**Executive Summary**
This document is a response to Unstarred Question No. 1780 in the Lok Sabha regarding the certification framework under the National Mission on Natural Farming (NMNF), answered on February 10th, 2026. It clarifies the timeline for issuing operational guidelines and the Natural Farming Certification System (NFCS). It also explains the circular issued to Regional Councils encouraging farmer registration under NFCS.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Guidelines Issuance:**
* Operational guidelines for the National Mission on Natural Farming were issued on December 26th, 2024.
* Guidelines for the Natural Farming Certification System (NFCS) were issued on June 5th, 2025.
* Both documents are available at https://naturalfarming.dac.gov.in/.
* **Natural Farming Certification System (NFCS):**
* The NFCS has been initiated as "PGS-INDIA NATURAL" for the certification of natural farming produce based on Natural Farming Standards.
* The NFCS is implemented through the National Centre for Organic and Natural Farming (NCONF).
* NCONF issued a circular on December 2nd, 2025, encouraging Regional Councils to register farmers practicing natural farming.
* The purpose of certification is to ensure timely seasonal certification and enable farmers to get premium prices for natural products.
* The circular aims to proactively have Regional Councils reach out to traditionally practitioners of Natural farming.
* Over 11.50 lakh farmers have been registered, and more than 4.60 lakh certifications have been issued.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: Farmers practicing Natural Farming**
* **Impact:** Farmers gain access to the Natural Farming Certification System (NFCS) which enables them to obtain certification for their produce according to the Natural Farming Standards. This allows them to command premium prices in the market.
* **Action Required:** Farmers should register through the Regional Councils to obtain certification.
**Stakeholder: Regional Councils**
* **Impact:** Expected to proactively register farmers practicing natural farming, within an indicative benchmark, as per NCONF’s circular dated December 2nd, 2025.
* **Action Required:** Regional Councils should actively reach out to farmers practicing natural farming and facilitate their registration under the NFCS.
**Stakeholder: National Centre for Organic and Natural Farming (NCONF)**
* **Impact:** Responsible for the implementation of the Natural Farming Certification System (NFCS).
* **Action Required:** Ensure the online certification system is running effectively and provide support to Regional Councils and farmers.
Key Entities Referenced
National Mission on Natural Farming (NMNF): Scheme for promoting natural farming practices.
Natural Farming Certification System (NFCS): Certification system initiated as “PGS-INDIA NATURAL” for natural farming produce.
Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare: Government ministry responsible for agriculture and farmers welfare.
National Centre for Organic and Natural Farming (NCONF): Implements online certification system for natural farming.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE & FARMERS WELFARE
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE & FARMERS WELFARE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1780
TO BE ANSWERED ON 10TH FEBRUARY, 2026
CERTIFICATION FRAMEWORK UNDER NMNF
1780. MS. MAHUA MOITRA:
Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ िष एवं िकसान क(cid:670)ाण
मं(cid:361)ी be pleased to state:
(a) whether it is true that the certification framework under the National Mission on
Natural Farming (NMNF) was finalised only in August 2025 and if so, the details
thereof;
(b) whether it is true that regional councils were issued a circular in December 2025,
mandatorily requiring them to register between 5000 to 10,000 non-scheme farmers
under natural farming within six months and if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether this circular threatened regional councils with cancellation of authorisation
if targets are not met; and
(d) whether the Government is aware that such target-chasing could erode the
credibility of the certification system and in natural farming itself?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
कृ िष एवं िकसान क(cid:670)ाण रा(cid:475) मं(cid:361)ी (SHRI RAMNATH THAKUR)
(a) : The operational guidelines for National Mission on Natural Farming were issued
on 26th December, 2024 and the guidelines for Natural Farming Certification System
(NFCS) were issued in 05th June, 2025. Both the documents are available on website
(https://naturalfarming.dac.gov.in/).
(b) to (d) : Natural Farming Certification System (NFCS) has been initiated as
"PGS-INDIA NATURAL" for certification of natural farming produces in accordance
with the Natural Farming Standards. It is an online certification system implemented
through National Centre for Organic and Natural Farming (NCONF). NCONF had
issued a circular on 02.12.2025 to encourage Regional Councils to proactively register
farmers practicing natural farming, within an indicative benchmark, so as to ensure
timely seasonal certification. Certification enables farmers to get premium price for
natural products. Large number of farmers across the country are practicing natural
farming without certification coverage. The circular was issued to proactively have the
Regional Council reach out to such traditionally practitioners of Natural farming. The
processing & integrity of the certification system has been maintained with more than
11.50 lakh farmers registered and more than 4.60 lakh certifications issued.
******