Natural Farming Is Expanding Across India, What Do Farmers Need Before Making Switch?

Natural farming is gaining attention across India as farmers look for ways to reduce input costs and improve soil health. A national conference beginning September 9 in Meghalaya will bring together more than 400 participants from 21 states and 51 agricultural institutions to discuss how the system can become more practical for farmers.

The National Conference on Natural Farming 2026 will focus on soil fertility, plant protection, seeds, integrated farming, nutrition, environment and farm policy. Organisers say scientific validation, certification, education and farmer training are needed before natural farming can expand in a sustainable and economically useful way.

The National Mission on Natural Farming has expanded significantly. During 2025-26, 18,893 clusters covering 10.32 lakh hectares were formed, involving 20.93 lakh farmers. More than 22.47 lakh farmers were registered under the Natural Farming Certification System, with over 14.43 lakh certified.

The government describes natural farming as a system based on reduced dependence on synthetic inputs, livestock integration and diversified cropping. Its stated goals include improving soil health, reducing input costs and building greater resilience against climate-related stress.

But adoption numbers alone do not tell farmers whether the system will work equally well on every farm. Soil type, crop choice, rainfall, irrigation, livestock availability and market access can all influence the results.

Farmers should not change everything at once

Farmers interested in natural farming should avoid making a sudden whole-farm switch without testing the system. A smaller plot can provide useful information about crop growth, pest pressure, labour requirements and input costs before the practice is expanded.

This approach is especially useful for farmers who depend on one main crop for household income. A gradual transition reduces the financial risk if yields or market returns do not meet expectations during the early stages.

Farmers should also maintain records during the trial. They can compare seed costs, labour, crop yield, pest damage and selling price with conventionally managed fields. These figures provide a better basis for decisions than general claims about natural farming.

A recent study on pigeonpea-wheat systems found that root growth and nutrient acquisition were closely linked with crop performance. The study also found that pigeonpea receiving 12 tonnes of compost per hectare produced higher yields than conventional and natural farming treatments in the experiment.

This finding is important because it shows that farmers need crop-specific evidence. Natural farming is not a single practice, and different methods can produce different results depending on the crop and field conditions.

Natural farming often uses inputs such as Jeevamrit, Beejamrit and plant-based preparations. Farmers need proper training to prepare and apply these inputs correctly.

The National Mission on Natural Farming has created a support structure involving KVKs, agricultural universities, local natural farming institutes and trained Community Resource Persons. These networks are intended to provide farmers with training and continued support at the local level.

Pest control needs planning

Natural farming does not mean farmers can ignore pests. Crops still need regular monitoring and timely protection.

Farmers should inspect fields regularly and identify the pest before deciding what action to take. Crop diversity, beneficial insects, field sanitation and suitable biological methods can form part of pest management.

If a serious pest outbreak occurs, farmers should seek technical advice rather than allowing the crop to suffer because they believe natural farming prohibits every form of intervention.

Livestock is an important part of many natural farming systems because farm animals can provide manure and other resources. But farmers should not assume that keeping cattle automatically makes a farm natural.

The system needs to be planned around available livestock, fodder, labour and crop requirements. Farmers without animals may need access to suitable bio-inputs or other nutrient sources instead of making livestock purchases only to meet a farming model.

Lower chemical input costs can help farmers, but income ultimately depends on what the produce sells for. Farmers should therefore understand their market before investing heavily in certification or specialised production.

Certified organic products and naturally produced crops may have access to particular markets, but certification, packaging, transport and marketing can add costs. Farmers should calculate whether the expected price premium is enough to cover those expenses.

The upcoming Meghalaya conference is focusing strongly on education and capacity building. This reflects one of the biggest challenges facing natural farming: farmers need practical knowledge rather than broad promises.

More than 33,000 Community Resource Persons have been trained under the National Mission on Natural Farming, providing a local support network for participating farmers.

Farmers considering a transition should ask their local KVK or agriculture department whether trained personnel are available nearby. Field demonstrations can be more useful than classroom explanations alone.

Climate change adds another reason to test alternatives

Erratic rainfall, higher temperatures and longer dry periods are making farm decisions more difficult. Farming systems that improve soil cover and organic matter may help farms manage some stresses, although results will vary between regions.

The natural farming conference specifically identifies climate change, soil degradation and biodiversity loss among the challenges it wants to address. Its organisers are also discussing integrated systems involving crops, livestock, horticulture, agroforestry and fisheries.

Natural farming should be judged by what happens on farms. Farmers need reliable information on yields, input costs, labour requirements, soil health and final income.

The expansion of government-supported trials and farmer networks can help generate this evidence. ICAR is also studying natural farming across multiple cropping systems and locations to develop suitable practices for different farming conditions.

For farmers, the best approach is to test, measure and compare. A practice that improves one farm may need modification before it works on another.

What farmers should do before switching

Farmers should begin by checking their soil condition, main crops, water availability, livestock resources and local market. They should then identify which natural farming practices can be introduced without creating a large financial risk.

Starting with one field can provide valuable evidence. Farmers can compare that field with their normal practice over at least one complete crop cycle and keep records of both costs and returns.

Natural farming has moved beyond a small group of farmers and is now part of a national agricultural programme. But wider adoption will depend on whether farmers can make it work economically. Training, scientific testing, local support and reliable markets will be just as important as the farming practices themselves.