South India Natural Farming Summit (SINF), 2025

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 21^st 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

1. PIB | PM addresses the South India Natural Farming Summit 2025
2. Indian Express | Inauguration of South India Natural Farming Summit 2025