The Union Cabinet on November 25, 2024 launched the National Mission on Natural Farming (NMNF).
Key points
- The Government of India has launched the National Mission on Natural Farming (NMNF) to promote natural farming in mission mode across the country as a standalone Centrally Sponsored Scheme under the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare.
- The scheme will have a total outlay of ₹2,481 crore. Of this, ₹1,584 crore will be the Centre’s share and the States will contribute ₹897 crore till the 15th Finance Commission (2025-26).
- The Centre said NMNF will promote natural farming in mission mode across the country.
- Rooted in the traditional knowledge inherited from their forefathers, farmers will practise Natural Farming (NF) as a chemical free farming which involves local livestock integrated natural farming methods, diversified crop systems, etc.
- NF follows local agro-ecological principles rooted in local knowledge, location specific technologies and is evolved as per the local agro-ecology.
- NMNF aims at promoting NF practices for providing safe & nutritious food for all.
- The Mission is designed to support farmers to reduce input cost of cultivation and dependency to externally purchased inputs.
- Natural farming will build & maintain healthy soil ecosystems, promote biodiversity and encourage diverse cropping systems to enhance resilience as suitable to the local agroecology are the benefits of natural farming.
- 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.
- Farmers will be provided with an easy simple certification system and dedicated common branding to provide access to market their natural farming produce.
- Real time geo-tagged & referenced monitoring of NMNF implementation shall be done through an online portal.
