Natural & Organic Farming

The Government has promoted organic farming since 2015-16 through two schemes: PKVY in States other than the North Eastern States, and MOVCDNER in the North Eastern States. A government release of September 2020 put cultivable land under organic farming at 11.83 lakh ha in 2014 and 29.17 lakh ha in 2020. From 2020-21 to 2022-23, natural farming was supported as the Bharatiya Prakritik Krishi Paddhati (BPKP) under PKVY, and a Large Area Certification programme began in 2020-21 for areas where chemical farming had never been practised. By March 2023, MOVCDNER had covered 1.73 lakh ha and formed 379 farmer producer organisations and companies involving 1.89 lakh farmers.

On 25 November 2024 the Union Cabinet approved the National Mission on Natural Farming as a standalone Centrally Sponsored Scheme, with an outlay of ₹2,481 crore (Centre ₹1,584 crore, States ₹897 crore) till the 15th Finance Commission period. Over two years it set out to implement natural farming in 15,000 clusters, reach 1 crore farmers and initiate natural farming on 7.5 lakh ha, with 10,000 need-based Bio-input Resource Centres. Scheme guidelines were circulated on 26 December 2024. By March 2026 the Mission had 18,786 clusters covering 8.80 lakh ha, with over 18.19 lakh farmers enrolled.

Under PKVY, farmers are grouped into clusters of 20 ha, and assistance of ₹31,500 per ha is given over three years, of which ₹15,000 reaches farmers by Direct Benefit Transfer for organic inputs; MOVCDNER provides ₹46,500 per ha over three years, including support for farmer producer organisations. Produce for export is certified by accredited bodies under NPOP, while PGS-India, a community-based system of peer inspection under the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, serves the domestic market. An NMNF cluster covers about 50 ha and 125 farmers, and farmers receive an output-based incentive of ₹4,000 per acre per year for two years, for up to one acre. Natural farming produce is certified under PGS-India by the National Centre for Organic & Natural Farming, Ghaziabad.

NPOP-certified farm area peaked at 53.92 lakh ha in 2022-23 and has fallen each year since, to 27.65 lakh ha in 2025-26, of which 17.87 lakh ha was organic and 9.78 lakh ha in conversion. Organic exports were ₹5,423.76 crore (635.10 million USD) in 2025-26, against 1,040.95 million USD in 2020-21. The NMNF's two-year targets were 1 crore farmers and 7.5 lakh ha; by March 2026, 18.19 lakh farmers had enrolled and its clusters covered 8.80 lakh ha. Soil testing continues alongside: 25.89 crore Soil Health Cards had been generated by 13 March 2026.

8.80 lakh ha in 18,786 NMNF clusters, with 18.19 lakh farmers enrolled (March 2026). ₹2,481 crore NMNF outlay (approved 25 Nov 2024). 14.99 lakh ha, 52,289 clusters and 25.30 lakh farmers under PKVY (Feb 2025). NPOP-certified farm area 26.58 lakh ha (2020-21), 53.92 lakh ha (2022-23) and 27.65 lakh ha (2025-26). ₹5,423.76 crore organic exports (2025-26). Sources: Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare via PIB; APEDA NPOP certification data.