{"id":43338,"date":"2025-05-14T20:53:55","date_gmt":"2025-05-14T15:23:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/?p=43338"},"modified":"2025-05-14T20:54:20","modified_gmt":"2025-05-14T15:24:20","slug":"natural-farming-certification-system","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/current-affairs\/14-05-2025\/natural-farming-certification-system","title":{"rendered":"Natural Farming Certification System\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS3\/ Environment<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Context<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>In a bid to boost consumer trust and farmer incomes, the central government is likely to introduce a nationwide <strong>Natural Farming Certification System (NFCS).<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What is Natural Farming?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Natural Farming is a <strong>chemical-free farming system<\/strong> rooted in Indian tradition enriched with modern understanding of ecology, resource recycling and on-farm resource optimization.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img data-dominant-color=\"9cb776\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"967\" height=\"478\" src=\"https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Natural-Farming.png\" alt=\"Natural Farming\" class=\"not-transparent wp-image-43340\" style=\"--dominant-color: #9cb776; width:534px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Natural-Farming.png 967w, https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Natural-Farming-300x148.png 300w, https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Natural-Farming-768x380.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 967px) 100vw, 967px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Key Features of Natural Farming<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Zero Budget Natural Farming (ZBNF): <\/strong>A popular model promoted by<strong> Subhash Palekar,<\/strong> aimed at drastically reducing input costs.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Core practices:<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Beejamrit:<\/strong> Natural seed treatment.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Jeevamrit: <\/strong>Soil inoculation using fermented cow dung and urine.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Mulching and Waaphasa:<\/strong> Moisture retention and aeration of soil.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Low input, high sustainability:<\/strong> Reduces dependence on market-bought inputs.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Benefits of Natural Farming<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Lower Input Costs:<\/strong> Natural farming requires fewer external inputs like chemical fertilizers and pesticides, which can reduce overall production costs for farmers.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Ensures Better Health: <\/strong>As Natural Farming does not use any synthetic chemicals, health risks and hazards are eliminated.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The food has higher nutrition density and therefore offers better health benefits.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Environment Conservation:<\/strong> Natural Farming ensures better soil biology, improved agro-biodiversity and a more judicious usage of water with much smaller carbon and nitrogen footprints.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Sustainable Farming Practices: <\/strong>By avoiding the overuse of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, natural farming promotes a more sustainable and regenerative approach to agriculture.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img data-dominant-color=\"e9eee8\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"982\" height=\"395\" src=\"https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2025\/05\/major-states-in-india-practicing-farming.png\" alt=\"major states in india practicing farming\" class=\"not-transparent wp-image-43342\" style=\"--dominant-color: #e9eee8; width:682px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2025\/05\/major-states-in-india-practicing-farming.png 982w, https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2025\/05\/major-states-in-india-practicing-farming-300x121.png 300w, https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2025\/05\/major-states-in-india-practicing-farming-768x309.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 982px) 100vw, 982px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Why is Certification Needed?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Trust Building: <\/strong>It helps consumers distinguish genuine natural farm produce.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Market Access:<\/strong> It enables farmers to fetch premium prices and enter niche markets (domestic and international).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Standardisation:<\/strong> It brings uniformity to natural farming practices.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Monitoring and Accountability: <\/strong>It ensures traceability and quality control.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Challenges in Scaling Natural Farming<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Initial Yield Reduction:<\/strong> During the transition from conventional to natural farming, many farmers reported a temporary decline in crop yields.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Limited Scientific Backing: <\/strong>Although natural farming is promoted as environmentally sustainable, there is limited large-scale, long-term scientific research validating its productivity, resilience, and scalability across diverse agro-climatic zones.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Inadequate Institutional Support: <\/strong>Coordination between agriculture departments, research bodies, and rural institutions is limited.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-background\" style=\"background-color:#fff2cc\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>National Mission on Natural Farming<\/strong><br>&#8211; <strong>Aim: <\/strong>To promote natural farming among one-crore farmers across the country.<br>&#8211; <strong>Cluster-Based Approach:<\/strong> Targeting 15,000 clusters in Gram Panchayats allows for focused implementation and better resource allocation.<br>&#8211; <strong>Bio-Input Resource Centers (BRCs):<\/strong> Establishing 10,000 BRCs will ensure easy access to essential bio-inputs, making it convenient for farmers to adopt natural farming practices.<br>&#8211; <strong>Model Demonstration Farms:<\/strong> 2000 NF Model Demonstration Farms shall be established at <strong>Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs), Agricultural Universities (AUs)<\/strong> and farmers\u2019 fields.<br>1. They shall be supported by experienced and trained Farmer Master Trainers.\u00a0<br>&#8211; <strong>Certification and Market Access:<\/strong> A simplified certification system and dedicated branding will facilitate market access for natural farming products.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Source: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.livemint.com\/industry\/agriculture\/natural-farming-is-booming-now-it-may-finally-get-a-certification-11747097376106.html#:~:text=NEW%20DELHI%20%3A%20In%20a%20b\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>MINT<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<h3><strong>Context<\/strong><\/h3>\n<li class=\"ms-5\">In a bid to boost consumer trust and farmer incomes, the central government is likely to introduce a nationwide Natural Farming Certification System (NFCS).<\/li>\n<p><\/p>\n<h3><strong>Benefits of Natural Farming<\/strong><\/h3>\n<li class=\"ms-5\">Lower Input Costs: Natural farming requires fewer external inputs like chemical fertilizers and pesticides, which can reduce overall production costs for farmers.<\/li>\n<li class=\"ms-5\">Ensures Better Health: As Natural Farming does not use any synthetic chemicals, health risks and hazards are eliminated.<\/li>\n<li class=\"ms-5\">The food has higher nutrition density and therefore offers better health benefits.<\/li>\n<li class=\"ms-5\">Environment Conservation: Natural Farming ensures better soil biology, improved agro-biodiversity and a more judicious usage of water with much smaller carbon and nitrogen footprints.<\/li>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/current-affairs\/14-05-2025\/natural-farming-certification-system\" class=\"btn btn-primary btn-sm float-end\">Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[21],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-43338","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-current-affairs"],"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/43338","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=43338"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/43338\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":43356,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/43338\/revisions\/43356"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=43338"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=43338"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=43338"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}