Natural farming is an ecological approach to agriculture that relies on minimal human intervention. The goal of natural farming is to create an ecosystem in which crops can grow naturally, without the use of synthetic chemicals or genetically modified organisms.
Policies To Boost Natural Farming In India
One of the important policies that can boost natural farming is the diversification of farm produce. This would involve the cultivation of new crops, as well as the expansion of traditional ones.
Another policy that could have a transformative impact is the overhaul of agricultural subsidies. This would involve redirecting subsidies towards more sustainable farming practices, as well as incentivizing private sector investment in agriculture.
A new monitoring and evaluation framework could also be put into place to ensure that these policies are implemented effectively.
Furthermore, it is important to document natural farming practices in India so that they can be emulated nationwide.
Finally, partnerships with the civil society and private sector should be formed to help disseminate information about agro-ecology and sustainable farming methods. Through these measures, Indian agriculture can be transformed for the betterment of all involved.
Let’s us discuss these measures one by one:
Diversification Of Farm Produce
Diversification of farm incomes has been highlighted as an important approach in efforts to double farmers’ earnings. Diversification can help reduce the risks associated with farming, as well as ensure a more stable income. It can also lead to the development of new markets for agricultural products.
The expansion of traditional crops and the cultivation of new ones can help achieve these goals. For example, the cultivation of oilseeds has been found to be more profitable than wheat in some areas.
Furthermore, diversification can also help improve soil health and increase the resilience of crops to climate change.
At its core, natural farming could contribute to the solution through intercropping and multi-cropping. There are also calls to diversify the diets provided by the National Food Security Act and the Mid-Day Meal Scheme.
India’s success is proof that government procurement may benefit farmers by incentivizing the cultivation of specific crops.
In the early years, public procurement can give farmers an incentive to diversify their crops.
Overhaul Of Agriculture Subsidies
In India, agricultural subsidies have been found to be highly distortionary. They often benefit large farmers more than small ones, and they encourage the overuse of inputs such as water and fertiliser.
These subsidies need to be reformed in order to make them more targeted and effective. The government has taken some steps in this direction, such as linking subsidies to the adoption of improved seed varieties and the use of drip irrigation.
However, more needs to be done to make sure that subsidies benefit small farmers and promote sustainable farming practices.
The Union Budget 2020-21 revealed that the United Government has spent Rs. 79,998 crores on fertiliser subsidies in 2019-20. In comparison, the entire budget for the Department of Agriculture Research & Education (DARE) was only around Rs. 7,500 crore in 2019-20.
Furthermore, the government transferred Rs. 940 crore to the States for agricultural extension services in 2012-13, according to official figures. Many state governments also provide power subsidies to farmers, making the input subsidy bill even bigger in reality.
It is essential that the government redirects some of these subsidies towards activities that will improve the productivity and sustainability of agriculture.
Under the Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY) only Rs. 300 crores were transferred to states in 2019-20, so funding for Natural Farming will have to be increased significantly.
To give a larger push to agroecology, the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana (PKVY) can be reoriented as a Central Sector Scheme. With this change, funding would scale up as the area under Natural Farming increases.
This would also help in the development of an institutional mechanism for agroecology at the state level, as envisaged by the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC).
As a result of promoting natural farming, farmers will rely less on inputs and so the fertiliser bill, electricity costs, water expenses, and credit requirements will all go down. This money savings may then be used to increase PKVY allotments.
New Monitoring And Evaluation Framework
There is a need for a new monitoring and evaluation framework to assess the impact of policies on agriculture. This framework should be designed to track the progress of each policy and its implementation.
It should also be able to identify any gaps in implementation so that corrective measures can be taken.
To assess the effectiveness of states, a set of indicators with precise inputs, outputs, and anticipated results must be created. The success of states may be determined by this set of indicators.
The amount of funding that a state receives for the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY) can be linked to its performance on a set of indicators.
Documentation Of Natural Farming Practices In India
Traditional farming practices in India are often based on the use of natural inputs. These practices need to be documented so that they can be replicated nationwide.
Furthermore, the documentation of these practices can help create awareness about the benefits of sustainable agriculture.
Agroecological techniques are sensitive to the local environment. As a result, there is no one form of Natural Farming that may be replicated throughout India. The Government should document and widely disseminate these methods on the basis of local circumstances.
At the same time, there is a need to develop some overarching principles for Natural Farming that can be adopted by all.
Training Farmers
The key difficulty with Natural Farming is that it requires a high level of expertise. Co-training and co-educating farmers on the advantages of agroecological practices remains a major challenge.
Consequently, it is essential to provide adequate training to farmers and extension workers.
The government should also establish demonstration farms so that farmers can see the benefits of Natural Farming for themselves.
Long-term handholding of farmers helped to popularise Natural Farming in Andhra Pradesh. In addition, government assistance and advocacy were crucial. The state government ran campaigns to increase awareness about Natural Farming.
It also helped farmers form producer groups so that they could share information and best practices. The government also provided subsidies for the construction of vermi-compost pits and urine-diversion toilets.
Partnerships With The Civil Society And Private Sector
It is important to form partnerships with the civil society and private sector in order to disseminate information about agroecology and sustainable farming methods. These partnerships can help create awareness about the benefits of these practices and encourage their adoption.
Creation Of Farmer Collectives
Creating farmer collectives, or producer organisations and cooperatives, is another way to reach a wider group of farmers. The Government of India is already supportive of this method on a large scale, so that natural farming can gain more popularity if this push is properly leveraged.
In Andhra Pradesh, the women’s organisation model demonstrated that collective action and peer learning were possible through self-help groups (SHGs).
The women in the SHGs were able to share their knowledge and experiences with other members. They also pooled resources to buy inputs and market their produce.
Incentivize Farmers To Preserve Natural Resources
To popularise agroecology, farmers must be compensated for not only their goods, but also the ecological services they provide. Incentivizing farmers to preserve natural resources will go a long way in promoting sustainable agriculture.
India already has a mechanism for delivering cash directly to farmers’ bank accounts. This technology may be used to give direct cash payments to farmers for the ecological services they provide.
If money is paid for natural farming, then methods of valuing these services must be developed.
In Andhra Pradesh, the state government pays farmers for the services they provide in conserving water, improving soil health, and sequestering carbon. This has not only helped preserve natural resources, but also improved the incomes of farmers.
Investments In The Cold Chain
Annual wastage in excess of Rs. 90,000 crores have been estimated as a result of inefficient postharvest management. Development of infrastructure at the farmgate, pre-processing facilities which are then linked to packhouses and cold storages, is critical in linking farmers to terminal markets, be they retail or exports.
It is imperative for natural farmers to have excellent post-harvest management skills regardless of the production method. One way to achieve this is by investing in the cold chain. The cold chain can help farmers store their produce for longer periods of time and sell them when the prices are higher. The Government of India has made investments in the cold chain, but there is still a long way to go.
Leveraging Blockchain
One of the main drivers for a shift towards organic or Natural Farming is the increasing demand for organic products and the premiums paid for them. However, India’s farmers cannot serve this market without traceability and certification.
Blockchain can be used to track the provenance of organic products, so that farmers can get the premiums they deserve. A blockchain that covers the entire nation and focuses on quality certification and traceability may help resolve the issue of traceability if it doesn’t use too much Fossil energy. This is another avenue for partnerships with the public and private sectors.
Conclusion
The above policies can help boost Natural Farming in India. However, it is important to remember that each area is unique and the policies must be tailor-made to the local context.
Through the measures discussed above, India’s agriculture can be transformed for the betterment of all involved. These measures will help reduce the risks associated with farming, increase incomes, and improve soil health. In addition, they will also help create awareness about the benefits of natural farming.