Natural Farming Support: NMNF Incentive and ICAR Findings
Why in the news
PIB explained how the government backs natural farming: research by ICAR on what works, and cash support to farmers under the National Mission on Natural Farming.
Key facts
- Incentive: output-linked ₹4,000 an acre annually, two years, one acre per farmer.
- Covers: practising natural farming, training others, livestock upkeep, making inputs or buying from Bio-input Resource Centres (BRCs).
- AINP-NF: from 2020-21, earlier AINP-Organic Farming; 20 centres, 16 States, 8 cropping systems.
Crop-system packages
| Region | System |
|---|---|
| Rajasthan and Gujarat | Groundnut + sesame, then fennel + cabbage |
| Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh | Soybean + maize, then wheat + mustard |
| Kerala | Cassava |
Research findings
- Soil carbon: up from about 0.90% to 1.15% in the Himalayan trials.
- Soil life: richer, more diverse microbes than chemical plots; better nutrient cycling and structure.
- Mulching holds moisture and checks weeds; multi-cropping cuts pests and disease.
- Lower chemical spending lifts profit.
NITI Aayog assessment
- About 91.2% of adopting farmers reported higher productivity and better soil health.
- 90.1% reported lower input or production costs.
About NMNF
- Separate Centrally Sponsored Scheme, November 2024, agriculture ministry; successor to BPKP within PKVY.
- Two Krishi Sakhis per cluster; PGS-India certification via NCONF, Ghaziabad; geo-tagged tracking on the NMNF portal.
Exam angle
- Scheme nature: Centrally Sponsored; ministry: Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.
- Predecessor: BPKP under PKVY; certification: PGS-India.
- Figures to recall: ₹4,000, 2 years, 1 acre cap, 20 centres, 16 States.