National Mission on Natural Farming launched with ₹10,000 crore allocation
February 2024
This mission promotes chemical-free farming practices that require fundamental changes in cropping patterns. Traditional monoculture systems must transition to diverse, integrated farming systems that support natural farming principles. The mission encourages crop diversification, intercropping with legumes, and integration of livestock, representing a paradigm shift from Green Revolution-era cropping patterns. States like Andhra Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh are piloting natural farming models that demonstrate alternative cropping patterns based on ecological principles rather than chemical inputs.
UPSC Angle: UPSC may test understanding of how policy initiatives drive cropping pattern changes, the relationship between sustainable agriculture and crop diversity, and the challenges of transitioning from intensive to natural farming systems.