National Mission on Natural Farming (NMNF)

Context  : The National Mission on Natural Farming (NMNF) was recently launched with an allocation of ₹2,481 crore, consolidating all previous schemes aimed at promoting natural farming practices.

What is the NMNF?

• Objective: To bring one crore farmers under natural farming practices and cover around 0.75 million hectares of land over the next few years.
• Subsumed Schemes:
  1. Bhartiya Prakratik Krishi Paddhati (BPKP): Launched in 2019-20 to promote natural farming.
  2. Natural Farming Corridor: Focuses on sustainable farming along the Ganges River.

Natural Farming: Principles and Practices

• Core Concept:
  • Natural farming relies on the idea that soil naturally contains all the nutrients essential for plant growth.
  • Advocates zero-budget farming, which eliminates the need for external inputs by recycling nutrients on the farm.
• Key Components:
  • Beejamrutham: Microbial seed coating using cow dung and urine-based formulations.
  • Jeevamrutham: A mixture of cow dung, urine, jaggery, pulse flour, water, and soil to enhance microbial activity.
  • Mulching: Helps in soil humus formation and prevents water evaporation.
  • Waaphasa: Improves soil aeration through a favorable microclimate.
  • Insect and Pest Management: Natural pest control using decoctions like kashyams made from cow dung, urine, and green chilies.
• Scientific Basis:
  • Plants derive 98–98.5% of their nutrition from air, water, and sunlight, with only 1.5% coming from the soil.

Success Stories

• Community Managed Natural Farming in Andhra Pradesh:
  • Started in 2016, this initiative has empowered women’s microcredit groups to promote natural farming.
  • It has gained international recognition, winning the 2024 Gulbenkian Prize for Humanity for contributions to global food security and climate resilience.
  • Supported by FAO and CIRAD.

Natural Farming vs. Organic Farming

• Concept

  • Natural Farming: Minimal human intervention; inspired by Masanobu Fukuoka's "do-nothing farming."
  • Organic Farming: Uses organic inputs but involves planned intervention for pest control and soil management.

• Fertilizers

  • Natural Farming: Avoids fertilizers, even organic ones; uses natural resources like Jeevamrutham.
  • Organic Farming: Permits organic fertilizers like compost and green manure but disallows chemical fertilizers.

• Pesticides

  • Natural Farming: Relies on natural ecosystems to manage pests; may use neem oil or similar natural mixtures.
  • Organic Farming: Uses organic pesticides and bio-pesticides.

• Soil Health

  • Natural Farming: Relies on microbes and organic matter to naturally replenish soil fertility.
  • Organic Farming: Requires tillage and organic amendments like compost.

• Cost

  • Natural Farming: Low-cost, relying on farm-derived materials.
  • Organic Farming: Relatively expensive due to purchased inputs and certifications.

• Crop Yield

  • Natural Farming: Yields may be lower initially but stabilize over time.
  • Organic Farming: Yields are higher than natural farming but lower than conventional farming.

• Sustainability

  • Natural Farming: Focuses on biodiversity and ecosystem preservation.
  • Organic Farming: Sustainable but involves tillage and higher resource use.

• Water Usage

  • Natural Farming: Reduces irrigation needs through mulching and moisture retention.
  • Organic Farming: May require more water due to organic fertilizers and tillage.

• Economic Impact

  • Natural Farming: Promotes self-reliance by reducing market dependency.
  • Organic Farming: Creates premium markets for organic produce but requires market access.

• Global Example

  • Sikkim is the world’s first 100% organic state, winning the Future Policy Gold Award from the UN FAO.

Why India Promotes Natural Farming Over Organic Farming

1. Lower Input Costs: No need for purchased fertilizers or pesticides.
2. Soil Health: Preserves soil structure and enhances microbial activity.
3. Water Conservation: Practices like mulching reduce irrigation needs.
4. Energy Efficiency: Avoids energy-intensive processes like compost preparation and certification.
5. Reduced Market Dependency: Farmers produce inputs on-site, reducing reliance on external agencies.
6. Climate Resilience: Better adapted to extreme weather events.
7. Accessibility: Affordable for small and marginal farmers.
8. Income Boost: Farmers can integrate allied activities like beekeeping and multi-cropping.
9. Soil Productivity: Retains moisture and resists erosion, essential for climate adaptation.
10. Lower Carbon Footprint: Reduces greenhouse gas emissions.

What Lies Ahead?

• Support During Transition: The government must assist farmers until yields stabilize.
• Long-term Assessments: Large-scale studies to validate the effectiveness of natural farming.
• Farmer Awareness: Promote natural farming practices to encourage wider adoption.

Natural farming represents a sustainable approach that aligns with India’s climate goals and empowers farmers economically while conserving ecosystems.