Latest news with #NationalMissiononNaturalFarming
Time of India
02-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Farmers urged to cultivate indigenous crop varieties
Mandya: Farmers must be encouraged to adopt organic or natural farming practices and cultivate indigenous crop varieties, urged KR Nandini, CEO of Mandya zilla panchayat. She was addressing officials during a review meeting of the agriculture department's ongoing schemes held at the ZP auditorium. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Emphasising the advantages of organic methods, she said, "Cultivating indigenous varieties using natural fertilisers results in higher yields and long-term sustainability. Therefore, farmers should be motivated to rear Hallikar cows, which are well-suited for organic farming systems." Nandini instructed the animal husbandry department to identify farmers practising natural farming and provide them with Hallikar cows under the Amrit Mahal scheme. She also called for an increase in the scheme's coverage and urged officials to submit proposals to the govt stressing its significance. Natural fertilisers: ZP CEO To make organic farming viable, she said natural fertilisers must be made available to farmers at the same or even lower prices than chemical fertilisers. "Although chemical fertilisers may increase yields by 10 to 20%, organically grown produce commands higher market demand and better prices," she noted, adding that awareness must be created among farmers regarding the profitability of organic farming. She suggested organising workshops and interactive sessions with successful organic farmers to promote awareness and build confidence in natural farming practices. She also cautioned against the misuse of the 'organic' label by some farmers who market chemically- grown produce as organic. "This practice not only misleads consumers but also undermines the efforts of genuine organic farmers," she warned. She emphasised the importance of proper branding to ensure better market reach and fair pricing for authentic organic products. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Highlighting the scope for traditional value addition, Nandini recommended promoting oilseed cultivation along field boundaries and intercropping areas. These oilseeds can be supplied to women's self-help groups (SHGs) operating traditional oil extraction units in the district. She also noted that the district is already producing organic jaggery. Similarly, groundnuts can be grown organically, processed into peanut chikkis (brittle), and marketed beyond the district and state levels, she said. Providing updates on conservation efforts, joint director of agriculture Ashok reported that 278 indigenous crop varieties were identified and preserved under the National Mission on Natural Farming. The goal is to conserve at least 400 such varieties in the district.
Time of India
01-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Cabinet nod to internship scheme for youths; artists, farmers also get aid
Patna: The state cabinet on Tuesday cleared the 'CM Pratigya Yojana' to provide financial support to youths for carrying out internship programmes after clearing their class 12 board examination. Under the scheme, youths between 18 and 28 years, having either trained under skill development programme or those who have passed class 12, industrial training institutes (ITI) diploma, graduate and post-graduate will get financial support for availing of internship training. The assistance would in the range of Rs 4,000 to Rs 6,000. They, along with this, would also be provided livelihood assistance for a limited period. Additional chief secretary, cabinet secretariat department, S Sidharth, while talking to reporters after the cabinet meeting, said the scheme would be in force from the current financial year itself, and would continue for the next five years. Between 2025-26 and 2030-31, as many as 1 lakh youths would become the beneficiaries of the scheme, and the payment due to them would be transferred into their bank accounts through the direct benefit transfer (DBT). by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Scientists: Tinnitus? When tinnitus won't go away, do this (Watch) Hearing Magazine Undo The overall expenditure during the period would be of Rs 685.76 crore. As per the scheme, a youth trained under the skill development programme would get Rs 4,000 per month for the internship period of three to 12 months decided by the employing institution. Similarly, an ITI diploma holder will be given Rs 5,000 per month, while the graduates and post-graduates would get Rs 6,000 per month. Additionally, they would be provided livelihood assistance for three months at the rate of Rs 2,000 per month if they are doing internship in their home district or any other district within the state, and Rs 5,000 per month for three months if on the job internship outside the state. The cabinet also approved the govt's proposal to provide a monthly pension of Rs 3,000 to the artists engaged in preserving the artistic cultural heritage, but are faced with the livelihood crisis. The pension would be paid to them under the 'Mukhyamantri Kalakar Pension Yojana', and the beneficiaries should be of 50 years and should have yearly income than Rs 1 lakh. Similarly, the cabinet gave its nod to launch the 'Mukhyamantri Guru-Shishya Parampara Yojana' under which talented artistic youths and their 'gurus' would be provided financial assistance for contributing to the conservation of unique arts which face extinction. While the 'gurus' and their shishyas' would be paid separately for their contribution, the annual expenditure to be incurred is estimated to be Rs 1.11 crore during the current fiscal. Under the centrally sponsored National Mission on Natural Farming, the cabinet sanctioned the release of Rs 36.35 crore for the implementation of the project that is aimed at promoting organic farming and the use of natural inputs. The cabinet sanctioned Rs 80.99 crore for the implementation of the agricultural extension programme under the fourth agriculture road map, besides Rs 30.49 crore for soil testing work and strengthening of its laboratories and another chunk of Rs 49 crore under Mukhyamantri Ganna Vikas programme. The cabinet also sanctioned Rs 32.48 crore for the implementation of the integrated management of Gokul reservoir in Bhojpur district. The cabinet also approved the release of money from the CM Medical Assistance Fund to the elected representatives of the three-tier panchayati raj institutions (PRIs) for use in the treatment of cancer and heart ailments. In pursuance of the Supreme Court order, the cabinet cleared the provision for the payment of money to the retired chief justice and other judges of the Patna high court through reimbursement of the bills related to telephone receipt and maintenance of two personal employees, including a driver. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Doctor's Day 2025 , messages and quotes!
Time of India
23-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Natural farming mission encourages ryots with incentives, cluster support in Hassan dist
Hassan: In order to encourage farmers to adopt natural farming techniques, which emphasise the use of natural inputs and reduce reliance on synthetic chemicals, the National Mission on Natural Farming (NMNF) is being implemented in the district, with efforts under way to provide necessary tools in a timely manner. For this purpose, cluster centres are being established in Alur, Arkalgud, Arsikere, Hassan, and Holenarasipura taluks, with three centres each, and four centres in Belur, Channarayapatna, and Sakleshpur taluks. The plan is designed to raise awareness among farmers, with the main objective being to bring farmers in the project area into the realm of natural farming. An incentive of Rs 4,000 per acre per year is provided to those who adopt natural farming. At the gram panchayat level, the implementation should be done in cluster models of 50 hectares, and agriculture assistants can be selected for each cluster. Each cluster will include about 50 hectares or approximately 125 farmers, said an agriculture department officer. To reduce dependence on externally purchased tools, the plan is implemented to promote nature-based sustainable farming practices using locally available resources. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Adidas Three Shorts With 60% Discount, Limited Stock Available Original Adidas Shop Now Undo Livestock-based integrated farming systems are being promoted. The main goal is to combine farmers' experience and scientific expertise to develop and improve suitable natural farming practices for each local area, he said. The first instalment of the incentive will be paid in Aug. Selected individuals must participate in training, purchase drums, mixing and storage containers, other tools, maintain livestock, and prepare NF farming tools. The second instalment will be released in Feb 2026. Multi-crop systems and improved MF practices should be adopted, and tools should be purchased from BRC, he said. This initiative will be implemented under the 15th Finance Plan, aiming to reach 10 million farmers across the country. The Union govt has allocated Rs 2,481 crore for this project and will provide Rs 1,584 crore. The remaining Rs 897 crore will be provided by state govts. Over the next two years, the goal is to promote natural farming on 7.5 lakh hectares under this project. The incentive of Rs 4,000 per acre will be deposited in instalments into the accounts linked with Aadhaar of willing farmers who received training. However, activists claimed that the govt has allocated only a small amount for this cause. An activist, KP Suresh, said it is known that yields initially decrease in the method of natural farming. "There is no proposal in this scheme to compensate for this potential loss. International organisations have been claiming that the fertility of the land was completely destroyed and needs rejuvenation. This is also included in the Sustainable Development Goals. Union govt pledged to implement this and established seven or eight missions to respond to climate change, including this natural farming mission," he said..
Hindustan Times
22-06-2025
- General
- Hindustan Times
Over 6,300 farmers to switch to natural farming in Prayagraj division
To reduce input costs and boost farmers' income, 6,375 farmers across the Prayagraj division will adopt cow-based organic farming under the National Mission on Natural Farming, officials said. The initiative aims to promote sustainable agriculture and empower farmers in Prayagraj, Pratapgarh, Kaushambi and Fatehpur districts under the division. A group of women farmers sowing paddy in a field at a village in Soraon area of Prayagraj. (HT File) According to SP Srivastava, joint director of agriculture, 51 dedicated clusters have been identified in these four districts: 12 in Prayagraj, 22 in Pratapgarh, nine in Fatehpur and eight in Kaushambi. Each cluster will cover 50 hectares, bringing a total of 2,550 hectares under natural farming practices, he said. To encourage farmers to move away from chemical-based farming, the state government is providing financial assistance. 'Each farmer will receive ₹ 4,000 per acre annually to support the transition to natural farming,' Srivastava said. Additionally, 102 rural women have been selected to promote and guide farmers in the initiative. These women are undergoing training and will begin work in July, receiving a monthly honorarium of ₹ 5,000 from the government, he added. To ensure the long-term success of the programme, the government is integrating participating farmers into Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs). This will give them access to farm machinery banks, custom hiring centres, warehouses, cold storage facilities, and advanced marketing support, he said. Srivastava said the U.P. government aims to turn natural farming into a mass movement by promoting it in every gram panchayat. Following the initiative's success in Bundelkhand, the model is now being expanded to Purvanchal and central Uttar Pradesh. He said the initiative aligns with the state's vision of self-reliant agriculture by reducing dependence on costly chemical fertilisers and pesticides.
Hans India
05-06-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
Farmer Associations' Report Highlights Climate-Resilient Tech that has Empowered Lakhs of Farmers
Calls for farmer-first, tech-driven solutions to tackle gaps in adoption despite government push Showcases NICRA's impact to empower farmers through 23,000 capacity-building programmes Urges targeted subsidies for renewable energy, organic inputs, and micro-irrigation to make climate-smart practices more accessible to small and marginal farmers On the occasion of World Environment Day, the Federation of All India Farmer Associations (FAIFA), a non-profit uplifting the cause of millions of farmers and farm workers involved in commercial crop cultivation in states such as Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Karnataka, organised a national seminar on the theme 'Supplementing Farmer Income through Sustainable Farming Practices' at the Constitution Club of India in New Delhi. The seminar outlined a sustainable approach to leverage proven climate-resilient technologies to empower farmers. During the seminar, FAIFA also unveiled a white paper titled 'Nourishing the Future: A Report on Climate-Resilient Agriculture'. The report lauded the success of ICAR's flagship NICRA initiative, which has reached nearly 6.93 lakh farmers as of February 2025, through technology demonstrations and has trained 6.47 lakh stakeholders via 23,613 capacity-building programmes on climate resilient agriculture. As part of its interventions, 448 Climate Resilient Villages have been established, and 650 district-level agricultural contingency plans have been developed. The report's focus is in line with the latest developments initiated by the Government of India to boost agriculture. Some of the key efforts include the launch of the Digital Agriculture Mission, the continuation of the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana and the National Mission on Natural Farming. Delegates in the seminar, including policymakers, agricultural scientists, and Members of Parliament, expressed concern over projections by the Indian Network for Climate Change Assessment (INCCA), which estimate a potential 6–25% reduction in wheat yields and a 3–15% decline in rice yields by 2050. The FAIFA report also highlights a study by the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) that warns of 10–30% fall in rain-fed crop yields across semi-arid regions. Erratic Climate Conditions – A Threat to Agriculture The report underscores that climate change, no longer a distant threat but a present and accelerating crisis for Indian agriculture, is beefing up its siege through erratic rainfall, unseasonal droughts, temperature spikes, and rising incidence of pests and diseases disrupting crop cycles. These weather events have severely impacted productivity, inflated input costs, and choked farmer incomes — compounding their distress. Small and marginal farmers, who form over 80% of India's agrarian community, are the worst affected due to limited adaptive capacity. But schemes such as the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY), which provides insurance cover for weather-beaten crop losses, and initiatives under the Per Drop More Crop component that scale micro-irrigation are alleviating farmer distress. Additionally, the Soil Health Card scheme and the Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY) have supported balanced nutrient management and organic farming. Though a robust policy foundation is in place, the report identifies several gaps in implementation. High initial costs, fragmented infrastructure, and low farmer awareness continue to block widespread adoption of climate-resilient technologies. FAIFA recommends an integrated remedy: scaling research and extension services, expanding digital agri-platforms, and incentivizing sustainable practices. Mr. Murali Babu, General Secretary, Federation of All India Farmer Associations (FAIFA), said, 'In states like Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, and Uttar Pradesh, tangible impacts of climate variability on farming are becoming increasingly evident. Soil degradation, rising input costs, and falling water tables are putting significant pressure on farm productivity and incomes, particularly for small and marginal farmers. However, initiatives like ICAR's NICRA programme are encouraging, which has introduced practical climate-resilient solutions, such as solar-powered irrigation, drought-tolerant seed varieties, and capacity-building at the grassroots. These are already making a difference in many regions. This report is a constructive call to deepen our commitment to sustainable agriculture. We must transition from a 'grow more' approach to a 'grow better' mindset—one that embraces innovation, environmental stewardship, and economic viability for the farming community.' Innovation on the Ground: Success Stories from the Field The report features examples of climate-smart agriculture practices that are already providing greener outcomes: · Precision farming using IoT, sensors, and mobile-based advisories helps farmers monitor soil moisture, optimise inputs, and pre-empt crop stress. · Regenerative agriculture, including crop rotation, green manuring, and cover cropping, is enhancing long-term soil health. · Integrated Nutrient Management (INM) is reducing fertiliser dependency while maintaining yield levels. · NICRA's flood - and drought-tolerant crop varieties are emerging as adaptive lifelines for climate-vulnerable farmers. Such sustainable soil conservation practices also contribute to carbon sequestration, as they act as mitigation pathways aligned with India's broader climate goals. Ather Matheen, Vice-President, Federation of All India Farmer Associations (FAIFA), said, 'Sustainable agriculture must be viewed as a core economic strategy for Indian farmers and not just be seen as an environmental or regulatory concern. Climate-resilient models offer long-term financial benefits by lowering input costs, opening new markets, and reducing weather-related disruptions. Initiatives such as the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund can drive long-term income growth for farmers while advancing sustainability across the agricultural value chain. We also see transformative potential in platforms like e-NAM, which are beginning to streamline market access and improve price discovery through digital trade. As these tools evolve and scale, they will play a crucial role in integrating farmers more effectively into national and global value chains.' FAIFA's Reform Roadmap: Building Resilience Through Policy and Practice To address systemic challenges, the report puts forward suggestions for an effective roadmap: · Increase public investment in R&D for climate-resilient seed varieties and cropping systems · Widen farmer training programmes through participatory models and grassroots extension services · Promote ICT-based tools for precision agriculture and timely farmer advisories · Strengthen market access for sustainable produce by linking incentives with adoption · Provide targeted subsidies for renewable energy, micro-irrigation, and organic inputs · Mainstream conservation agriculture, agroforestry, and integrated farming systems into national and state programmes Climate-Resilient Agriculture is the Way Forward The report makes a fervent appeal to policymakers, research institutions, and private stakeholders to collaborate in scaling climate-smart agriculture. By infusing modern science into traditional knowledge, strengthening grassroots capacity, and aligning economic incentives, the sector can be bolstered to become resilient to climactic extremes and ensure a sustainable future for itself. As India works towards the twin imperatives of ensuring food security and combatting climate change, FAIFA's report offers a timely and actionable roadmap. FAIFA concludes that with strong institutional backing, increased investment, and a farmer-first implementation model, India can pave the way for an agri-economy that is both productive and climate-resilient.
