NITI Aayog recently organized a two-day national workshop on natural farming as part of its State Support Mission (SSM). The workshop brought together farmers, policymakers, scientists, start-ups, and civil society groups from across India to explore ways to promote sustainable agriculture. A key highlight of the event was the introduction of new training manuals on natural farming in Hindi and English, aimed at offering practical guidance tailored to different regions.
The workshop featured a virtual address by Acharya Devvrat, the Governor of Gujarat and Maharashtra, who emphasized the importance of transitioning towards sustainable and farmer-centric agricultural practices. According to him, natural farming has the potential to enhance soil health, reduce chemical input costs, and boost farmers’ incomes in the long run. Several prominent agricultural and research institutions, including Junagadh Agricultural University and Gujarat Natural Farming Science University, participated in the discussions, lending scientific expertise to the dialogue on natural farming methods and validation.
Participants from various states such as Punjab, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, and Odisha, including farmers, agricultural officers, and scientists from Krishi Vigyan Kendras, engaged in the workshop, indicating a widespread national interest in transitioning to natural farming techniques. The workshop also saw involvement from central bodies and ministries, agri-startups, civil society organizations, farmer producer groups, and experienced practitioners, underscoring the expanding ecosystem supporting natural farming in India.
The first day of the workshop drew around 770 attendees, facilitating an open discussion where farmers and practitioners could voice concerns and share challenges related to adoption, certification, and market access. Participants collectively acknowledged the necessity for enhanced field demonstrations, scientific validation, and farmer-driven models to instill confidence in natural farming practices. The second day of the workshop focused on field visits and live demonstrations, allowing participants to observe firsthand natural farming techniques in action, including practices for diverse crops and the preparation of bio-inputs through manual and automated processes.
