Details about National Mission on Natural Farming: Promoting Sustainable Agriculture
The National Mission on Natural Farming focuses on building institutional capacities for documenting and sharing best practices. It aims to engage practicing farmers as partners in promotion, ensure continuous capacity building and support, and attract farmers to adopt natural farming willingly based on its benefits.
Main Objectives:
- Promote Sustainable Farming: Encourage farming methods that reduce dependence on external inputs, cut costs, and increase farmers’ incomes.
- Integrated Agriculture-Animal Husbandry: Popularize models that combine agriculture with animal husbandry using native cows and local resources.
- Document and Validate Practices: Collect, validate, and document natural farming practices from across the country, and support participatory research with farmers for further development.
- Awareness and Capacity Building: Conduct activities for raising awareness, building capacity, promoting, and demonstrating natural farming techniques.
- Standards and Certification: Develop standards, certification procedures, and branding for natural farming products for both national and international markets.
Benefits of Natural Farming: Sustainable and Profitable Agriculture
Farmers practicing natural farming report yields similar to or higher than conventional farming. Here are the key benefits:
- Higher Yields: Natural farming often results in similar or higher yields per harvest compared to conventional methods.
- Healthier Food: Free from synthetic chemicals, natural farming produces food with higher nutritional value, eliminating health risks and hazards.
- Soil and Water Conservation: It promotes better soil biology, improved agrobiodiversity, and efficient water use, while reducing carbon and nitrogen footprints.
- Increased Farmer Income: By reducing costs, minimizing risks, and enabling income from intercropping, natural farming makes agriculture more viable and attractive for farmers.
- Efficient Water Use: Using diverse crops that support each other and protect the soil, natural farming optimizes water usage, ensuring maximum crop yield per drop.
Natural farming not only sustains the environment but also enhances the economic well-being of farmers.
What is the eligibility criteria for National Mission on Natural Farming?
The scheme is applicable to all farmers in India.
How to apply for National Mission on Natural Farming?
- Interested beneficiary can get in touch with Zila Parishad to apply for the scheme.
- Zila Parishad Officer will submit applicant’s details and project plan to State Agriculture Department.
- State Agriculture Department will prepare a State Annual Action Plan
- Once funds from State are approved, financial assistance will be released to beneficiary.
What are the documents required to apply for National Mission on Natural Farming?
- Aadhaar number
- Land documents
- Caste Certificate (SC/ST only)
- Bank Details
- Photographs
The specific documents for availing the benefits of the program may vary depending on the type of intervention and the state. It is recommended to consult with the relevant authorities for detailed information on documents to be submitted.