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Centre offers ₹4,000 per acre incentive for natural farming; 91% farmers report higher productivity

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21 July 2026

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New Delhi, July 21: The Centre has said that studies conducted across multiple states indicate that natural farming can improve soil health, reduce cultivation costs and, when adopted with appropriate practices, maintain or enhance crop productivity.

The information was shared by Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Ramnath Thakur in a written reply in the Lok Sabha on Monday.

According to the Ministry, the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has been conducting research on natural farming since 2020-21 through the All India Network Programme on Natural Farming, previously known as the All India Network Programme on Organic Farming. The programme operates through 20 centres across 16 states and involves 11 State Agricultural Universities, eight ICAR institutes and centres, and one deemed university.

The initiative is evaluating eight major cropping systems under natural farming and developing region-specific packages of practices while also assessing organic farming systems.

Studies show positive outcomes

The government said research findings indicate that natural farming can improve crop quality, taste and long-term productivity by enhancing soil health. Reduced dependence on chemical inputs also lowers cultivation costs, leading to higher net returns for farmers.

According to the studies, practices such as mulching help conserve soil moisture, suppress weeds and increase organic matter content, while multi-cropping improves biodiversity, reduces pest and disease incidence and enhances nutrient utilisation.

Researchers have developed natural farming packages for different agro-climatic regions and cropping systems, including groundnut-sesame-fennel-cabbage systems in Rajasthan and Gujarat, soybean-maize-wheat-mustard systems in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, and cassava cultivation in Kerala.

Productivity comparable to conventional systems

Field studies conducted over five years showed encouraging results in several regions.

In Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Sikkim, the soybean-maize-vegetable pea-coriander cropping system under complete natural farming recorded an average productivity of 6,475 kg per hectare annually, around five per cent higher than organic farming and integrated crop management systems.

Similarly, trials in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh found that productivity under natural farming was comparable to integrated crop management and organic farming systems.

In Gujarat and Rajasthan, natural farming-based cowpea, maize, groundnut, sesame, fennel and vegetable cropping systems recorded average productivity levels that were also comparable to conventional integrated crop management practices.

Improved soil health

The Ministry highlighted significant improvements in soil health under natural farming.

Studies showed that soil organic carbon levels increased in natural farming plots within two to three years. In Himalayan region trials, soil organic carbon rose from around 0.90 per cent to 1.15 per cent.

Researchers also observed greater abundance and diversity of beneficial microorganisms, including bacteria, fungi and actinomycetes, in natural farming soils compared to fields dependent on chemical fertilisers.

According to ICAR, these changes improve nutrient cycling, soil structure and long-term fertility, helping create a more sustainable production system.

NITI Aayog findings

The government cited a NITI Aayog assessment report which found that approximately 91.2 per cent of farmers practising natural farming reported increased crop productivity and improved soil health.

The report also found that 90.1 per cent of farmers experienced lower input costs after adopting natural farming methods.

Financial support for farmers

To encourage adoption, the government provides financial assistance under its natural farming mission.

Farmers are eligible for an Output Based Incentive of ₹4,000 per acre per year for two years, covering up to one acre per farmer.

The support can be used for practising natural farming, training other farmers, maintaining livestock, preparing natural farming inputs, purchasing mixing and storage containers, or procuring inputs from Bio-input Resource Centres.

The government said the incentive is aimed at reducing transition costs and encouraging wider adoption of sustainable farming practices.

With growing concerns over soil degradation, rising input costs and climate change, natural farming is increasingly being promoted as a sustainable agricultural approach that can improve farm profitability while enhancing long-term ecological resilience.

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