Prelims: Current events of national and international relations | Agriculture
Why in news?
The South India Natural Farming Summit 2025 was held from November 19 to 21, 2025, in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu.
Natural farming - A “chemical-free” farming system that only uses inputs produced using livestock and plant resources, as per the definition of Union Ministry of Agriculture.
- Organized by – Tamil Nadu Natural Farming Stakeholders Forum.
- Objective – To promote sustainable, eco-friendly, and chemical-free agricultural practices and accelerate the shift toward natural and regenerative farming.
- Participation – The summit included over 50,000 participants, including farmers, scientists, organic input suppliers, and other stakeholders from various southern Indian states.
Highlights & Key Discussions of PM’s address
- PM-KISAN Instalment – PM released the 21st instalment of the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) scheme, amounting to over Rs. 18,000 crore for 9 crore farmers across India.
- Science-Backed Movement – PM emphasized the goal of making natural farming a science-backed movement and encouraged research institutions to treat farmers' fields as living laboratories.
- One acre, One season approach – PM urged farmers to adopt the “One Acre, One Season” practice to test natural farming methods.
- Role of FPOs – The importance of Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) was highlighted in creating farmer clusters, value-addition facilities, and linking farmers to online markets like e-NAM.
- Farmer Innovation – PM interacted with farmers showcasing value-added and GI products, such as banana waste products, various types of tea, moringa powder, and traditional paddy varieties.
- Policy Measures – National Mission on Natural Farming (NMNF) launched in 2024 to promote natural farming in mission mode across the country.
- Under NMNF, in the next 2 years, 1 crore farmers across the country will be initiated and supported by certification & branding.
- Kisan Credit Card (KCC) – Over Rs. 10 lakh crore assistance provided this year, extended to livestock and fisheries.
- Traditional Practices – Farmers encouraged to use Panchagavya, Jeevamrit, Beejamrit, mulching and integration of Shree Anna (millets) with natural farming for nutrition and climate resilience.
- Agricultural Models – Promotion of multi-crop agriculture over monoculture.
- Examples from Kerala & Karnataka: multi-storey farming (coconut, areca nut, fruits, spices, pepper).
- Legacy – South India highlighted as a “living university of agriculture”, with historic water management systems like temple tanks and canals.
References
- PIB | PM addresses the South India Natural Farming Summit 2025
- Indian Express | Inauguration of South India Natural Farming Summit 2025
