This document summarizes the Indian government's response to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 2748, concerning the promotion of natural farming and related agricultural support in Odisha, particularly in the Kandhamal-Boudh-Nayagarh (KBK) districts and other aspirational districts.
Regarding natural farming, the KBK districts have been included in the Bhartiya Prakritik Krishi Paddhati (BPKP) scheme under the Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY) in 2024-25. The BPKP promotes traditional farming practices using on-farm inputs and avoiding synthetic inputs. From 2022-23 to 2024-25, the scheme was implemented across 24,000 hectares in 15 districts of Odisha. Specific KBK district implementation areas are: Kalahandi (2000 ha), Nuapada (2000 ha), Balangir (1000 ha), Koraput (1000 ha), Malkangiri (2000 ha), Nabarangpur (1000 ha), Rayagada (2000 ha), and Kandhamal (2000 ha), totaling 13,000 hectares.
As of the report date, 144,211 Soil Health Cards have been issued in the KBK districts, with district-wise information available on the Soil Health Card Portal (soilhealth.dac.gov.in) from 2023-24.
Under the PMKISAN scheme, beneficiary identification and data verification are the responsibility of the State/UT governments. In Financial Year 2024-25, Rs. 6,377.41 Crores was disbursed to beneficiaries of Scheduled tribes across all the States under PMKISAN Scheme, with Rs. 3392 Crores specifically for tribal farmers in Odisha. Payments are made directly to farmers' bank accounts via Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) after data validation.
Support for millet processing infrastructure is provided through various schemes, although district-wise details are not centrally maintained. The State procures coarse grains/minor millets in Decentralised Procurement Mode for distribution under the Targeted Public Distribution System and Other Welfare Schemes, with the Government of India having taken over 40,000 MT of surplus Ragi available in Odisha. Information regarding millet procurement is available through the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution.
Key Entities Referenced
KBK districts: A group of districts in Odisha, India, specifically Kalahandi, Nuapada, Balangir, Koraput, Malkangiri, Nabarangpur, Rayagada, and Kandhamal, that are focus areas for agricultural initiatives.
Bhartiya Prakritik Krishi Paddhati BPKP: An umbrella scheme of Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY) for the promotion of natural farming.
Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana PKVY: A scheme under which Bhartiya Prakritik Krishi Paddhati (BPKP) operates, aimed at promoting natural farming practices.
PMKISAN scheme: A scheme where financial benefits are directly released to farmers' bank accounts through DBT mode after data validation.
Odisha: A state in India where millet processing and procurement infrastructure is being set up in the KBK and aspirational districts.
Soil Health Card: A card providing district-wise information on soil health, accessible through the Soil Health Card Portal.
SHRI RAMNATH THAKUR: Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.
Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution: The ministry providing information on State procurement of coarse grains and minor millets in Decentralised Procurement Mode, for distribution under Targeted Public Distribution System and Other Welfare Schemes.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS’ WELFARE
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS’ WELFARE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2748
TO BE ANSWERED ON 05th August, 2025
Promotion of Natural Farming
2748. Shri Sukanta Kumar Panigrahi:
Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE be pleased to state:
(a) whether Kandhamal, Boudha & Nayagarh (KBK+) districts have been included
under the national campaign for promotion of natural farming in 2024-25, if so, the
details thereof;
(b) the details of number of Soil Health Cards issued in these districts during the last
three years;
(c) the total assistance disbursed to tribal and marginal farmers under the PM-KISAN
scheme since April 2024; and
(d) the steps taken to set up millet processing and procurement infrastructure in the
KBK+ and aspirational districts of Odisha?
ANSWER
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) KBK+ districts have been included under Bhartiya Prakritik Krishi
Paddhati (BPKP), an umbrella scheme of Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY)
for the promotion of natural farming in 2024-25. It was implemented in the State over
24,000 ha over 15 districts from 2022-23 to 2024-25. BPKP aimed at promoting
traditional practices which supports farmers to use on farm inputs like biomass
mulching, cow dung-urine formulation and plant-based preparations and avoid all
synthetic inputs.
Area covered till date in KBK+ districts is as follows:
Name of the KBK+ Districts Area of implementation (in ha)
1 Kalahandi 2000
2 Nuapada 2000
3 Balangir 1000
4 Koraput 10005 Malkangiri 2000
6 Nabarangpur 1000
7 Rayagada 2000
8 Kandhamal 2000
Total 13000
(b) District wise information on Soil Health Card issued is available on Soil Health Card
Portal (soilhealth.dac.gov.in) from 2023-24. Till date, 1,44,211 Soil Health Cards have been
issued in KBK+ districts.
(c) Under the PM-KISAN Scheme, the responsibility to identify the beneficiaries and
uploading their correct and verified data on PM-KISAN portal lies with the respective State/UT
Government. Thereafter, the verified data goes through various levels of validation including
Aadhaar/PFMS/Income Tax database, etc. before the benefits are released to the farmers
directly into their bank accounts through DBT mode. Total amount disbursed to beneficiaries
of Scheduled tribes across all the States under PM-KISAN Scheme in Financial Year 2024-
25 is Rs. 6,377.41 Crores out of which Rs. 3392 Crores was for tribal farmers in Odisha.
(d) Millet processing infrastructure is supported through various Schemes. District wise
details are not maintained centrally. As per information from Ministry of Consumer Affairs,
Food and Public Distribution, State procures coarse grains & 6 minor millets in Decentralised
Procurement Mode, for distribution under Targeted Public Distribution System & Other
Welfare Schemes. Government of India has taken over 40,000 MT surplus Ragi available in
Odisha.