Natural Farming and Agro-Ecology Get Major Boosts in India

Other Agro-ecological approaches including natural farming like: organic agriculture, have great promise for a renaissance of Indian agriculture. It all shows that farming is not only productive instead it’s regenerative and sustainable.

During an international convention organized by the NITI Aayog in New Delhi on May 30, 2020, the experts said, they have endorsed efforts to significantly boost Agro-ecological and natural farming approaches in India. The experts provided evidence from latest studies, cutting-edge research and science as well as practical experience from economics, finance and markets.

While addressing the audience, comprising national and international experts, the Union Agriculture Minister, Narendra Singh Tomar said, “the natural farming is our indigenous system based on cow dung and urine, biomass, mulch and soil aeration. In the next five years, we intend to reach 20 lakh hectares in any form of organic farming, including natural farming, of which 12 lakh hectares are under Bharatiya Prakritik Krishi Paddhati Programme (BPKP)”. He added that the Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana that was launched in the year 2015 to promote organic farming among small and marginal farmers has covered 7 lakh hectares and 8 lakh farmers in the last four years.

He pointed out that Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Himachal Pradesh, and Kerala have taken up natural farming on a large scale. Andhra Pradesh alone has brought 2 lakh hectares under natural farming under this scheme. He concluded by highlighting that the need of the hour, in light of the covid-19 pandemic, was to have 'food free from chemical fertilizers and pesticides', while not ignoring the need to feed and nourish the country.