It announced that in next two years, 1 crore farmers will be initiated into natural farming supported by certification and branding. 

• Its implementation will be through scientific institutions and willing gram panchayats. 
• Also, 10,000 need-based bio-input resource centres will be established. 

Natural farming

• It is a local low-input climate-resilient farming system that advocates the complete elimination of synthetic chemical agro-inputs.
• It is considered as agroecology based diversified farming system which integrates crops, trees and livestock with functional biodiversity.
• It aims at promoting traditional indigenous practices and is largely based on following principles:
  • Use of multi-cropping systems.
  • No synthetic agroinputs — fertilizers, pesticides, or herbicides.
  • Soil should remain covered at all times using cover crops or mulch.
  • Use of bio-stimulants to enhance microbial activity of soil. 
  • Minimal tillage. 
  • Use of cow dung-urine formulations (such as Bijamrit, Jivamrit, Ghanjivamrit etc.).
• Practicing States: Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Himachal Pradesh, Chhatisgarh, Jharkhand etc.

Significance

• Improves yield and increases farmers’ income.
• Ensures better health as food has a higher nutrition density.
• Environment conservation with better soil biology, improved agrobiodiversity and much smaller carbon and nitrogen footprints.

Challenges

• Skeptical farmers, non-availability of quality inputs, lack of adequate research and higher labour costs.