कृषि एवं किसान कल्याण विभाग
Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare
राष्ट्रीय जैविक एवं प्राकृतिक खेती केंद्रNational Centre for Organic and Natural Farming
There are several states practicing Natural Farming. Prominent among them are Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Kerala, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. Till now 6.5 lakh ha. area is covered under natural farming in India. State governments of different states are promoting natural farming through various schemes.
The Government of Andhra Pradesh turned to farming approaches that are in harmony with nature, as they build on ecological science, rather than input economics. By improving the ecological conditions in each and every site, it is witnessed that Natural Farming reduces the need for synthetic inputs and deliver instead a form of farming that costs less, in financial terms, and is climate resilient.
This programme is being implemented by Rythu Sadhikara Samstha (RySS), a not-for-profit company established by the Department of Agriculture, Government of Andhra Pradesh. RySS’s mandate is to plan and implement programmes for the empowerment and all-round welfare of farmers.
In Budget 2020–21, special financial assistance was announced for promoting Natural Farming practices under the Gujarat Atma Nirbhar package. Further, on 17 September 2020, two schemes were launched—Sat Pagla Khedut Kalyaan and Pagala for Natural Farming—by the Government of Gujarat.
Himachal Pradesh practices Natural Farming under the Prakritik Kheti Khushhal Kissan (PK3) Yojana. The scheme aims to reduce the cost of cultivation and enhance farmers’ income. The scheme was announced by the Chief Minister in the Budget speech of 2018–19.
The scheme seeks to promote the production of food grains, vegetables, and fruits without the use of synthetic chemicals/pesticides and fertilizers.
Honorable Chief Minister of Rajasthan during the budget speech of FY2019-20 declared support to natural farming to reduce input costs with a view to empower farmers through remunerative agriculture – Kheti Mein Jaan Toh Sashakt Kisan. The scheme in the form of a pilot project was initiated in three districts of the State viz. Tonk, Sirohi and Banswada. Under the scheme, 18,313 farmers were trained in a two-day long workshop conducted by master-trainers of the Department.
