National Mission on Natural Farming Complete Guide

Transitioning to natural farming is one of the most practical steps an Indian farmer can take to restore soil health and cut down on heavy input costs. For years, chemical fertilizers and chemical pesticides have been seen as the only way to get a good harvest in Kharif or Rabi. But over time, our soil has lost its natural strength, the water table has gone down, and the cost of buying bags of urea or DAP has risen every year. To help farmers break away from this cycle, the central government started the National Mission on Natural Farming, or NMNF. This scheme is designed to support you as you move towards chemical-free farming, providing financial help, cluster training, and local resource centers.

When we look at our fields today, we often see hard soil that requires more water and more chemical inputs just to produce the same yield as before. This is because the beneficial soil microbes and earthworms have vanished due to heavy chemical use. The National Mission on Natural Farming focuses on reviving these microscopic helpers. By using simple, cow-based formulations that you can prepare right on your farm, you can bring your soil back to life. In this guide, we will break down the core principles of natural farming, the funding available under the scheme, how you can join a farming cluster, and how to get certified so you can sell your produce for a better price.

Natural Farming Core Concepts

Natural farming is not just about stopping chemical use; it is about working with nature to grow healthy crops. Under the national mission, this practice is formally encouraged through structured clusters. The primary concept is that the soil already contains all the nutrients your crops need. You do not need to buy synthetic packages from the market. Instead, you need to add beneficial microbes that make these nutrients available to the plant roots. The scheme supports this transition by helping farmers set up local production units for bio-inputs.

Many farmers worry that stopping chemical inputs will cause their yields to drop suddenly. While there is a transition phase where the soil adjusts, natural farming techniques are designed to minimize this risk. By keeping the soil covered, using local seed varieties, and applying organic microbial cultures, you can maintain soil moisture and keep pests under control. The government program provides financial assistance during this transition phase to offset any initial challenges, helping you build a sustainable farm that does not rely on costly external inputs.

Seed Care with Beejamrit

The first step in a successful crop cycle is protecting the seeds. In chemical farming, seeds are treated with synthetic fungicides that can be harmful to handle and expensive to buy. Under the natural farming mission, farmers are trained to use Beejamrit, a traditional formulation made from local cow dung, cow urine, lime, water, and a handful of soil from your own farm. Beejamrit acts as a natural seed treatment that protects young seedlings from root rot, wilt, and other soil-borne diseases. It helps the seeds germinate quickly and build a strong root system from day one.

Preparing Beejamrit is straightforward. You typically take twenty liters of water, five kilograms of local cow dung, five liters of cow urine, a small amount of lime, and a handful of fertile soil. You mix these ingredients in a drum and let it ferment overnight. The next morning, you can sprinkle this mixture over your seeds, mix them gently by hand, and let them dry in the shade before sowing. This simple practice ensures that your seeds are coated with beneficial microbes that protect them during the early stages of growth, reducing the need for chemical sprays later on.

Soil Enrichment with Jeevamrit

Once the seeds are in the ground, the soil needs to be fed with beneficial microorganisms. This is where Jeevamrit comes in. Jeevamrit is a fermented liquid mixture that contains millions of active microbes. It is not a fertilizer in the traditional sense; instead, it acts as a culture that multiplies the microbial population in your soil. When these microbes become active, they break down the organic matter in the soil and convert nutrients into forms that plant roots can absorb easily.

To make Jeevamrit, you need two hundred liters of water, ten kilograms of fresh cow dung, ten liters of cow urine, two kilograms of organic jaggery, two kilograms of pulse flour like besan, and a handful of undisturbed soil from the edge of your farm. You mix all of this in a plastic barrel and stir it twice a day. Within five to seven days, the mixture ferments and is ready to use. You can apply it directly with your irrigation water or spray it on the soil. Regular application of Jeevamrit improves soil texture, helps the soil hold more water, and encourages earthworms to return to your fields.

Moisture Control with Mulching

Mulching, or Achhadana, is the practice of covering the soil surface with crop residues, dry leaves, or live cover crops. In natural farming, keeping the soil bare is discouraged because direct sunlight dries out the soil moisture and kills the beneficial microbes living near the surface. By keeping the soil covered, you protect it from extreme heat and heavy rains, preventing soil erosion and reducing weed growth. The cover material slowly decays over time, adding organic carbon back to the soil.

There are three main ways to practice mulching. Soil mulching involves shallow cultivation to create a loose soil layer that prevents moisture loss. Straw mulching uses crop residues like wheat straw, paddy straw, or cotton stalks to cover the soil. Live mulching involves sowing cover crops, especially legumes like cowpea or mung bean, between your main crop rows. The National Mission on Natural Farming encourages these practices because they reduce your water needs and add valuable organic matter to the soil without any extra cost.

Whapasa and Water Balance

Whapasa is the condition in the soil where both air molecules and water molecules are present in equal balance. Many farmers believe that crops need heavy irrigation and standing water to grow well. However, roots actually need a mix of air and moisture, not waterlogged soil. Whapasa is achieved when the soil has plenty of organic matter and is covered with mulch, which creates porous spaces where water vapor and air can circulate freely.

When your soil reaches the Whapasa state, you will notice a significant drop in your irrigation needs. Instead of flooding your fields every week, you only need to supply enough water to maintain moisture vapor under the mulch. This is especially helpful for farmers in dry regions who rely on borewells or variable monsoons. By improving soil structure through Jeevamrit and mulching, you can save water, reduce electricity bills for pump sets, and protect your crops from waterlogging during heavy downpours.

Cluster Subsidies and Funding

To make the transition to natural farming easier, the National Mission on Natural Farming provides financial support to farmers through local clusters. A cluster is typically formed by grouping together farmers from a village or a small area, covering a total of fifty hectares of land. By working in a group, farmers can share knowledge, buy materials together, and find buyers for their crop yields more easily. The government provides assistance of up to thirty thousand Rupees per hectare for a period of three years to help cover the costs of changing your farming practices.

This financial support is divided into different parts. It covers training programs, field visits, and the cost of setting up on-farm production units for natural inputs. It also helps farmers purchase necessary equipment and covers the cost of soil testing. The primary goal is to support you during the initial three years when the soil is recovering and you are adjusting to the new methods. You should verify the exact subsidy rates and disbursement schedules on the official national portal or with your local block agriculture officer, as they can vary based on state decisions.

Bio Input Resource Centers

Not every farmer has the time or the raw materials to prepare formulations like Jeevamrit or Neemastra at home. To solve this problem, the scheme supports the creation of Bio-input Resource Centers, or BRCs. These centers act as small local shops where farmers can buy prepared natural inputs at reasonable prices. The government provides financial assistance of up to sixteen lakh Rupees to establish these centers, which are usually managed by progressive farmers, cooperative societies, or Farmer Producer Organisations.

A typical BRC is equipped with large storage tanks, mixing machines, cow dung separators, and packaging units. They source cow dung and urine from local cow shelters or dairy farmers, process them into standard formulations, and supply them to the nearby farming community. This makes it easy for busy farmers to practice natural farming without having to maintain their own livestock. If you are interested in setting up a BRC in your village, you should check the detailed application rules on your state agriculture department website.

Registration and Portal Access

To access the benefits of the National Mission on Natural Farming, you must register your farm on the official government portal. The registration process requires you to submit your basic details, including your Aadhaar card, bank account details, and land records. The portal is linked with state land databases, which helps verify the ownership and location of your fields. In many states, this system is being integrated with the Agristack project, which issues a unique Farmer ID to every cultivator.

Since the integration of digital systems is handled by individual state governments, the exact registration steps can vary. You should visit your state land records portal or the nearest common service center to complete your enrollment. Once registered, you will be assigned to a local cluster, and you can start receiving training invites, field inspections, and direct benefit transfers for input subsidies. Keeping your digital records updated is essential for receiving timely assistance.

PGS India Certification Steps

Getting a good price for your chemical-free crops requires proof that you have followed natural farming guidelines. The NMNF scheme uses the Participatory Guarantee System, or PGS-India, for certification. Unlike expensive third-party organic certificates, PGS-India is a peer-led system where local farmers inspect and verify each other's farms. This keeps the cost very low and builds a strong sense of trust within the community.

The certification process starts with the formation of a local group of at least five farmers. The group registers on the PGS-India portal and receives training on the standards. Throughout the crop season, members conduct peer inspections, document the inputs used, and maintain detailed farm diaries. If the group is satisfied that a member has followed all natural farming rules, they recommend them for certification. This certificate helps you sell your grain, vegetables, and fruits under the PGS organic logo, opening up better market opportunities.

Transition Phase Management

Moving away from chemical farming is a journey that requires patience. In the first year of transition, your soil might take time to adapt, and you may see some changes in crop growth. It is helpful to start the transition on a small portion of your land, perhaps one acre, and gradually expand as you gain confidence. During this period, focusing on green manuring and crop rotation is essential. Sowing legumes before your main crop helps fix nitrogen naturally and prepares the soil.

You should also closely monitor pest populations. In natural farming, we do not aim to kill every insect in the field. Instead, we use formulations like Agniastra or Brahmastra to control harmful pests while protecting friendly insects like ladybugs and honeybees. Using yellow sticky traps and bird perches can also help keep pests below economic damage levels. Discussing your observations with local Krishi Vigyan Kendra experts can help you manage this transition phase smoothly.

Yield Estimates and Returns

The financial returns from natural farming come from two main areas: cost savings and premium market prices. Because you are not purchasing expensive chemical fertilizers and pesticides, your cultivation cost drops significantly. For crops like cotton, paddy, or mustard, this can mean a saving of thousands of Rupees per acre. While yields in the first two years may show a slight decline, they generally stabilize and improve as the soil biological activity returns to normal.

All yield figures, input costs, and return estimates are indicative. Your actual results will depend on your local soil quality, water availability, and management practices. It is always wise to consult your local agricultural university or check your Soil Health Card to understand what your soil needs. By reducing your dependence on market-purchased inputs, you can build a more resilient farm that can withstand dry spells and market price fluctuations.

वारंवार विचारले जाणारे प्रश्न

What is the National Mission on Natural Farming (NMNF)?

It is a central government scheme designed to promote chemical-free, cow-based natural farming across India, offering financial support and training to help farmers transition away from chemical inputs.

How does NMNF differ from organic farming?

Natural farming focuses on cow-based formulations like Jeevamrit and on-farm input preparation with no external purchase, whereas organic farming allows purchased organic manures and third-party inputs.

What is Jeevamrit and how do I prepare it?

Jeevamrit is a microbial culture made from water, fresh local cow dung, cow urine, organic jaggery, pulse flour, and a handful of local soil, fermented for five to seven days before soil application.

What is Beejamrit and what are its benefits?

Beejamrit is a natural seed treatment formulation made of cow dung, urine, lime, and soil. It protects young seedlings from root rot, wilt, and soil-borne diseases.

How does mulching help in natural farming?

Mulching covers the soil with crop residues or cover crops, which prevents direct sunlight from drying soil moisture, prevents weed growth, and creates a microclimate for beneficial soil microbes.

What does Whapasa mean in agriculture?

Whapasa is the soil condition where both air and moisture vapor exist in equal balance in soil pores, significantly reducing irrigation water requirements.

What financial assistance is available for cluster formation under NMNF?

The scheme provides up to thirty thousand Rupees per hectare (indicative) over a period of three years to support training, soil testing, and natural input preparation.

What is a Bio-input Resource Center (BRC)?

A BRC is a local micro-enterprise setup with government funding of up to sixteen lakh Rupees (indicative) to produce and sell standardized formulations like Jeevamrit to nearby farmers.

How can I register my farm for the NMNF scheme?

Farmers can register on the official NMNF portal using land records, bank details, and identity proofs, which are verified through state agriculture databases.

What is PGS-India certification and how is it done?

PGS-India is a peer-led organic certification system where a group of local farmers inspect each other's fields, document inputs, and recommend members for certification.

Will my crop yields drop when I switch to natural farming?

There may be a slight yield reduction during the initial transition years as soil biology adjusts, but yields typically stabilize by the third year while overall input costs remain very low.

Can tenant farmers apply for NMNF benefits?

Yes, tenant farmers who are registered as cultivators with formal land-use agreements or cluster registrations can access training and input benefits.

Is there a role for NABARD in NMNF financing?

NABARD provides financial refinance to cooperative and commercial banks for agricultural schemes; it does not issue direct credit or cash subsidies to individual farmers.

How does NMNF link with Agristack and Farmer IDs?

The registration portal is being integrated with digital Farmer IDs state-by-state, and farmers should consult their state land portals to complete their digital profiles.

Is crop insurance under PMFBY available for natural farming fields?

Yes, natural farming fields are eligible for insurance under PMFBY, provided the crop is notified in that area, and farmers should confirm coverage details on the official portal.