On the cards: Sops for natural farming

New Delhi: India could offer sops to farmers to adopt natural ways of farming as part of a soon-to-be-launched national mission.

Incentives being considered include monetary support to buy good quality seeds and natural manure for farming as also marketing support for produce. A final call on the incentives will be taken soon, said a senior government official.

The government is readying to launch a national mission on natural farming, which will lay out a road map for adoption of sustainable and cost-effective natural farming techniques, said the official, who did not wish to be identified.

Natural farming is a traditional, chemical-free farming method in which crops, trees and livestock are integrated and there is no use of fertilisers. It is largely based on on-farm biomass recycling with emphasis on biomass mulching, use of on-farm cow dung-urine formulation, periodic soil aeration and exclusion of all synthetic chemical inputs. The proposed plan also aims to open up export avenues through certification of naturally produced agricultural commodities. Besides, some other support measures such as for marketing could also be undertaken, said the official.

"The government is looking at giving fiscal incentives to farmers to take up natural farming while facilitating backward linkages for them with gaushalas (cowsheds) for procurement of traditional manure," said the official.

The NITI Aayog and agriculture ministry have held several discussions with global experts on natural farming practices.

Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman had announced in her Budget speech in February the government's resolve on a natural farming initiative.

"Chemical-free natural farming will be promoted throughout the country, with a focus on farmers' lands in 5-km wide corridors along river Ganga, at the first stage," she had said.

Under the pilot project, the government has covered 650,000 hectares of farm land under natural farming and the plan seeks to expand it to 2 million hectares in the next five years.