13 February 2026·PIB

Progress of National Mission on Natural Farming

In this note

1. At a Glance

National Mission on Natural Farming (NMNF) is a standalone Centrally Sponsored Scheme under the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare to scale up chemical-free, ecosystem-based natural farming rooted in traditional knowledge [2][3].
Upscaled from the earlier Bhartiya Prakritik Krishi Paddhati (BPKP) sub-component of Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY) [3].
Relevant for GS-III (Agriculture, sustainability, food security) — combines soil health, climate resilience, input-cost reduction, and farmer welfare [2].

13 Feb 2026 PIB release detailed progress: PGS-India Natural certification under Natural Farming Certification System (NFCS) initiated in 2025-26; State-wise certified farmer data published as on 04.02.2026; ₹2,100/ha for 2 years as certification cost under NMNF [1].
Cabinet had approved NMNF on 25 November 2024, making 2025-26 the first full progress-tracking year [2][3].

2019-20: Natural farming introduced as BPKP sub-scheme under PKVY in 8 States [3].
2022: Promotion of natural farming highlighted in Union Budget; focus on Ganga corridor (5 km belt) [2].
25 Nov 2024: Union Cabinet approves NMNF as standalone CSS [2][3].
26 Dec 2024: NMNF Operational Guidelines circulated to States/UTs [2].
March 2025: Annual Action Plans of 33 States/UTs approved [2].
2025-26: Certification system PGS-India Natural under NFCS launched [1].

Implementing Ministry: Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare (Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare) [1][2].
Type: Centrally Sponsored Scheme (standalone, w.e.f. 25.11.2024) [3].
Total Outlay (till 15th FC, up to 2025-26): ₹2,481 crore (Centre: ₹1,584 cr; State: ₹897 cr) [3].
Targets: 1 crore farmers, 7.5 lakh hectares, 15,000 clusters [2].
Bio-input Resource Centres (BRCs) target: 10,000 [2].
Krishi Sakhis deployed: 70,000+ for last-mile delivery [2].
Financial incentive: ₹4,000/acre/year for 2 years to farmers adopting natural farming [2].
Certification: PGS-India Natural under NFCS, cost ₹2,100/ha for 2 years borne under NMNF [1].

Economic

Reduces input cost dependency on synthetic fertilizers/pesticides; targets farmer income via lower cost of cultivation [2].
₹2,481 cr outlay shared 64:36 between Centre and States [3].

Environmental

Promotes chemical-free cultivation, soil health restoration, biodiversity, and climate resilience [2].
Aligns with India's commitments under UNFCCC and SDG-2/SDG-15.

Administrative

Cluster-based delivery (15,000 clusters), AAP-driven release; ₹177.78 lakh released in FY 2024-25 reflecting slow initial uptake [2].
Convergence with Krishi Sakhi (under DAY-NRLM) for extension [2].

Social

Krishi Sakhis (women community resource persons) mainstreamed as natural-farming trainers — gender-equity angle [2].

Scientific/Technological

1,100 model farms and 806 training institutes engaged for demonstration and capacity building (as of July 2025) [2].

25 Nov 2024: Cabinet approval as standalone CSS, ₹2,481 cr outlay [3].
26 Dec 2024: Operational guidelines issued [2].
March 2025: AAPs of 33 States/UTs approved [2].
July 2025: 10 lakh+ farmers enrolled; 1,100 model farms; 806 training institutes engaged [2].
2025-26: PGS-India Natural launched under NFCS for certification [1].
13 Feb 2026: PIB progress release with State-wise certification and fund-release data (as on 04.02.2026) [1].

NMNF is a standalone Centrally Sponsored Scheme, not a sub-scheme of PKVY [3].
Cabinet approval date: 25 November 2024 [2][3].
Total outlay: ₹2,481 crore (Centre ₹1,584 cr + State ₹897 cr) [3].
Coverage target: 1 crore farmers, 7.5 lakh ha, 15,000 clusters [2].
Financial incentive: ₹4,000/acre/year for 2 years [2].
10,000 Bio-input Resource Centres (BRCs) targeted [2].
70,000+ Krishi Sakhis deployed as trainers [2].
Certification system: Natural Farming Certification System (NFCS) via PGS-India Natural, from 2025-26 [1].
Certification cost: ₹2,100/ha for 2 years, borne by NMNF [1].
Predecessor: Bhartiya Prakritik Krishi Paddhati (BPKP) under PKVY, started 2019-20 in 8 States [3].
Nodal Ministry: Agriculture & Farmers Welfare (not MoEFCC, not Jal Shakti) [1].
AAPs of 33 States/UTs approved by March 2025 [2].

GS-III — Major crops & cropping patterns; issues of food security; e-technology in aid of farmers; agricultural marketing; subsidies and MSP; environment & conservation.
Possible question stems:
"Examine the potential of the National Mission on Natural Farming in reconciling productivity with sustainability in Indian agriculture."
"Discuss the institutional architecture (PGS-India Natural, BRCs, Krishi Sakhis) underpinning the NMNF. What are the implementation challenges?"
"Natural farming is climate-smart but yield-uncertain. Critically evaluate."

PKVY & BPKP — predecessor schemes [3].
PGS-India — participatory organic certification framework [1].
Soil Health Card Scheme — complementary soil agenda.
Per Drop More Crop / PMKSY — sustainable input use.
Mission Organic Value Chain Development for NE Region (MOVCDNER) — parallel certified-organic push.
Krishi Sakhi Convergence Programme (DAY-NRLM) — extension delivery channel [2].
15th Finance Commission — outlay frame for NMNF [3].
Zero Budget Natural Farming (Subhash Palekar) — ideological precursor.

Wrong ministry: NMNF is under Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, NOT MoEFCC or Jal Shakti [1].
Scheme status: It is a standalone CSS since 25.11.2024 — no longer a PKVY sub-component [3].
Certification confusion: PGS-India Natural (NFCS) is distinct from PGS-India Organic and from NPOP (third-party organic) [1].
Outlay split: Centre:State is ₹1,584 cr : ₹897 cr, not 60:40 or 50:50 [3].
Incentive unit: ₹4,000 is per acre per year, not per hectare [2]; certification cost ₹2,100 is per hectare for two years [1] — easy unit mix-up.