The National Mission on Natural Farming (NMNF) is a unique initiative launched by the Indian government to promote natural farming practices across the country. This mission aims to reduce the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, and instead encourage farmers to adopt eco-friendly and sustainable farming methods. The primary objective of the NMNF is to enhance soil health, increase crop productivity, and improve the livelihood of farmers.
The NMNF is based on the principles of Zero Budget Natural Farming (ZBNF), which is a farming practice that utilizes natural resources, such as cow dung, cow urine, and other organic matter, to enrich soil health and promote sustainable agriculture. The mission aims to cover 1 million farmers and convert 5 million hectares of agricultural land into ZBNF by 2022.
Coverage:
The National Mission on Natural Farming (NMNF) is aimed at covering an extensive area of 7.5 lakh hectares by developing 15,000 clusters. Farmers who are willing to embrace natural farming methods will be enrolled as cluster members. Each cluster will consist of 50 or more farmers owning 50 hectares of land. Additionally, a cluster can either be located within a single village or across 2-3 adjacent villages under the same gram panchayat.
Financial Aid:
Under the NMNF, farmers who adopt natural farming practices will receive financial assistance of ₹15,000 per hectare per year for three years. This will aid in the creation of on-farm input production infrastructure. However, incentives will only be disbursed to farmers who remain committed to natural farming and implement it in practice. If a farmer fails to comply with natural farming standards or discontinues it, the subsequent instalments of the financial assistance shall not be provided.
Web Portal for Progress Monitoring:
To promote natural farming, a web portal has been launched. The portal contains information on the implementation framework, resources, farmer registration, implementation progress, blogs, and more.
Master Trainers:
The Agriculture Ministry is training master trainers, champion farmers, and practicing farmers in natural farming techniques through the National Institute of Agricultural Extension Management (MANAGE) and the National Centre of Organic and Natural Farming (NCONF).
Establishment of BRCs:
The Centre plans to establish 15,000 Bhartiya Prakritik Kheti Bio-inputs Resources Centres (BRCs) to provide easy access to bio-resources such as cow dung and urine, neem, and bioculture. These bio-input resource centres will be set up alongside the proposed 15,000 model clusters of natural farming.
Objectives of the National Mission on Natural Farming
The NMNF has several objectives that it seeks to achieve, including:
- Promoting natural farming practices: The mission aims to promote natural farming practices across the country and reduce the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides. It seeks to encourage farmers to adopt eco-friendly and sustainable farming methods.
- Enhancing soil health: One of the primary objectives of the NMNF is to enhance soil health. The mission seeks to increase the organic content of soil, which in turn can help improve crop productivity and reduce the dependence on chemical fertilizers.
- Increasing crop productivity: The NMNF aims to increase crop productivity by promoting natural farming practices. By reducing the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, the mission seeks to improve soil health and enhance crop productivity.
- Improving the livelihood of farmers: The mission aims to improve the livelihood of farmers by promoting natural farming practices. By reducing the cost of cultivation and increasing crop productivity, the mission seeks to enhance the income of farmers and improve their standard of living.
Implementation of the National Mission on Natural Farming
The NMNF is being implemented through a multi-pronged approach that involves the following components:
- Promotion and extension: The mission seeks to promote natural farming practices through awareness campaigns and training programs. It aims to reach out to farmers across the country and provide them with the necessary knowledge and skills to adopt eco-friendly and sustainable farming methods.
- Capacity building: The mission seeks to build the capacity of farmers and extension workers to promote natural farming practices. It aims to provide training and support to farmers to adopt Zero Budget Natural Farming (ZBNF) and other natural farming practices.
- Research and development: The mission aims to promote research and development in natural farming practices. It seeks to encourage the development of new technologies and innovative practices that can enhance soil health and improve crop productivity.
- Market linkages: The mission aims to establish market linkages for farmers practicing natural farming. It seeks to create a market for natural farming products and connect farmers to buyers, thereby enhancing their income.
Benefits of the National Mission on Natural Farming
The NMNF has several benefits that it seeks to provide to farmers and the environment, including:
- Reduced input costs: By promoting natural farming practices, the mission seeks to reduce the cost of cultivation for farmers. By reducing the dependence on chemical fertilizers and pesticides, farmers can save on input costs and enhance their income.
- Enhanced soil health: The mission aims to enhance soil health by increasing the organic content of soil. By promoting natural farming practices, the mission seeks to improve soil fertility and reduce soil erosion.
- Improved crop productivity: By promoting natural farming practices, the mission aims to improve crop productivity. By enhancing soil health and reducing the incidence of pests and diseases, the mission seeks to increase crop yields and enhance farmers' income.
- Environmental benefits: By reducing the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, the mission seeks to promote sustainable agriculture and reduce the environmental impact of farming. It also aims to conserve natural resources, such as water and energy, and promote biodiversity.
- Improved livelihoods: The mission aims to improve the livelihoods of farmers by promoting natural farming practices. By reducing the cost of cultivation and increasing crop productivity, farmers can enhance their income and improve their standard of living.
Challenges in the Implementation of the National Mission on Natural Farming
Despite its many benefits, the implementation of the NMNF faces several challenges, including:
- Lack of awareness: One of the biggest challenges facing the mission is the lack of awareness among farmers about natural farming practices. Many farmers are not aware of the benefits of natural farming and continue to rely on chemical fertilizers and pesticides.
- Resistance to change: Another challenge facing the mission is the resistance to change among farmers. Many farmers are hesitant to adopt new farming practices and prefer to stick to traditional methods.
- Lack of infrastructure: The mission requires the development of new infrastructure, such as rural roads, storage facilities, and market linkages, to support natural farming practices. The lack of such infrastructure in many rural areas poses a challenge to the implementation of the mission.
- Funding: The implementation of the NMNF requires significant funding from the government and other stakeholders. The availability of funds and the allocation of resources pose a challenge to the successful implementation of the mission.
Conclusion
The National Mission on Natural Farming is a unique initiative launched by the Indian government to promote natural farming practices across the country. The mission seeks to reduce the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, enhance soil health, increase crop productivity, and improve the livelihoods of farmers. The implementation of the mission faces several challenges, including the lack of awareness among farmers, resistance to change, lack of infrastructure, and funding. However, the mission has the potential to transform the agricultural sector in India and promote sustainable and eco-friendly farming practices.