NMNF

National Mission on Natural Farming

6.0/10

To motivate farmers to adopt chemical free farming and enhance the reach of natural farming, the Government has formulated National Mission on Natural Farming (NMNF) as a separate and independent scheme from 2023-24 by up scaling the Bhartiya Prakritik Krishi Paddati (BPKP).

Central Composite

States / UT: All India

Ministry / nodal: Ministry Of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare

Nodal department: Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare

Scheme for: Individual

Scheme profile

DBT (direct benefit transfer): No

Scheme open date: 2023-01-01

Categories: Agriculture,Rural & Environment

Target beneficiaries: Individual, University / Institution

Tags: Natural Farming, Agro Ecology, Chemical-free Farming

Details

National Mission on Natural farming aims at creating institutional capacities for documentation and dissemination of best practices, make practicing farmers as partners in promotion strategy, ensure capacity building and continuous handholding and finally attracting farmers to the natural farming willingly on the merit of the system.

The main objectives of the scheme are:
• To promote alternative system of farming for freedom from external purchased inputs, cost reduction and thereby increasing income of farmers
• To popularize integrated agriculture-animal husbandry models based on desi cow and local resources.
• To collect, validate and document Natural Farming practices being practiced in various parts of the country and to encourage participatory research with farmers on further up scaling
• To undertake activities for awareness creation, capacity building, promotion, and demonstration of Natural Farming.
• To create standards, certification procedure and branding for Natural Farming products for national and international markets.

Benefits

  • • Farmers practicing Natural Farming reported similar yields to those following conventional farming. In several cases higher yields per harvest were also reported. • As Natural Farming does not use any synthetic chemicals health risks and hazards are eliminated. The food has higher nutrition density and therefore offers better health benefits. • Natural Farming ensures better soil biology improved agrobiodiversity and a more judicious usage of water with much smaller carbon and nitrogen footprints. • Natural Farming aims to make farming viable and aspirational by increasing net incomes of farmers on account of cost reduction reduced risks similar yields incomes from intercropping. • By working with diverse crops that help each other and cover the soil to prevent unnecessary water loss through evaporation
  • Natural Farming optimizes the amount of ‘crop per drop’

• Farmers practicing Natural Farming reported similar yields to those following conventional farming. In several cases, higher yields per harvest were also reported.
• As Natural Farming does not use any synthetic chemicals, health risks and hazards are eliminated. The food has higher nutrition density and therefore offers better health benefits.
• Natural Farming ensures better soil biology, improved agrobiodiversity and a more judicious usage of water with much smaller carbon and nitrogen footprints.
• Natural Farming aims to make farming viable and aspirational by increasing net incomes of farmers on account of cost reduction, reduced risks, similar yields, incomes from intercropping.
• By working with diverse crops that help each other and cover the soil to prevent unnecessary water loss through evaporation, Natural Farming optimizes the amount of ‘crop per drop’.

Eligibility

The scheme is applicable to all farmers in India

How useful is this scheme?

Public benefit analysis

A practical look at this scheme for citizens

AI-generated insights showing how useful, accessible, and practical this scheme may be — combining deterministic scoring rules with a public-policy LLM analyst.

6.0
/ 10
Public Benefit Score
Accessibility 7.0/10 Good
Rural usefulness 6.0/10 Moderate
Application complexity 5.0/10 Moderate
Financial impact 5.0/10 Moderate
Literacy barrier 2.0/10 Good
Women inclusivity 6.0/10 Moderate
Awareness 7.0/10 Good
Implementation reliability 7.0/10 Good
Bigger shape means a better fit for citizens
  • Accessibility7.0
  • Financial impact5.0
  • Rural utility6.0
  • Awareness7.0
  • Simplicity5.0
  • Inclusivity6.0

What problem does this scheme solve?

The scheme promotes sustainable farming practices, benefiting a wide range of farmers across India.

Key challenges addressed

  • Encourages chemical-free farming
  • Reduces dependency on external inputs
  • Increases farmer income

Most beneficial for

  • Smallholder farmers
  • Farmers interested in sustainable practices
  • Farmers seeking to reduce costs

Likely challenges

  • Awareness of the scheme
  • Access to Zila Parishad for application
  • Need for capacity building

Practical insights for citizens

The scheme is practical but requires significant support for awareness and capacity building.

Rural challenges

  • Limited awareness about the scheme
  • Access to Zila Parishad may be difficult

Digital challenges

  • Low digital literacy in rural areas
  • Limited access to online resources

Implementation bottlenecks

  • Dependence on local governance structures
  • Potential delays in fund disbursement

Awareness challenges

  • Farmers may not be informed about the scheme
  • Need for outreach and education

Application analysis

Application mode
Offline office
Documents burden
Minimal, no documents required
Verification complexity
Moderate, involves multiple steps
Office dependency
High, requires interaction with Zila Parishad
DBT dependency
No direct benefit transfer involved
CSC support
Limited
Estimated citizen effort
Moderate, requires follow-up with local offices

Estimated beneficiary reach

  • Rural / urban reach High
  • Gender reach Moderate
  • Target income group Low to middle-income farmers
  • Occupation reach Agricultural workers

Benefit analysis

Benefit type
Composite
Benefit frequency
One-time assistance with ongoing support
Benefit practicality
High, as it promotes sustainable practices
Financial meaningfulness
Moderate, as it reduces costs and increases income potential
Long-term impact
Positive, fostering sustainable agriculture and improved livelihoods

Plain-language guidance

The National Mission on Natural Farming helps farmers adopt chemical-free farming practices to improve their income and sustainability. It is open to all farmers in India.

Who should apply
All farmers interested in sustainable farming practices.
Who may struggle
Farmers with limited access to Zila Parishad or those unaware of the scheme.
Best application route
Apply through your local Zila Parishad office.

This intelligence section is generated by an AI policy analyst combined with rule-based scoring. Scores and narrative are estimates derived from the publicly available scheme information shown on this page; actual experience may vary by state, district, and department. Always confirm details on the official portal before you apply.

Application Process

Offline

Step 01: Interested beneficiary can get in touch with Zila Parishad to apply for the scheme.

 Step 02: Zila Parishad Officer will submit applicant’s details and project plan to State Agriiculture Department.

Step 03: State Agriiculture Department will prepare a State Annual Action Plan

Step 04: Once funds from State are approved, financial assistance will be released to beneficiary.

Clarifications

Additional points from the scheme information published on myScheme (not legal advice).

What benefits are covered under this scheme?

It will help the individuals to undertake activities, capacity building, promotion, and demonstration of Natural Farming and will also help in creating standards, certification procedure and branding for Natural Farming products for national and international markets.

Do I need any educational qualifications to be eligible for the scheme?

No, anyone can apply for the scheme irrespective of their educational qualifications

Where to apply for the scheme?

Individual should contact their respective Zila Parishad and inform them about their needs for the scheme. The zila Parishad will brief the process and take it forward

References

Guidelines
http://agriculture.up.gov.in/nmnf/natural_farming/guid/NMNFGuidelines.pdf

Apply

Apply now

Opens the official application or programme portal in a new tab. If in doubt, confirm details on the ministry site.

Frequently asked questions

What is the purpose of National Mission on Natural Farming?
National Mission on Natural Farming is a government welfare initiative designed to support Individual, Individual, University / Institution through benefits related to Agriculture,Rural & Environment, financial assistance, subsidies, social welfare, healthcare, education, or livelihood support.
Who can apply for National Mission on Natural Farming?
Eligibility for National Mission on Natural Farming may depend on factors such as income category, age, gender, occupation, state of residence, social category, and government-defined beneficiary criteria.
What benefits are offered under National Mission on Natural Farming?
Benefits under National Mission on Natural Farming may include financial assistance, subsidies, scholarships, insurance support, healthcare benefits, pension support, training assistance, or welfare services depending on the scheme guidelines.
Which department manages National Mission on Natural Farming?
National Mission on Natural Farming is managed by Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare and may be implemented through district offices, online portals, CSC centres, banks, or authorised government agencies.
Can users apply online for National Mission on Natural Farming?
Yes, eligible applicants may be able to apply online for National Mission on Natural Farming through official government portals, authorised service centres, or digital application systems depending on the implementation process.
Is Aadhaar mandatory for National Mission on Natural Farming?
Many government schemes may require Aadhaar verification, identity proof, or linked bank account details for beneficiary validation and direct benefit transfer processing.
Where can users apply for National Mission on Natural Farming?
Applications for National Mission on Natural Farming may be submitted through government departments, official scheme portals, CSC centres, district offices, welfare departments, or authorised service centres.
What documents may be required for National Mission on Natural Farming?
Applicants may need Aadhaar card, income certificate, residence proof, bank account details, caste certificate, photographs, educational records, or occupation-related documents depending on scheme eligibility requirements.
Is income certificate required for National Mission on Natural Farming?
Income certificate requirements may vary depending on beneficiary category, subsidy eligibility, and financial assistance criteria defined under National Mission on Natural Farming.
Is National Mission on Natural Farming a central government scheme?
Yes, National Mission on Natural Farming is a central government welfare initiative that may be implemented across multiple states through authorised departments and agencies.
Can small and marginal farmers apply for National Mission on Natural Farming?
Eligible small and marginal farmers may apply for National Mission on Natural Farming subject to land ownership records, income eligibility, and agricultural beneficiary criteria.
Does National Mission on Natural Farming provide subsidy support for farmers?
National Mission on Natural Farming may provide agricultural subsidies, financial assistance, crop support, irrigation benefits, insurance coverage, or farming-related welfare assistance depending on the scheme structure.
Can CSC centres help users apply for National Mission on Natural Farming?
Many government schemes may be accessible through nearby CSC centres, authorised digital service centres, or welfare facilitation offices.
How can users check the latest updates for National Mission on Natural Farming?
Users should verify official notifications, department announcements, application deadlines, and eligibility updates through authorised government portals or implementing agencies.
Are there deadlines for applying to National Mission on Natural Farming?
Some schemes may operate through fixed application windows, annual registration cycles, or department-specific deadlines depending on scheme implementation policies.
Can beneficiaries track application status for National Mission on Natural Farming?
Certain schemes may provide online application tracking, beneficiary verification systems, or status-check facilities through official portals.
Where can users get help for National Mission on Natural Farming in All India?
Users in All India may seek assistance through CSC centres, district welfare offices, government departments, agriculture offices, social welfare departments, or authorised facilitation centres.
Which nearby public services may help with National Mission on Natural Farming applications?
Depending on the scheme, users may require support from Aadhaar centres, CSC centres, banks, hospitals, post offices, or government welfare offices for document verification and application assistance.