The Agriculture Ministry is ready with a new central scheme in order to promote natural farming with a systematic approach without disturbing the existing systems of farming with an estimated outlay of Rs 2,500 crore. The proposed new scheme on natural farming will soon be placed before the Cabinet for approval.
The proposed scheme aims to adopt a complementary and cluster approach, to begin with, and will focus on intensive handholding of farmers practising natural farming, marketing of the produce and providing extension services, among other activities.
The objective of the scheme is not the conversion of chemical farming but promoting natural farming in areas where chemical farming has not reached yet. For instance, chemical farming is not much practised in dryland areas.