**Executive Summary**
The National Mission on Natural Farming (NMNF), approved by the Union Cabinet on November 25, 2024, is a centrally sponsored scheme with an outlay of ₹2,481 crore aimed at promoting sustainable, climate-resilient agriculture. As of March 2026, the mission has enrolled 18.19 lakh farmers across 18,786 clusters, focusing on improving soil health and reducing input costs. Key components include a two-year financial incentive for farmers, the deployment of 33,676 trained Community Resource Persons, and the establishment of Bio-input Resource Centres.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Mission Objectives and Financial Outlay**
* **Outlay:** A total budget of ₹2,481 crore has been allocated to strengthen scientifically backed natural farming practices.
* **Primary Goals:** Focus on restoring ecosystems, improving soil health, ensuring safe food production, and reducing the financial burden of input costs on farmers.
**Farmer Incentives and Support Systems**
* **Direct Incentives:** Farmers receive an output-based incentive of ₹4,000 per acre per year for two years (capped at one acre per farmer).
* **Market Access:** A simplified certification system has been introduced to help farmers access broader markets.
* **Bio-input Resource Centres (BRCs):** Cluster-level enterprises provide ready-to-use bio-inputs such as Beejamrut and Jeevamrut for farmers not producing their own on-farm inputs.
**Training and Implementation Infrastructure**
* **Community Resource Persons (CRPs):** 33,676 CRPs, including Krishi Sakhis, have been trained at Krishi Vigyan Kendras and Agricultural Universities to provide village-level guidance.
* **Cluster Formation:** 18,786 clusters have been formed covering 8.80 lakh hectares as of March 5, 2026.
**Research and Soil Health Outcomes**
* **Yield Performance:** ICAR research across 16 states indicates that natural farming can result in a 5% yield gain over organic or integrated crop management.
* **Soil Indicators:** Himalayan trials showed soil organic carbon (SOC) levels rising from ~0.90% to 1.15% over 2–3 years.
* **Biological Diversity:** Natural farming soils exhibit significantly higher microbial counts and diversity compared to soils treated with chemical fertilizers.
**Economic Efficiency**
* **Input Reduction:** Cultivation costs are lowered by replacing externally purchased chemicals (e.g., Urea, DAP) with locally sourced on-farm inputs like cow dung, urine, and household ingredients.
* **Farmer Feedback:** According to NITI Aayog, 90.1% of farmers reported reduced production costs, and 91.2% reported increased crop productivity.
**Impact Analysis**
**Farmers**
**Impact**
Farmers benefit from a significant reduction in input costs and a 5% increase in yield compared to organic farming. They gain access to financial incentives, training, and a certification system that improves marketability.
**Action Required**
Farmers need to enroll in the mission, adopt natural farming practices (including the use of on-farm or BRC-sourced bio-inputs), and undergo training provided by CRPs.
**Community Resource Persons (CRPs) / Krishi Sakhis**
**Impact**
These individuals are empowered as technical guides and trainers at the village level, serving as the primary link between the mission and the farming community.
**Action Required**
They must complete specialized training at Agricultural Universities or KVKs and actively disseminate knowledge and provide guidance on natural farming techniques to local clusters.
**Research Institutions (ICAR and Agricultural Universities)**
**Impact**
These bodies are responsible for the scientific validation of natural farming, developing a "package of practices," and monitoring long-term impacts on soil health and yields.
**Action Required**
Continue the research program across the 20 cooperation centers to refine practices based on specific crops, regions, and soil conditions.
**Bio-input Resource Centres (BRCs)**
**Impact**
As cluster-level enterprises, they act as the supply chain hub for bio-inputs and serve as centers for demonstration and knowledge dissemination.
**Action Required**
Produce and provide ready-to-use natural farming inputs like Beejamrut and Jeevamrut to local farmers who do not produce them on-farm.
Key Entities Referenced
National Mission on Natural Farming (NMNF): A centrally sponsored scheme with an outlay of ₹2481 crore aimed at promoting chemical-free agriculture, improving soil health, and reducing farmer input costs.
Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare: The primary central ministry responsible for launching and overseeing the National Mission on Natural Farming and related agricultural initiatives.
Bio-input Resource Centre (BRC): Cluster-level enterprises that provide ready-to-use natural farming bio-inputs and disseminate technical knowledge to local farmers.
Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR): The research body conducting the All India Network on Natural Farming to develop scientific packages of practices and evaluate soil and yield outcomes.
NITI Aayog: The government think tank whose evaluation report validates the impact of natural farming on productivity and soil health across centrally sponsored schemes.
Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare
Government Launches Twin Initiatives DDKY and
National Mission on Natural Farming to Boost
Productivity, Sustainability and Farmer Welfare
Posted On: 24 MAR 2026 6:13PM by PIB Delhi
The Union Cabinet approved the National Mission on Natural Farming (NMNF) on 25th November 2024
as a centrally sponsored scheme with an overall outlay of ₹2481 crore. The Mission aims to strengthen
agriculture practices with scientifically backed approaches, towards sustainability, climate resilience and
safe food. The Mission focuses on improving soil health, restoring ecosystems and reducing input cost to
the farmers.
Under the mission,18,786 clusters have been formed covering 8.80 lakh hectares’ area and 18.19 lakh
farmers have been enrolled to promote Natural Farming (as on 05.03.2026). An output based incentive of
₹4000/- per acre per year per farmer for 2 years (up to 1 acre per farmer) is provisioned in the scheme for
farmers to practice natural farming, training, upkeep of livestock, preparation of natural farming inputs
etc. Further, farmers are being supported by a simple certification system for increased market access.
Under the implementation of the NMNF, Community Resource Persons (CRPs) such as Krishi Sakhis
have been deployed to provide guidance and training support to farmers at the village level. 33,676 CRPs
have been trained at Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs)/ Agricultural Universities (AUs)/ local natural
farming institutions.
Further, a Bio-input Resource Centre (BRC) is a cluster level enterprise that provides ready to use Natural
Farming bio-inputs such as Beejamrut, Jeevamrut etc. to local farmers who may not themselves be making
on-farm inputs as alternatives to chemical fertilizers and pesticides. BRCs also disseminate knowledge,
training and demonstration on these natural farming bio Inputs to farmers.
Indian Council of Agricultural Research through All India Network on Natural Farming is carrying out
research programme with 20 cooperation centres covering 16 States to develop package of practices for
Natural Farming. The programme involves 11 State Agricultural Universities, 8 ICAR institutes/centres
and 1 deemed to be university. The study shows that the performance of Natural Farming is highly context
specific, dependent on the crop, region and perhaps at the transition stage of the soil. Soybean + maize-
vegetable pea + coriander (green leaf) recorded mean system yield (Soybean equivalent) of 6475
kg/ha/year at Bajaura (Himachal Pradesh), Almora (Uttarakhand) and Gangtok (Sikkim) under complete
natural farming. Yield gain under Natural Farming was 5% over organic farming/integrated crop
management.
The research outcome shows measurable improvements in soil health indicators. Over 2–3 years, Natural
Farming plots showed rising soil organic carbon (SOC) levels – for example, SOC increased from ~0.90%
to 1.15% in Himalayan trials. Natural Farming soils had significantly higher microbial counts and
diversity indices than chemical-fed soils. Richer microbial communities (e.g. more beneficial bacteria,
fungi, and actinomycetes) and more balanced microbial evenness under Natural Farming was observed,indicating a healthier soil ecosystem developing over time. This boost in soil biota and organic matter
under Natural Farming improves nutrient cycling and soil structure, laying the foundation for sustained
fertility and yield stability.
Natural farming reduces the input cost of cultivation as it does not use externally purchased chemical
inputs such as fertilisers, pesticides, weedicides, etc. (like Urea, Di-ammonium Phosphate (DAP),
carbofuran, pendimethalin etc). Natural farming inputs are produced on-farm using cow dung, cow urine,
plant leaves and household ingredients, which are sourced locally from the field or from within the
villages. Reducing costs incurred due to transportation and market price fluctuations is associated with
chemical inputs.
The NITI Aayog’sfinal report on “Evaluation of Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSS)in Package 1
Agriculture and Allied Sector” indicates that approximately 91.2% of farmers reported that adopting and
continuously improving natural farming practices has increased crop productivity and significantly
improved soil health.90.1% of farmers reported that adopting natural farming has reduced input costs
(production costs).68.5% of farmers reported that adopting natural farming has improved soil health.
This information was given by Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Shri Ramnath
Thakur in a written reply in Lok Sabha today.
*****
RC/MS/DK/5260
(Release ID: 2244625) Visitor Counter : 218
Read this release in: Urdu , ही