Farmers Adopting 'Natural Farming' May Get a Higher Incentives : Daily Current Affairs

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Key Phrases: Zero-budget farming, Natural Farming, Agroecology, Traditional indigenous practices, Mulching, Biomass recycling, Agriculture Ministry, Bhartiya Prakritik Krishi Paddhati

Context:

Recently, the agriculture ministry has announced that the government will soon raise the assistance on “natural farming” by more than two-fold to ₹32,500 per hectare in three years, making the subsidy at par with what organic farmers currently receive.
The Agriculture Ministry has already finalised the ₹2,500 crore proposal on natural farming and it may soon be sent to Cabinet for approval.

What is Natural Farming?

Natural Farming is a chemical-free alternative to traditional farming methods. It is considered as an agroecology based diversified farming system which integrates crops, trees and livestock with functional biodiversity.
Natural farming does not use chemical or organic fertilizers on the soil. In reality, no additional nutrients are put into the soil or given to the plants. It encourages the breakdown of organic matter by microorganisms and earthworms.

What is the proposed plan to incentivise agriculture?

Under the proposed plan, assistance will be provided over four years and the target is to bring in 5-6 lakh hectares of additional area under natural farming by 2026.
Recently, government-assisted natural farming area has reached 4.09 lakh hectares for which ₹49.81 crore has been disbursed in eight States including Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Kerala. The aim is to expand it further.
No compromise with Food security: About 290 districts account for consumption of 85 percent of fertilisers used in the farm sector and the government will not promote natural farming in these areas due to a possible fall in production.

Do you know the similarities and differences between Natural Farming and Organic Farming?

Similarities Between Organic and Natural Farming
1. Both natural and organic farming methods are chemical-free and, to a large extent.
2. Both systems restrict farmers from using chemical fertilizers and pesticides on plants, as well as from engaging in any other agricultural practices.
3. Both encouraged to use local seed breeds and native cultivars of vegetables, cereals, legumes, as well as other crops in both farming methods.
4. Non Chemical and homemade pest control solutions are promoted by organic and natural farming methods.
Differences between Organic and Natural Farming
1. Organic fertilizers and manures, such as compost, vermicompost, and cow dung manure, are utilized and applied to farmlands in organic farming.
2. Ideally, Natural farming does not use chemical or organic fertilizers on the soil. In reality, no additional nutrients are put into the soil or given to the plants.
3. Natural farming encourages the breakdown of organic matter by microorganisms and earthworms right on the soil surface, gradually adding nutrients to the soil over time.
4. Generally, plowing, tilting, mixing manure, weeding, and other fundamental agro activities are required in organic farming.
5. Ideally, there is no plowing, no soil tilting, no fertilizers, and no weeding in natural farming, precisely as it would be in natural ecosystems.

Background of Natural Farming :

Bhartiya Prakritik Krishi Paddhati:
- Earlier, support for assistance for natural farming was drawn from Bhartiya Prakritik Krishi Paddhati (BPKP), which was introduced as a sub-scheme of Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY) in 2020-21.
- Each farmer under the scheme gets ₹12,200/hectare for three years for cluster formation, capacity building and continuous hand holding.
In the 2022-23 Budget, both the BPKP and PKVY have been subsumed under Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY).
Parity between Organic and Natural Farming is vital:
- Proposed increase in assistance has come on the suggestion of Gujarat Governor, a major architect of the Centre’s push for chemical-free farming.
- He proposed that farmers practising organic and natural farming receive the same subsidy.

Do you want to know more about Bharatiya Prakritik Krishi Paddhati Programme (BPKP)?

BPKP is aimed at promoting traditional indigenous practices which reduce externally purchased inputs.
It is largely based on on-farm biomass recycling with major stress on biomass mulching, use of on-farm cow dung-urine formulations; periodic soil aeration and exclusion of all synthetic chemical inputs.
According to the HLPE Report, natural farming will reduce dependency on purchased inputs and will help to ease smallholder farmers from credit burden.

What are further steps taken by the Government?

Tribal Regions focused: Initially, the focus will be on tribal and other such areas which have been traditionally practising natural farming so that soil in those regions are protected from harmful impact of chemicals.
The Agriculture Ministry has recently set up a committee to recommend standards for products to be produced through adoption of natural farming.
The Ministry was also considering renaming the current National Centre for Organic Farming (NCOF) as National Centre for Organic and Natural Farming.
Allocation under RKVY has been tripled to ₹10,433 crore for 2022-23 from ₹3,712.44 crore (BE) in the current fiscal and the hike is over five-times from the revised estimate.

Conclusion:

Natural Farming is a new concept, proper branding has to be done as a premium product over organic if natural farming is to succeed.
The current BPKP scheme emphasises more on organic farming, like exclusion of all synthetic chemical inputs and promotes on-farm biomass recycling with major stress on biomass mulching, use of cow dung-urine formulations and plant-based preparations. The need is to give proper awareness about natural farming practices too under BPKP scheme.
Moreover, India’s food system needs a holistic transformation in demand, production, and supply chains, which demand strong intent to convert into action in our journey towards achieving a chemical-free food system.

Sources: Financial Express

Mains Question:

Q. What do you mean by Natural Farming? Is it right to say that the road to transform the agricultural practices in India is passed through Natural Farming? Comment. (10 marks).