PROGRESS OF NATURAL FARMING UNDER THE NATIONAL MISSION FOR NATURAL FARMING

1. At a Glance

• NMNF is a standalone Centrally Sponsored Scheme approved by the Union Cabinet on 25 November 2024 to scale up chemical-free, livestock-integrated natural farming rooted in Indian traditional knowledge [1][2].
• Targets 1 crore farmers, 7.5 lakh hectares, and 15,000 clusters nationwide with 10,000 Bio-Input Resource Centres (BRCs) [1][3].
• Aims to cut input costs, improve soil health/biodiversity, and build climate resilience — directly relevant to GS-III agriculture and sustainability themes [2].
• As of the latest PIB update (24 Jul 2026), 17,639 clusters formed across 623 districts, covering 8.79 lakh farmers trained [4].

2. Why in the News

• PIB press release dated 24 July 2026 (PRID 2289030) gave a Parliament-based state/UT-wise progress update on farmers covered, area under NF, and clusters formed under NMNF [4].

3. Background & Evolution

• NMNF traces its rationale to prior state-level natural farming pushes (e.g., Andhra Pradesh's Zero Budget Natural Farming) and central schemes promoting sustainable agriculture, later consolidated into a dedicated national mission [2].
• 25 November 2024: Union Cabinet approves NMNF as a standalone Centrally Sponsored Scheme [1][3][5].
• 26 December 2024: Operational/scheme guidelines issued [1][5].
• Since approval, Annual Action Plans (AAPs) of 33 States/UTs approved [4].
• FY 2024-25: ₹177.78 lakh released to States/UTs as per approved AAPs [4].
• 70,021 Krishi Sakhis trained on Soil Health & Natural Farming; Centres of Natural Farming (CNFs) established for training across States/UTs [4].

4. Core Static Facts

Parameter	Detail
Scheme type	Centrally Sponsored Scheme (standalone) [1]
Cabinet approval date	25 November 2024 [1][3]
Guidelines issued	26 December 2024 [1][4]
Nodal Ministry	Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare [4]
Total outlay	₹2,481 crore (till 15th Finance Commission period, up to March 2026) [1][3]
Central share	₹1,584 crore [1][3]
State share	₹897 crore [1][3]
Centre:State funding ratio	90:10 for Hilly & North-Eastern States; 60:40 for other States [3]
Target beneficiaries	1 crore farmers [1][3]
Target area	7.5 lakh hectares [1][3]
Target clusters	15,000
Bio-Input Resource Centres (BRCs) target	10,000 [1]
Progress (as of Jul 2026)	17,639 clusters, 623 districts, 8.79 lakh farmers trained [4]
AAPs approved	33 States/UTs [4]
Fund release (FY 2024-25)	₹177.78 lakh to States/UTs [4]
Krishi Sakhis trained	70,021 [4]

5. Multi-Dimensional Analysis

Economic

• Reduces farmer dependency on costly external chemical inputs (fertilisers, pesticides), lowering cost of cultivation [2][4].
• Central-state cost-sharing (60:40 / 90:10) embeds fiscal federalism considerations into scheme design [3].

Environmental

• Focuses on soil health restoration, biodiversity, and reduced chemical runoff — aligned with climate resilience goals [2][4].
• Recognises interdependence of soil, water, microbiome, plants, animals, and climate — an ecosystem-based approach [4].

Social

• Krishi Sakhis (community resource persons, largely rural women) deployed for training — a gender and grassroots-extension dimension [4].
• Targets 1 crore farmers, indicating a mass behavioural-change and capacity-building exercise [1].

Administrative

• Implementation depends on State/UT-level Annual Action Plans (AAPs); only 33 States/UTs approved so far, indicating a rolling federal implementation process [4].
• Cluster-based delivery model (17,639 clusters, 623 districts) with BRCs for input supply chains at local level [1][4].

Scientific/Technological

• Emphasis on Bio-Input Resource Centres for decentralised, low-cost bio-input (jeevamrutham, beejamrutham etc. type formulations) production and access [1].

6. Recent Developments (last 12-18 months)

• 26 Dec 2024: Scheme operational guidelines circulated [1][4].
• 2025: Progressive approval of Annual Action Plans across States/UTs (33 approved to date) [4].
• 2025-26: Rollout of Centres of Natural Farming (CNF) training infrastructure and Krishi Sakhi deployment (70,021 trained) [4].
• 24 Jul 2026: PIB releases state/UT-wise progress data — 17,639 clusters, 623 districts, 8.79 lakh farmers trained [4].

7. Prelims Hooks

• NMNF approved by Union Cabinet on 25 November 2024 [1][3].
• NMNF is a standalone Centrally Sponsored Scheme, implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare [1][4].
• Total outlay: ₹2,481 crore (Centre ₹1,584 crore + States ₹897 crore) till 15th Finance Commission period (March 2026) [1][3].
• Centre:State funding split — 90:10 for Hilly/NE States, 60:40 for others [3].
• Target: 1 crore farmers, 7.5 lakh hectares, 15,000 clusters, 10,000 Bio-Input Resource Centres [1][3].
• Scheme guidelines issued on 26 December 2024 [1][4].
• As of latest data: 17,639 clusters in 623 districts; 8.79 lakh farmers trained [4].
• 33 States/UTs have had their Annual Action Plans approved [4].
• ₹177.78 lakh released to States/UTs in FY 2024-25 [4].
• 70,021 Krishi Sakhis trained on Soil Health & Natural Farming [4].
• Natural Farming is defined as chemical-free farming involving livestock integration and diversified crop systems rooted in Indian traditional knowledge [4].
• Village-level extension workers under NMNF are called Krishi Sakhis [4].
• Local training/demo hubs under NMNF are called Centres of Natural Farming (CNFs) [4].

8. Mains Relevance

• GS-III: Agriculture — issues related to Minimum Support Prices, e-technology, cropping patterns, and sustainable agriculture; food security; land reforms.
• GS-II: Government policies/interventions for development in agriculture sector; Centre-State fiscal relations (funding pattern).
• Possible question stems: 1. "Discuss the significance of the National Mission on Natural Farming in addressing the twin challenges of soil degradation and farmer input costs in India." (GS-III) 2. "Examine the implementation challenges of centrally sponsored agricultural schemes with reference to the cluster-based approach under NMNF." (GS-II/III) 3. "How does natural farming differ from organic farming and conventional agriculture? Assess its potential to enhance climate resilience." (GS-III)

9. Related Topics to Study Next

• Zero Budget Natural Farming (ZBNF) — precursor concept and state-level model (Andhra Pradesh) that informed NMNF's design.
• Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY) — related organic/traditional farming promotion scheme, useful for comparison.
• Soil Health Card Scheme — links to soil health monitoring referenced in NMNF's ecosystem approach.
• 15th Finance Commission recommendations — relevant since NMNF's outlay period is tied to this Commission's cycle.
• Krishi Sakhi Convergence Programme — grassroots extension mechanism also used in NMNF.
• Centrally Sponsored Schemes vs Central Sector Schemes — funding pattern distinction (60:40, 90:10) tested frequently in Prelims/Mains.
• Climate-resilient agriculture and India's NDCs — environmental linkage of natural farming to climate commitments.

10. Common Errors / Trap Areas

• Confusing Natural Farming with Organic Farming — natural farming avoids external inputs entirely (including bio-fertiliser purchases), while organic farming may still use permitted external inputs.
• Mixing up NMNF's outlay (₹2,481 crore) with other agri-scheme budgets (e.g., PM-KISAN, PKVY) — these are separate.
• Wrong funding ratio recall — remember 90:10 for Hilly/NE States vs 60:40 for others, not a uniform ratio.
• Assuming NMNF was launched simultaneously with Cabinet approval — the approval (25 Nov 2024) and guideline issuance (26 Dec 2024) are distinct dates.
• Confusing "Krishi Sakhi" (NMNF extension worker role) with unrelated state-specific women's SHG programmes.