Till date 1,100 Natural Farming Model Farms have been developed in KVKs, Agricultural Universities and on fields of practising natural farming farmers for the training of Community Resource Persons and farmers.
The Government of India has made significant strides in promoting sustainable agriculture through the implementation of the National Mission on Natural Farming (NMNF). As of now, the Mission is active in 15,000 natural farming clusters across the country, covering approximately 7.5 lakh hectares of agricultural land. Each cluster spans around 50 hectares and includes about 125 farmers.
According to a written reply in the Lok Sabha by the Minister of State for Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare, Ramnath Thakur, more than 10 lakh farmers have already enrolled under the Mission. These farmers are supported by trained scientists, Farmer Master Trainers (FMTs), and Community Resource Persons (CRPs), who provide ongoing training, demonstrations, and handholding support.
Over 3,900 scientists, trainers, and officials have received specialized training under the initiative. Additionally, 28,000 CRPs have been identified, with 806 training institutions — including Krishi Vigyan Kendras, Agricultural Universities, and local Natural Farming institutes — engaged in capacity-building efforts.
The Mission has developed 1,100 Natural Farming Model Farms across these institutions and on the land of experienced farmers to facilitate practical training.
To encourage adoption, the government offers an incentive of ₹4,000 per acre per year for up to one acre per farmer for two years. This assistance supports natural input preparation, livestock care, and other activities crucial for natural farming.
To expand market access, the Natural Farming Certification System — implemented by the National Centre for Organic & Natural Farming (NCONF) under the Participatory Guarantee System (PGS-India) — is also being rolled out. Real-time monitoring is enabled through an online portal: https://naturalfarming.dac.gov.in.
Furthermore, Bio-input Resource Centres (BRCs) are being established at the cluster level to supply natural farming inputs and offer training. So far, 7,934 BRCs have been identified, of which 2,045 have been set up. These centres can be managed by natural farming practitioners, Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS), Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs), Self Help Groups (SHGs), or rural entrepreneurs.
This ambitious initiative marks a major push towards eco-friendly and chemical-free agriculture, aligning with the government’s broader goals for sustainable farming and rural development.