Agriculture Minister Launches Portal on Natural Farming

Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar presided over the first meeting of the National Natural Farming Mission's steering committee today at Krishi Bhawan in New Delhi. Natural Farming is based on on-farm biomass recycling, with a particular emphasis on biomass mulching, the use of on-farm cow dung-urine formulations, periodic soil aeration, and the avoidance of all synthetic chemical inputs. Tomar launched the NMNF portal during the meeting.

He stated that the country's mission of natural farming would be carried out with everyone's help. In this regard, he directed the officers to work with the state governments and central departments to facilitate market linkage, allowing farmers to sell their products more easily.

The meeting was attended by Union Rural Development Minister Giriraj Singh, Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Uttar Pradesh Agriculture Minister Surya Pratap Shahi, Union Agriculture Secretary Manoj Ahuja, and senior officers from various ministries.

The Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare developed a portal  (http://naturalfarming.dac.gov.in/) that was launched today. It contains all of the mission's information, implementation outline, resources, implementation progress, farmer registration, blog, and other useful information for farmers. This website will also aid in the promotion of natural farming in the country.

Union Minister Giriraj Singh stated during the meeting that good initiatives have been taken to promote natural farming. During the meeting, he also made suggestions in this regard. Jal Shakti Minister Shekhawat stated that work is being done on the banks of the Ganga for natural farming under the supervision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

In the first phase, the Ministry of Jal Shakti identified 75 Sahakar Ganga villages by signing an MoU with Sahkar Bharti, and farmers received training. According to UP Agriculture Minister Shahi, the Namami Gange Project has begun to promote natural farming in the state. A goal has been established to work in each block, and master training has taken place.

The meeting heard that more than 4.78 lakh hectares of additional land have been brought under natural farming in 17 states between December and 2021.

Natural farming has been initiated by 7.33 lakh farmers. Approximately 23 thousand programmes for farmer sanitation and training have been organised. Natural farming is being practised on 1.48 lakh hectares of land along the Ganga's banks in four states.