Mission on Natural Farming

2.  Components of Natural Farming
Natural Farming mainly relies on adoption of diversified multi-cropping systems, desi cow based on-farm inputs for nutrient and soil enrichment and various botanical concoctions for plant protection. These were initially thought to be main pillars and promoted as components of Natural Farming. However, the practices have evolved with time and farmers are also using innovations like Pre Monsoon Dry Sowing (a method of multi-species green manuring), Green manuring and applying Farm Yard Manure (FYM), vermi-compost, etc. along with the desi-cow based components of Natural Farming. In some areas farmer groups have come forward and are preparing desi cow derived inputs for Natural Farming and making it available to other end using farmers who don’t own livestock.

3. Need
There is no doubt that, green revolution technologies have revolutionized the food production scenario and transformed the Indian agriculture from subsistence to surplus generating enterprise. But indiscriminate use of chemical inputs (fertilizers, pesticides and hormones) and over-exploitation of natural resources led to decline in soil health and fertility, depleting natural resources and contamination in environment, water and food. All these concerns have underscored the need for exploring alternative agricultural systems, that are sustainable, environment friendly, non-degrading, non-contaminating and offer better income opportunities to the farmers along with safe and healthy food to citizens. Non-chemical natural farming systems which rely largely on biomass recycling, biological rejuvenation of natural nutrient cycles and promote usage of on-farm plant and livestock-based inputs are being used with considerable success in various parts of the country by individual practitioners. Such natural farming systems, besides being sustainable, non-degrading, non-depleting and resource conserving are also low cost. They give freedom to farmers from purchased inputs, ensure comparable productivity, increased income and are safe to soil, environment and all the life forms including human and animals. Adoption of natural farming practices on farmer fields have been found to be enriching the soils with organic carbon, increased microbial activity, increased activity of earthworms leading to restoration of natural nutrient cycles, improved water holding capacity and increased biological activity. Natural farming fields with adequate diversity have been found to be less prone to insect pest attacks.

4.  Organic and Natural Farming Systems
Although, both organic and natural farming systems are non-chemical systems of farming largely relying on diversity, on-farm biomass management, rejuvenation of natural nutrient recycling, crop rotation, multiple cropping and efficient resource recycling but with following differences:

• Organic systems in addition to above are open to use of off-farm purchased organic and biological inputs and need based soil correction through natural mined minerals,
• Natural farming systems are based on biomass mulching, round the year green cover, indigenous cow-based dung and urine formulations in exclusion of all purchased inputs organic, biological or otherwise.

Government of India is promoting both these non-chemical systems of agriculture. Natural farming, through National Mission on Natural Farming (NMNF) and organic farming through Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojna (PKVY) and Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North Eastern Region (MOVCDNER).

6.  National Mission on Natural Farming
National Mission on Natural farming aims at creating institutional capacities for documentation and dissemination of best practices, make practicing farmers as partners in promotion strategy, ensure capacity building and continuous handholding and finally attracting farmers to the natural farming willingly on the merit of the system.

6.1  Mission Objectives

• To promote alternative system of farming for freedom from external purchased inputs, cost reduction and thereby increasing income of farmers
• To popularize integrated agriculture-animal husbandry models based on desi cow and local resources.
• To collect, validate and document Natural Farming practices being practiced in various parts of the country and to encourage participatory research with farmers on further up scaling
• To undertake activities for awareness creation, capacity building, promotion and demonstration of Natural Farming.
• To create standards, certification procedure and branding for Natural Farming products for national and international markets.

7.1  National Steering Committee (NSC) at DA&FW:

The NSC will meet at least twice a year.

7.2  National Executive Committee
The National Steering Committee will be assisted by a National Executive Committee (NEC), constituted at the level of the DA&FW, that will guide the National Mission on Natural Farming. NEC shall sanction the proposals from central lead agencies and from states, oversee the implementation of the Mission, undertake monitoring, surveillance and suggest mid-course correction (if needed). The NEC shall comprise of following members:

7.3  National Mission Headquarter
The mission will be headed and operated by the Joint Secretary (INM) at DA&FW and will be assisted by mission team for administrative and finance and professional Project management Unit (PMU) for handholding of states in publicity, marketing and national level capacity building. Services of natural farming experts can also be roped in for specific activities.

8. Mission at State level
National Mission on Natural Farming in the state will be functioning under the overall control of State Level Sanctioning Committee, headed by the Principal Secretary/ Secretary Agriculture. For effective implementation the States shall create a dedicated mission management cell at head quarter. The district level implementation will be supervised by a committee under the chairmanship of District Collector and having Project Director ATMA, Head of Krishi Vigyan Kendra and District Agriculture, Horticulture and Animal Husbandry Officers as members.

8.1  Composition of State Level Executive Committee (SLEC):

The structure presented above is only indicative and the states will be free to create and define their own institutional structure keeping local strengths & strategies in mind under information to GoI.
State level Executive Committee shall approve the Annual Action Plan prepared by the State nodal Department/authorized agency. The SLEC will oversee the implementation of scheme components of the respective States through regular meetings with the nodal and other line Departments. The project prepared by state government must be duly approved by SLEC before submission to EC.

8.2  State Project Management Team (PMT):
States can engage consultants, technical assistants at state and district level having technical and administrative expertise for providing technical guidance and effective monitoring of the scheme implementation. States can decide the number based on their requirements at State and District level. Financial support for the same will be drawn from 2% administrative costs provided to the States.

8.3  Functions of the State Implementing Department:

• Prepare annual State Level Action Plan by compiling District-wise Action Plan and submit to the State Level Executive Committee (SLEC) for approval and there after forward the same to EC
• Receive funds from DA&FW for implementation and oversee its implementation, regular monitoring & review of programme. Facilitate monitoring by INM Division/ NCONF/RCONFs
• Implementing Department/ state implementing agency shall ensure that the clusters are linked to the market before the closure of the programme.
• Organize workshops, seminars and training programme for all interest groups/stakeholders at State/District level.
• Operationalize Information Communication Technology (ICT) enabled management system up to grass-root level.
• Supervise all activities related to implementation of plan, monitoring etc.
• Conduct independent evaluation to assess the performance of scheme in their States.
• Two percent (2%) of total allocation to the State may be earmarked for administrative and other contingent expenses. Expenditure in excess of 2% limit will be met by the States from their own resources.
• The State Government and other designated implementing agencies, to the extent possible, will ensure active participation of the Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) in the implementation of this scheme.
• State Government may involve PRIs in publicizing the demonstrations and training of farmers and in ensuring participation of farmers from nearby areas for widespread dissemination of technology.
• States may prefer Women farmers / Women Self Help Groups formed under Ministry of Rural Development while choosing the organic farming areas.

8.4.  Regional / Local Centres of Excellences (RCEs):
States at their discretion can identify Regional/Local Centre of Excellences which can be a state / Central Govt. / Non-Government institution having proven competence in Non-Chemical/Natural Farming and have capacities to implement programs, demonstrations, knowledge dissemination, trainings and hand holding of farmers and farmer groups in adoption of non-chemical farming methods and utilize their services. Such agencies, at the discretion of the state can also be entrusted with the implementation of the mission objectives.

8.5.  Block Level implementation:
In order to focus first on awareness creation followed by capacity building, training, handholding, knowledge transfer and create natural farming clusters, the scheme proposes to identify practicing natural farmer and organize farmers field school (FFS) in the first year involving both kharif and rabi crops, where participating farmers will be provided with hands on practical training on natural farming techniques and methodologies. In the subsequent year, willing farmers will be registered under natural farming clusters. The State governments will be at liberty to choose the beneficiary Gram Panchayats / villages at the block level.Selection of Champion farmer and community resource person to be done in consultation with Gram Panchayat after due verification of heir competence and involvement in natural farming activities. Selection of farmers for registration in clusters should also be done in consultation wih local Gram Panchayat.

9. Procedure and Timelines for Submission and Approval of Annual Action Plan

9.1  Annual Action Plan - The tentative allocation for the states for the next financial year will be intimated by INM division by end of February every year.

• State Government will prepare Gram Panchayat wise annual action plan on a project basis with details of area to be taken up in each GP; natural farming system and cropping systems to be adopted.
• This Annual Action Plan (AAP) duly approved by SLEC along with the minutes of SLEC, shall reach DA&FW for examination, deliberation and final approval by first week of April every year. Post facto approvals from SLSC can also be considered to facilitate the approvals of SLEC in time.
• INM Division in DA&FW will examine AAP before it is placed before the EC for consideration and sanction of AAP. Action plans will be approved by EC by April-May and shall be intimated to States.
• Funds will be released to States by May-June every year.

9.2  Fund flow mechanism

9.2.1   For receiving funds under National Mission on Natural farming, it is mandatory for states to open SNA and child agencies account and map the same in PFMS

9.2.2   Funds will be released to states after approval of annual action plan by national Executive Committee in May-June of each year.

9.2.3   Incentives to farmers as incentives shall be provided as Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) to their respective bank accounts Necessary guidelines will be provided to states as per the directives of EC.

9.2.4   States/ Implementing agencies will furnish utilization certificate (UC) in the prescribed format (Form GFR 19-A) and physical & financial progress report containing physical and financial targets of the previous grants-in-aid, along with State share, before requesting for release of subsequent instalment.

9.2.5   All implementing agencies are required to maintain subsidiary accounts of the grants-in-aid and get the same audited from a Chartered Accountant.

9.2.6   Grants in aid will be released as per provisions regarding release of funds contained in GFR 2017 and instruction issued in this regard by Government of India from time to time.

10.2  Step-by-Step Implementation

• Selection of nodal implementing agency – ATMA network can be the ideal implementing agency for national mission on natural farming. But states can identify and designate any other agency at their discretion for implementation and supervision of mission activities. Such agencies can be state Govt/ Non-Government or any other social or community mobilizing agencies.

• Identification and capacity building of Master Trainers
  MANAGE, EEI, NCONF and other Government agencies are undertaking trainings for Master Trainers and have prepared a panel of Master Trainers across the country. States shall ensure that the districts and blocks selected for roll out of natural farming mission are facilitated with the services of such empanelled Master Trainers. Cost for hiring master Trainers can be met out of the budget provided to states for Mission management.
  
  States at their discretion can also identify officials from ATMA network or any other agency selected for implementation of NMNF and get them trained by MANAGE, NCONF, EEI and other Govt agencies as Master Trainers. At least one officer from such agencies (in addition to Master Trainers hired from approved panel) from each of the identified district/block should be trained as Master Trainer.
• Identification of Gram Panchayats/ villages – States shall prepare a comprehensive database of natural farming practitioners in the GPs and villages. Only the GP/ villages having minimum of one such practicing natural farmers be selected for roll out of natural farming cluster.
• Identification of Champion Farmer and CRP and cluster formation -States in consultation of local Gram Panchayat shall identify natural farming practitioners which are full time successful natural farmer with their entire land holding under natural farming since last 2-3 years.

• At least one such practicing natural farmer be identified as “Champion Farmer”.
• Selected champion farmer shall have adequate land for demonstration of natural farming practices, have necessary facility for monthly trainings on field (like for preparation of Bijamrit, Jivamrit etc),
• Have organizational capacity and good communication skills.
• In addition one rural youth belonging to a family of natural farmer (other than Champion farmer) be identified as “Community Resource Person (CRP) in consultation with Gram panchayat.
• Champion farmer (CF) and Community resource persons (CRP) shall be the lead persons for driving the natural farming cluster right from Farmer Field School to registration of farmers, regular meetings, motivating the farmers to join natural farming movement and support participating farmers in implementation of best natural farming practices, problem solutions, farm management and collective marketing of their produce.
• CF and CRP shall be coordinating with state implementing agency and Gram Panchayats for effective implementation, time to time trainings, visit of fields to all participating farmers for verification and documentation needed for certification.
• Champion farmer and CRP shall be engaged on honorarium basis for a period of 4 years. First year will be devoted mainly on awareness creation through Farmer Field School (FFS)
• Willing farmers ready to implement natural farming on their field will be registered as cluster members
• Care should be taken that, farmers willing to join the cluster are ready for natural farming on continuity basis and shall commit themselves for natural farming promotion.
• Each cluster shall comprise of 50 farmers or more with 50 ha land
• One NF cluster can be in one village or in nearby 2-3 villages belonging to the same Gram Panchayat
• At the discretion of the state 10-20 clusters in nearby area can be federated into a FPO (from 2nd or 3rd year onwards). 10,000 FPO scheme of DA&FW can be leveraged and necessary quota can be obtained from DA&FW.

10.3  Farmer Field School – First year of the natural farming mission will be devoted to the awareness creation through Farmer Field School (FFS). One FFS will be organized in one Village. Depending upon the availability of Champion farmer and CRP, more villages under 1 GP can be included. States need to try to adopt saturation strategy and aim to create at least 50 farmer-cluster in each of GP. Step-by-step process for year-long FFS is as follows:

• State shall identify the village having at least one Champion farmer
• Engage Champion farmer and CRP after through competence assessment in consultation with local Gram Panchayat;
• Organize an opening field day and invite participation of farmers, explain natural farming and strategy of cluster development. Opening field day should be organized before the time of sowing of crop (say in June-July or in October-November) and subsequent meetings for next 12 months in such a way that regular FFS meetings covers all the stages of crops in two seasons spread over 14 training sessions.
• Register 50 farmers for FFS participation for one full year. Efforts should be made to encourage many more farmers to participate in FFS trainings
• Implementing support agency shall provide the detailed calendar of activities, supporting literature and course contents to be covered over the year.
• MANAGE and NCONF in consultation with the state Govt/ SAMETIs and KVKs shall prepare and provide the training literature, year-long training schedule and course contents for FFS
• Block-level representative of implementing Department/ agency/ ATMA (duly trained as Master Trainer in Natural Farming) shall supervise and coordinate the FFS activities and ensure their presence in at least first 4-5 training sessions.
• In first 2-3 training sessions experts from other FFS or from outside may be invited to strengthen the capacity of CF and CRP.
• A national level on-line database portal will be launched by the MANAGE/NCONF and the Block level coordinator need to upload regular training details on the same.
• Once the FFS participants are finalised and 2 training sessions are done, the state Govt shall facilitate delivery of Natural Farming Kit to all participating farmers. The contents of the kit shall be decided by the state as per their requirement.
• Besides the initial two introductory sessions, each crop season shall have six field classes and all crop management activities from soil preparation to post harvest storage shall be covered.

Cost norms and funding pattern for each FFS is as follows:

10.4  Formation of cluster

• Right from start of FFS to cluster formation and completion of cluster certification over a period of four years, cluster shall be under the supervision of Block level representative of implementing agency. State level implementing agency shall define necessary strategy and protocols for implementation, supervision, monitoring and soil health tracking of natural farming clusters
• 50 farmers or more covering 50 ha area shall form a natural farming cluster. In cases where farmers are offering area, less than 1 ha then more number of farmers can be included
• Only the willing farmers those commit to adopt natural farming on long term basis be considered for registration as cluster members
• Ideally the members trained under FFS should be registered, but in case if some FFS farmers are not willing then till the end of one year, other willing farmers may also be considered for inclusion in cluster
• State Missions shall ensure that base line soil analysis on parameters like, pH, EC, Total soil organic carbon, total nitrogen, available P&K and available Zn, B, S, Ca and Mg etc are done during the first growing season. For this samples need to be collected 15-20 days prior to sowing.
• Individual cluster components, cost norms and total fund provisions are given in Annexure II.
• All cluster members need to undertake the pledge of natural farming.
• All members being the same or nearby village inhabitants should meet often, discuss strategies and help other member farmers struggling with some management problem such as pests and diseases, poor crop growth etc
• Members shall also keep watch on their cluster members and ensure that all members follow natural farming practices and do not use any chemical fertilizers, pesticides or hormones etc. Members shall also ensure that only on-farm made inputs are used. In case if any member is unable to make NF inputs or do not have livestock, then NF inputs may be procured from fellow farmers within the GP. As far as possible purchased inputs need to be avoided.
• In case if some member found to be defaulting then the CF shall be reported. Other members analyse the problem of farmer, reasons for default and help him to overcome the problem.
• In case if any farmer is frequently defaulting then the group members may take a call to exclude that member from the group.
• All cluster members will be registered for natural farming certification and shall comply the standard requirements.
• Besides day-to-day handholding by CF and CRPs, 12 training programme will be organized during crop growth period during the first two years to assess the progress, arrange interaction with experts and decide farm strategies.
• Incentive to farmers for on-farm input management, exposure visits and creation of input production facilities will be provided as Direct Benefit Transfer in the farmers bank account as per the procedure decided by the NSC and NEC of the Mission.

10.4.1  FPO formation for farmers practicing Natural Farming
The promotion & implementation of “National Mission on Natural Farming” is expected to bring in a new era in the field of agriculture, leading to sustainability of the system, natural resource conservation, soil health rejuvenation, harnessing the potential of so-far unexplored indigenous cattle and move towards a regime which gradually help in reduction of chemical fertilizers initially and in long term reducing the subsidy burden on exchequer.
Therefore, to ensure the production value addition and marketing of certified Natural Farming produce and in turn enhance the income of farmers practicing & promoting Natural Farming, 500 FPOs have been allocated to INM division i.e. 100 FPOs in the Gangetic belt (5 Km Corridor of Ganga Basin) and another 400 FPOs in the rest of the country from the 10,000 FPO scheme being implemented by the Ministry.
Most importantly while selecting clusters, contiguous area up to 1000-2000 ha should be selected in nearby villages so as to generate marketable surplus for processing and marketing. Hence, the clusters should be identified preferably in the existing FPO areas. Creation of new FPOs can also be taken up from the 10,000 FPO scheme being implemented by the Ministry as cited above.
The state Government while submitting the AAP proposal must give proper attention and carefully propose the adequate no of FPO required district wise following the norms of One district One product (ODOP). State shall have to initiate necessary activities for formation of FPO for all postharvest activities such as collection and aggregation of produce, primary processing including washing, cleaning, grading, packing and branding & marketing of the organic produce within six months of cluster formation.
Farmers in a clusters can avail benefit to a maximum of one ha, however the entire land of farmer could be allowed in the cluster without extending any additional support to the rest of the area and the same can be facilitated by the Champion Farmer/ Community Resource Person for certification by the group and endorsed by the certification body without any extra cost involvement for data management and certification.

10.4.2  Convergence with other schemes: Convergence with schemes of DA&FW and other ministries and departments will be ensured wherever possible. For example convergence with FPO scheme of MoA&FW, DAHDF on issues related to purchase, maintenance of cows, establishment of gaushalas; convergence with NRLM / MKSP and other schemes of MoRD for utilizing the strong socially mobilized groups; convergence with seed village programme of DA&FW for organic seed production; convergence with MIDH for promotion of horticulture crops etc. has be ensured to incorporate required elements into the programme.

10.4.3  Initial training including exposure visit to CFs and CRPs: State Missions shall ensure initial training of their block level field functionary, champion farmers and CRPs that may include exposure visits to farms of successful role model natural farmers. For this combined trainings and exposure visits can be arranged for 10-15 clusters together. Such trainings and exposure visits should preferably be on 2-3 occasions in first two months’ time. Objective of this initial training is to expose the Champion farmer, CRP and BTM (local Govt representative) with various natural farming practices, input production methodologies, communication skills and strategies to be adopted for future training sessions by Champion farmers. A sum of Rs. 25,000/- cluster have been provided for such initial trainings.

10.4.4  Training of farmers by Champion farmer and CRP: 6 such trainings of one day duration will be organized at village level for all the farmers in a batch of 50 farmers. A sum of Rs. 30,000/- is provided for such trainings @ Rs. 50 per farmer per training. Training of cluster farmers including progress review by coordinating agency (6 trainings / year for 50 farmers each in first two years after the regular cluster formation. Thus total 12 trainings @ Rs. 50 per farmer).

10.4.5  Certification of Natural Farming through Natural Farming Recognition System (NFRS):
All clusters shall be subjected to certification under Natural Farming Recognition System. Certification shall start from 2nd year onwards, one the clusters are constituted and the members have committed to adopt natural farming on continuity through signing of pledge. Details of NRFS system, it operational modalities and institutional structure is being notified separately by the NCONF and can be seen from their website.
Service Charges to QCAs/LECs for Physical Verification, certification endorsement and Certificate issuance including grant of TCs for sales facilitation has been provided in each cluster cost. A sum of Rs. 1000/- per ha/year/per person are provided (Total Rs. 2.00 lakh for 50 ha cluster for 4 years). As per the discretion of the state, local private/NGO/ or any other Govt agency can be hired to take up the entire certification facilitation task.

10.4.5 Incentive to farmers for one time on-farm manure production infrastructure:
A financial assistance of Rs. 15000/- per ha @ Rs. 5000/- per ha/year for three years will be provided to the farmers as DBT as assistance for creation of on-farm input production infrastructure. Incentives to be provided to the farmers only when they commit to natural farming and has actually started taking up natural farming. In case if any farmer defaults or do not carry forward with natural farming, then subsequent instalments shall not be disbursed.

10.4.7  Publicity, market development, soil health tracking by the state Govt and local R&D support through the ICAR and SAUs
A sum of Rs 2000/ha (Rs. 1.0 lakh/cluster) are being provided to states for taking up publicity, market development activity, soil health tracking and local R&D support through ICAR and SAUs. Activities under the strategy includes:

• Initial publicity for roll out of mission at state level
• Market development activities such as organization of haats, melas, participation in exhibition etc
• Soil health tracing is an important component. States shall ensure that at least 30% fields of participating farmers (members of natural farming clusters) are subjected to soil testing at repeated intervals to assess the improvement in soil health parameters and necessary data base is prepared for all the clusters. Soil testing done in the first year shall be taken as baseline data for comparison. States shall issue necessary advisory and guidelines for soil health tracking over a period of three - four years on soils of natural farming clusters. Parameters to be considered for soil health tracking includes: pH, Soil organic carbon, nitrogen, available P, K, S, Cu, Zn, B, Mg and Fe. These parameters are just indicative, states can decide their own criteria in consultation with their SAUs.

14.4.8  State Mission management cost, monitoring, evaluation, assessment through independent third party
2% of the total state plan (GoI share) is provided to states for state level mission management. This includes the cost of manpower hired for mission management at state level, district level and block level, state level capacity building activities, supporting farmers/ clusters for any specific activity, evaluation and monitoring of project progress through third party.

Institutional structure, components and cost norms of GP/village level cluster/ extension unit

11.1  Roles and Responsibilities

• Establishment of Natural Farming Extension team at MANAGE.
• Awareness creation about Natural Farming through Mass media and other Social Media.
• Designing training modules and study material on Natural Farming.
• FAQ preparation, circulation and updating.
• Digital content development for Online Training Programs through MOOCs.
• Developing pool of Master Trainers at National and State Level through various trainings.
• Providing technical hand holding to Master Trainers through dedicated Experts.
• Developing a repository of Scientific and Community validated Good Practices and Success stories on Natural Farming and dissemination.
• Creation of Interactive Online Platform on Natural Farming.
• National Toll-free Helpline on Natural Farming.
• Establishing network of Experts and National directory of experts on Natural Farming.
• Active involvement of FPOs in promotion of Natural Farming.
• Integrate with Agri-Tourism, Bee-Keeping and Agro-forestry for additional Income Generation.
• Organizing Interstate Exposure Visits to Master Trainers.
• Annual National Convention on Natural Farming and organizing other National Conferences, Seminars, Review Meetings, Webinars etc.,

12.  National Centre of Organic and Natural Farming (NCONF) shall work towards development of certification programme for Natural Farming, establish secretariat for certification management, portal development, management, maintenance and integration with other portals. In addition, NCONF shall also collaborate MANAGE for capacity building, training and operate certificate courses on Natural Farming for creation of resource pool.

12.1  Roles and Responsibilities

• Secretariat for Natural Farming Recognition System
• Development of standards and certification protocol
• Operation, management and maintenance of certification database
• Development of NFRS portal with end-to-end traceability and capability of on-line real time monitoring.
• Launching of Mobile app for NFRS
• Custodian for entire data base for natural farming farmers, area, production, certification, traceability tracking
• Custodian and development of training literature, publications, training manuals, pamphlets etc on best practices, package of practices and production protocols
• Capacity building and training of master trainers, field workers, BTM at state level and state field functionaries
• Organization of various types of trainings and capacity building programme including certificate courses.
• Organization, participation and facilitate participation of program stakeholders for national and international seminars, trade fairs, exhibitions, melas etc.
• Coordinate MANAGE for development of national pool of Master Trainers

12.2  Support to National Centre of Organic and Natural Farming

Support to ICAR for development of KVKs as centers of capacity building, training and demonstration
Selected KVKs having domain expertise will act as model demonstration centers and district-wise training institutes. Initially 425 KVKs will be developed as model knowledge dissemination centers for district and block level implementation team, champion farmers and cluster level resource persons. Each KVK will also organize series of demonstration on farmers field and undertake capacity building programme for five years continuously to show the impact of natural farming practices.. KVKs will also keep on updating the location specific and cropping system specific package of practices.

Budget requirements:
Each of the 425 KVKs will create awareness and conduct demonstrations as well as training programmes among the farmers as follows:

• Awareness Programmes: The KVKs will conduct exhibition, Gosthis, Camps etc. on different facets of natural farming for making the farmers aware about the natural farming. The budget required for awareness creation programmes is Rs. 3400.00 lakh @ Rs. 2.00 lakh per KVK par year.
• Training programmes: Each KVK will conduct 4 training programmes per year of 2 days each for imparting training to 85 thousand farmers across the country. Thus, the KVKs will require Rs. 2720.00 lakh @ Rs. 40000.00 per training for 40 farmers.
• Demonstrations: Each KVK will conduct 20 demonstrations each year @ Rs. 4000 per demonstration. Thus, total budget required for demonstration is Rs. 1360.00 lakh.
• Miscellaneous expenses: The KVKs will also require Rs. 1700.00 to meet different expenses including those on out-station training and refreshers for staff and exposure visits to practicing farmers in other states, stationery and POL @ Rs. 1.00 lakh/KVK/year.
• Implementation monitoring of the programme: The natural farming activities to be implemented by the KVKs will be monitored by Agricultural Extension Division of ICAR through eleven Agricultural Technology Application Research Institutes (ATARIs). DA&FW may provide funds to ICAR HQ. from which it will be released to ATARIS and from there to KVKs. This is the established practice followed by ICAR for fund release and it’s monitoring. ICAR will create monitoring cell at ICAR HQ. and ATARIs with two young professionals at each of the units. It requires Rs.375.00 lakh @ Rs. 25000/- per young professional and other miscellaneous expenses.

Summary of budget requirement for ICAR