India’s Push for Natural Farming

• Natural Farming: A sustainable alternative to chemical-intensive agriculture.
• Government Initiative: National Mission on Natural Farming aims to support 1 crore farmers across 7.5 lakh hectares.

Key Principles of Natural Farming

• No Chemical Inputs: Avoids synthetic fertilizers and pesticides.
• Bio-Inputs: Utilizes substances like Jeevamrut and Panchagavya for soil enrichment.
• Minimal Soil Disturbance: No plowing or tilling to maintain soil biodiversity.
• Intercropping & Crop Rotation: Enhances soil fertility and pest control.
• Mulching & Cover Cropping: Retains soil moisture and prevents erosion.

Benefits of Natural Farming

1. Enhances Soil Health:
   • Improves microbial activity and nutrient availability.
   • Addresses land degradation, crucial as 30% of India’s land is degraded.
2. Reduces Water Consumption:
   • Promotes water-efficient practices, reducing irrigation needs.
   • Significant groundwater issues in 256 out of 700 districts.
3. Lowers Cultivation Costs:
   • Reduces reliance on costly chemical inputs.
   • Zero Budget Natural Farming (ZBNF) uses 50-60% less water.
4. Enhances Climate Resilience:
   • Reduces greenhouse gas emissions and increases crop resilience to extreme weather.
5. Promotes Food Security:
   • Encourages diverse cropping, improving nutritional security.
   • Indian organic food market projected to reach ₹75,000 crores by 2025.
6. Strengthens Rural Livelihoods:
   • Generates employment through knowledge-intensive practices.

Challenges of Natural Farming

• Lack of Scientific Validation:
  • Limited long-term studies on sustainability and productivity.
• Uncertainty in Crop Yields:
  • Initial yield declines can discourage farmers from transitioning.
• Certification Issues:
  • Absence of standardized certification limits market access for farmers.
• Market Linkages:
  • Difficulty in selling produce at fair prices due to lack of organized value chains.
• Labor Requirements:
  • Labor-intensive practices may not attract medium and large farmers.
• Regional Suitability:
  • Effectiveness varies by agro-climatic conditions, presenting challenges in certain areas.

Global and Indian Best Practices

• Global Practices:
  • Agroecology (Latin America), Permaculture (Australia), and SRI methods (Asia) highlight successful models.
• Indian Practices:
  • Zero Budget Natural Farming (Andhra Pradesh), Rishi Krishi (Maharashtra), and community-led initiatives in Sikkim.

Recommendations for Integration

1. Strengthening Research:
   • Invest in long-term studies to validate practices across regions.
2. Reforming Subsidies:
   • Redirect fertilizer subsidies towards supporting bio-inputs and natural farming.
3. Market Development:
   • Establish a Natural Farming Certification System and improve market linkages.
4. Training and Capacity Building:
   • Develop Farmer-to-Farmer Learning Models and provide hands-on training.
5. Promoting Mechanization:
   • Create low-cost mechanization tools tailored for natural farming.
6. State-Level Policies:
   • Encourage region-specific policies to facilitate localized adoption.

Way Forward

• Natural farming offers a sustainable path forward for Indian agriculture, enhancing soil health and reducing costs. However, overcoming challenges through research, policy support, and market development is crucial for its success.

Mains Answer Writing Practice Question

“Natural farming is seen as a sustainable alternative to chemical-intensive agriculture, yet challenges related to certification, economic viability, and market accessibility persist.” Discuss the potential of natural farming in India and suggest measures to overcome these challenges. (200 words)