India’s agriculture stands at a crossroads. The Green Revolution once rescued millions from hunger, but today leaves behind degraded soils, polluted water bodies, and farmers burdened by debt. As we grapple with the devastating fallout, natural farming is emerging not just as an alternative but as a viable and necessary reset for India’s agriculture.
Natural farming is neither romantic idealism nor traditional nostalgia—it is grounded in evidence and economics. More than 1.7 lakh farmers across Himachal Pradesh have already transitioned to natural farming methods, demonstrating that sustainable agriculture can indeed be scaled. Initial yield drops of 15–20% in the first two years, as soil microbiomes recover, are a known hurdle. Yet by the third year, yields of tomatoes, kidney beans, and pulses not only rebound but frequently surpass those achieved through chemical methods. Farmers credit this turnaround to the return of beneficial insects and microbes fostered by bio-inputs like 'Jeevamrit', 'Beejamrit', and crop rotation, all without pesticides or chemical fertilisers.
A practical example is the natural farming unit at Nauni, Solan, where intercropping tomato, marigold, and basil reduces disease incidence by up to 90% and labour costs by 40%, thanks to simple innovations like automated bio-input drip systems. Such results aren’t isolated miracles but replicable successes that can guide policy and practice.
Even Punjab—the heartland of chemical-intensive farming—is cautiously embracing natural farming following disturbing reports of cancer clusters linked directly to pesticide exposure. With less than 7% of Punjab’s soils meeting the basic benchmark of 1% organic carbon, natural farming might soon be the only feasible path left to restore soil health and productivity. Organisations such as Kheti Virasat Mission are playing critical roles in training and supporting farmers to transition successfully.
In Rajasthan, natural farming has proven resilient even in challenging conditions. Farmers experimenting with pulses, millets, garlic, and wheat report comparable or superior yields relative to chemical practices. Although pest management remains a challenge, pressures generally stay below economic thresholds, showcasing natural farming’s adaptability across diverse agro-climatic zones.
Yet, despite these clear successes, India’s policy infrastructure remains hesitant. The ₹1,200 crore National Mission on Natural Farming, with plans for 1,000 bio-input centres, is commendable but incomplete. The mission fails to address crucial market-linkage gaps and consumer-side awareness, limiting scalability. Farmers consistently highlight inadequate market infrastructure and unreliable certification processes, forcing them to sell locally at modest premiums rather than accessing larger, remunerative markets.
Addressing these gaps is critical. India urgently needs robust market support mechanisms, including streamlined certification, regulated procurement channels, and targeted consumer-awareness campaigns. Public investments to create credible local and national market structures would assure farmers stable returns, incentivising widespread adoption.
Importantly, natural farming makes clear economic sense. Input costs under chemical agriculture have risen sharply, pushing smallholders deeper into debt. Natural farming significantly reduces expenses, as farmers produce bio-inputs themselves, cutting dependence on costly external inputs. This fundamental shift doesn’t merely improve incomes but restores ecological balance, enhances food safety, and reduces health risks associated with chemical farming practices.
But more rigorous evidence generation is needed. Scaling natural farming requires extensive, scientifically robust documentation of long-term outcomes on yields, incomes, health impacts, and ecological benefits. Establishing lighthouse studies and independent assessments can build credibility, reassure sceptical stakeholders, and provide policymakers with actionable data.
India’s agrarian crisis demands urgency and innovation. Natural farming is no longer a niche experiment; it’s an essential strategy for survival and sustainable growth. However, this movement’s future hinges critically on institutional support. Without decisive policy interventions and evidence-backed scaling strategies, natural farming risks remaining marginalised despite its proven potential.
India faces a stark choice: either proactively lead the natural farming revolution or continue down a path of environmental degradation and rural distress. Natural farming offers a genuine alternative rooted not in idealism but in necessity. Our farmers deserve solutions backed by evidence, investment, and conviction. The time to act is now.
(Sayanton Mondal is Research Associate and Dr Aditi Rawat is Associate Fellow at Pahle India Foundation)
(The opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of THE WEEK.)