**Policy Summary: Promotion of Natural Farming in Kandhamal**
This document addresses measures taken to promote natural farming practices in the tribal blocks of Kandhamal, Odisha, under the National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA). The Government is implementing the National Mission on Natural Farming (NMNF) to strengthen sustainable agriculture practices with scientifically backed approaches. While NMNF is implemented in 10 other districts of Odisha, the centrally sponsored scheme Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY) Phase-III, under Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY), is specifically being implemented in four blocks of Kandhamal district: Tumudibandha, K. Nuagaon, Raikia, and Baliguda, covering a total area of 2000 hectares.
The PKVY scheme promotes traditional farming practices, including biomass mulching and the use of bio-inputs for nutrient and soil fertility management, with the aim of reducing reliance on chemical inputs. Financial assistance of Rs. 31,500 per hectare is provided over three years to support organic farming. This includes Rs. 15,000 per hectare via Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) for on-farm and off-farm organic inputs such as organic compost. Additional assistance is allocated as follows: Rs. 4,500 per hectare for marketing, packaging, branding, and value addition over three years; Rs. 3,000 per hectare for certification and residue analysis over three years; and Rs. 9,000 per hectare for training, awareness, and capacity building initiatives over three years. The Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Shri Ramnath Thakur, provided this information in response to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 1564 on July 29, 2025.
Key Entities Referenced
National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture: A government initiative aimed at promoting sustainable agricultural practices.
Kandhamal: A district in the State of Odisha, India, where natural farming practices are being promoted.
National Mission on Natural Farming (NMNF): A government scheme to strengthen sustainable agriculture practices with scientifically backed approaches.
Odisha: A state in India where NMNF is being implemented in 10 districts.
Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY): A Centrally Sponsored Scheme under Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana to promote traditional farming practices.
Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY): A government initiative under which Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY) is implemented.
SHRI SUKANTA KUMAR PANIGRAHI: Member of Parliament who raised a question about natural farming in Kandhamal.
SHRI RAMNATH THAKUR: The Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare who provided the answer to the question.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS’ WELFARE
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS’ WELFARE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1564
TO BE ANSWERED ON 29TH July, 2025
NATURAL FARMING IN KANDHAMAL
1564. SHRI SUKANTA KUMAR PANIGRAHI:
Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ(cid:874)ष एव ं (cid:873)कसान क(cid:227)याण
म(cid:287)ं ी be pleased to state:
the measures taken under the National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture to
promote natural farming practices in the tribal blocks of Kandhamal?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
कृ(cid:874)ष एव ं (cid:873)कसान क(cid:227)याण रा(cid:207)य म(cid:287)ं ी (SHRI RAMNATH THAKUR)
The Government is implementing National Mission on Natural Farming (NMNF)
to strengthen sustainable agriculture practices with scientifically backed approaches.
NMNF is being implemented in Odisha in 10 districts viz. Angul, Balangir, Deogarh,
Dhenkanal, Jharsuguda, Kalahandi, Nabarangapur, Sonepur, Sundargarh and Bargarh.
The Centrally Sponsored Scheme Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY)
Phase-III under Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) is being implemented in 04
blocks of Kandhamal district, viz. Tumudibandha, K. Nuagaon, Raikia and Baliguda,
covering 2000 ha area. The Scheme promotes traditional practices such as biomass
mulching, use of bio-inputs for nutrient and soil fertility management, thereby reducing
the dependency on chemical inputs. Under PKVY, assistance of Rs. 31,500 per ha in 3
years is provided for promotion of organic farming. Out of this, assistance of Rs. 15,000
per ha is provided to farmers through Direct Benefit Transfer for on- farm /off –farm
organic inputs including organic compost, financial assistance of Rs. 4,500/ha for 3
years is provided for marketing, packaging, branding, value addition etc. Rs. 3,000/ha
for 3 years is provided for certification and residue analysis, assistance is also provided
@ Rs. 9,000/ha for 3 years for training, awareness & capacity building.
*****