Government Launches National Mission on Natural Farming with 10,000 Bio-resource Centres
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Initiative Launched | National Mission on Natural Farming (NMNF) launched in November 2024 to promote natural farming and reduce reliance on chemical inputs. |
| Key Component | Establishment of 10,000 Bio-resource Centres (BRCs) at the cluster level to provide bio-inputs, training, and technical support to farmers. |
| Guidelines Released | Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare released guidelines on April 23, 2025, for setting up BRCs. |
| Objective | Support local production of bio-inputs, assist farmers in adopting natural farming, and disseminate knowledge and best practices. |
| Financial Assistance | ₹1 lakh per centre in two tranches of ₹50,000; excludes infrastructure costs like shed construction or land rent. |
| Eligibility Criteria | Entrepreneurs/entities must practice natural farming or have experienced members; state natural farming cells to assist in identifying willing farmers. |
| Local Adaptability | Bio-inputs tailored to local soil, land use patterns, and crop systems; access to raw materials like livestock waste and biomass is essential. |
| Affordability | BRCs to ensure affordability for small and marginal farmers; district-level monitoring for price regulation and quality control. |
| Scheme Convergence | Encouraged alignment with schemes like 10,000 FPO Formation, National Mission on Edible Oilseeds, and other agri-linked welfare programs. |