The National Mission on Natural Farming (NMNF) is implemented in 15,000 natural farming clusters covering 7.5 Lakh Ha area across the country.  Each cluster is of contiguous areas of about 50 Ha and with approximately 125 farmers.

Scientists, Farmer Master Trainers (FMTs) and trained Community Resource Persons (CRPs) undertake awareness generation, training, on-field demonstration and provide continuous handholding support to farmers. For this, more than 3900 Scientists, FMTs & Government officials have been trained on Natural Farming and about 28,000 CRPs have been identified under the Mission. Also, 806 training institutions, i.e., KrishiVigyanKendras, Agricultural Universities and Local Natural Farming Institutions have been involved by States/UTs.

Till date 1,100 Natural Farming Model Farms have been developed in KrishiVigyanKendras, Agricultural Universities and on fields of practicing natural farming farmers for the training of Community Resource Persons and farmers.

An output based incentive of ₹4000/- per acre per year per farmer for 2 years (up to 1 acre per farmer) is provisioned in the scheme for farmers to practice natural farming, training, upkeep of livestock, preparation of natural farming inputs etc. Till date, more than 10 lakh farmers have been enrolled under the Mission.

Further, farmers are being supported by a simple certification system for increased market access. The Natural Farming Certification System is under implementation by National Centre for Organic & Natural Farming (NCONF), Ghaziabad under Participatory Guarantee System (PGS) - India.

An online portal (https://naturalfarming.dac.gov.in/) has been developed for real-time monitoring of the progress of implementation of NMNF.

A Bio-input Resource Centre (BRC) is a cluster level enterprise that provides ready to use Natural Farming bio-inputs to local farmers who may not themselves be making on-farm inputs. BRC will also disseminate knowledge, training and demonstration on these natural farming bio Inputs to farmers. BRCs identified are 7934, of which 2045 BRCs have been set up. BRCs may be set up by practicing natural farming farmers, Primary Agriculture Credit Society/ Farmer Producer Organizations, Self Help Groups, local rural entrepreneurs etc.

This information was given by the Minister of State for Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare Shri Ramnath Thakur in a written reply in Lok Sabha today.

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RC/KSR/AR

(Release ID: 2146937)