- Why in news
- On 24 March 2026, the Agriculture Ministry told the Lok Sabha about progress under the National Mission on Natural Farming (NMNF): clusters formed, farmers enrolled, CRPs trained and research findings.
- What it is
- The National Mission on Natural Farming is a centrally sponsored scheme approved by the Union Cabinet in November 2024. It promotes chemical-free farming that uses on-farm inputs such as cow dung and cow urine. It aims to improve soil health, cut input costs and build climate resilience.
- Approval and outlay
- Approved by the Union Cabinet on 25 November 2024 as a centrally sponsored scheme with an outlay of ₹2481 crore.
- Incentive
- ₹4000 per acre per year per farmer for 2 years, limited to 1 acre per farmer, and output based.
- Bio-input Resource Centre
- A BRC is a cluster-level enterprise supplying ready-to-use inputs such as Beejamrut and Jeevamrut to farmers who do not make them on their own farms.
- Community Resource Persons
- CRPs such as Krishi Sakhis give village-level guidance and training; 33,676 have been trained.
- ICAR research
- ICAR's All India Network on Natural Farming works through 20 cooperation centres in 16 States to develop packages of practices.
Don’t confuse with Natural farming vs organic farming: Natural farming uses on-farm inputs like cow dung and cow urine, with no purchased inputs. Organic farming may use purchased organic inputs and is certified under separate schemes such as PKVY.
Schemes: 52 Prelims questions since 2013, 10 in Prelims 2026 alone. They test features, the period and who funds it. In Mains, 33 news-triggered questions, mostly GS3.
Why it matters
- Cuts input costs and dependence on chemical fertilisers, helping farmer incomes.
- Improves soil organic carbon and microbial health, supporting climate resilience.
Problems
- Results are context specific, varying with crop, region and soil transition stage.
- The incentive covers only 1 acre per farmer for 2 years, which may not sustain adoption.
Way forward
- Build region-specific practice packages through ICAR research and scale them via KVKs.
- Strengthen certification and market access so farmers get better prices.
Put in your answer
NMNF outlay: Centrally sponsored scheme with ₹2481 crore outlay approved in November 2024.
NITI Aayog evaluation: 90.1% of farmers reported reduced input costs after adopting natural farming.
Soil carbon: In Himalayan trials, soil organic carbon rose from about 0.90% to 1.15% over 2–3 years.
- 2018Mains GS3 · Q8Ecological and economic benefits of Sikkim becoming India's first organic state
- 2022Mains GS3 · Q14What Integrated Farming System is and how it helps small farmers
- 2019Mains GS3 · Q3How far Integrated Farming System helps sustain agricultural production
- 2024Prelims Q26Correct description of the 100 Million Farmers platform for net-zero, nature-positive food systems
- 2026Prelims Q28Objectives of Rainfed Area Development initiative under NMSA, including climate risk minimisation
UPSC’s own questions that come close to this issue, from our Prelims and Mains banks.
Prelims practice · Statements
Ours, not from a UPSC paper
Consider the following statements:
- 1.The National Mission on Natural Farming was approved by the Union Cabinet as a centrally sponsored scheme.
- 2.The Mission gives an output-based incentive of ₹4000 per acre per year for 2 years, up to 1 acre per farmer.
- 3.A Bio-input Resource Centre under the Mission is a cluster-level enterprise that supplies ready-to-use bio-inputs such as Beejamrut and Jeevamrut to farmers who do not make them on their own farms.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
True or false?
1 of 6
Statements the way Prelims prints them. Say first, then see the fact.
1.The National Mission on Natural Farming is a centrally sponsored scheme.
True. The Cabinet approved it as a centrally sponsored scheme.
2.The scheme provides an incentive of ₹4000 per acre per year for 2 years, up to 1 acre per farmer.
True. ₹4000 per acre per year for 2 years, up to 1 acre per farmer.
3.A Bio-input Resource Centre is a cluster-level enterprise that supplies natural farming inputs such as Beejamrut and Jeevamrut.
True. BRCs supply ready-to-use bio-inputs at cluster level.
4.Community Resource Persons such as Krishi Sakhis give village-level guidance and training under the Mission.
True. CRPs such as Krishi Sakhis support farmers at village level.
5.Natural farming under the Mission relies on purchased inputs such as urea and DAP to raise yields.
False. It does not use externally purchased chemical inputs such as urea and DAP; inputs are made on-farm.
6.The ICAR research programme on natural farming under the All India Network covers 16 States through 20 cooperation centres.
True. 20 cooperation centres in 16 States.
Written by us from the release, not by UPSC; checked by a second model.
Worth revising until Prelims 2027: most news questions come within two years of the event.