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It announced that in next two years, 1 crore farmers will be initiated into natural farming supported by certification and branding.
- Its implementation will be through scientific institutions and willing gram panchayats.
- Also, 10,000 need-based bio-input resource centres will be established.
Natural farming
- It is a local low-input climate-resilient farming system that advocates the complete elimination of synthetic chemical agro-inputs.
- It is considered as agroecology based diversified farming system which integrates crops, trees and livestock with functional biodiversity.
- It aims at promoting traditional indigenous practices and is largely based on following principles:
- Use of multi-cropping systems.
- No synthetic agroinputs — fertilizers, pesticides, or herbicides.
- Soil should remain covered at all times using cover crops or mulch.
- Use of bio-stimulants to enhance microbial activity of soil.
- Minimal tillage.
- Use of cow dung-urine formulations (such as Bijamrit, Jivamrit, Ghanjivamrit etc.).
- Practicing States: Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Himachal Pradesh, Chhatisgarh, Jharkhand etc.
Significance
- Improves yield and increases farmers’ income.
- Ensures better health as food has a higher nutrition density.
- Environment conservation with better soil biology, improved agrobiodiversity and much smaller carbon and nitrogen footprints.
Challenges
- Skeptical farmers, non-availability of quality inputs, lack of adequate research and higher labour costs.
Initiatives taken for Natural farming
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