- Government of India is promoting Natural Farming through a scheme named Bhartiya Prakrit Krishi Padhti (BPKP).
- Benefits: Reduces cost of cultivation, Reduces water requirement of crops, Climate change resilient, reduces risks in farming, Rejuvenation of farm lands, Safe and healthy food for citizens, Utilising the available cattle (Desi Cow) as valuable resource, Helps in arresting growing needs for fertilizer and reduce subsidy burden.
- It was informed in the meeting that more than 4.78 lakh hectare additional area has been brought under natural farming in 17 states from December-2021. 7.33 lakh farmers have taken initiative in natural farming. About 23 thousand programs have been organized for the sanitization and training of farmers. Natural farming is being implemented in 1.48 lakh hectares on the banks of river Ganga in four states.
