Natural farming is booming—now it may finally get a certification
NEW DELHI
:
In a bid to boost consumer trust and farmer incomes, the central government is likely to introduce a nationwide Natural Farming Certification System (NFCS), modelled on the existing organic certification mechanism, a senior agriculture ministry official told Mint.
The certification is significant for the 18 lakh farmers practicing natural farming across 7.8 lakh hectares in the country, as it will enable them to command premium prices for their chemical and synthetic fertilizer-free products, leading to better and more stable incomes.
"We are planning to introduce NFCS across the country soon. It would be non-binding and voluntary for producers," said the official cited above, without giving a specific timeline.
Also read: Mint Primer | Natural farming: Ambitious plan, but will it work?
State and union territory boards on organic and natural farming may act as certifying agencies. Natural farming is gaining traction in Punjab, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Mizoram, Telangana, and Kerala, with various farmer-led movements and state governments supporting its adoption.
The NFCS will be implemented under the existing Participatory Guarantee System (PGS-India)—which also certifies organic produce—but with separate standards tailored for natural farming. Launched in 2011, PGS-India is a localised quality assurance approach that helps small farmers access certification without the high costs of third-party options.
"The certification benefits farmers through market access and fair pricing, while giving consumers confidence in the quality and safety of what they buy," said another government official requesting anonymity.
The certification system is likely to promote accountability and create a formal structure for natural farming. This can influence policies, attract government support, and boost consumer awareness.
Queries sent to Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers' Welfare spokesperson remained unanswered.
Also read: India targets ₹20,000 crore in organic produce exports by 2028
Farming experts weigh in
'What started with just a few crops is now expanding to almost all major crops," said Umendra Dutt, executive director of Kheti Virasat Mission, which promotes natural and organic farming.
Consumers are increasingly drawn to natural farming due to the potential for more nutritious, chemical-free food, and reduced health risks. However, its limited availability and higher prices currently restrict access for middle-class consumers.
"Whatever, we are eating these days is acidic, which is not good for the body. Natural farming avoids synthetic chemicals, resulting in food with potentially higher nutritional value and less risk of long-term health issues, so it's the need of the hour," said Subhash Palekar, Padma Shri awardee and a leading voice in the natural farming movement.
Organic farming uses natural inputs like compost and manure, while natural farming avoids all external inputs—including organic fertilizers—relying solely on natural ecological processes. The move comes in the backdrop of organic farm products being sold at a premium to consumers.
In November 2024, the Union Cabinet approved the National Mission on Natural Farming (NMNF) as a standalone centrally sponsored scheme with an outlay of ₹2,481 crore for FY 2025-26. The aim is to promote chemical-free farming, reduce farmers' input costs, and offer safe, nutritious food.
Also read: How Arya.ag is betting big on tech to bridge Indian farming's trust deficit
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
India.com
5 minutes ago
- India.com
Israel Iran War: Iranian missile strikes on Gautam Adani's Haifa port, all operations suspended by…, why is it important for India?
Gautam Adani (File) Indian billionaire Gautam Adani-led group's Haifa port in Israel was unharmed by the Iranian ballistic missile attack, with cargo operations progressing unhampered, reported PTI citing sources. Israel's largest oil refinery, Bazan, suspended all operations at its Haifa Port after the damage from an Iranian missile strike late Monday night, reported Economic Times. Late on Saturday night, Iran targeted Israel's Haifa port and a nearby oil refinery in response to Tel Avi's attack on Iranian nuclear and other targets earlier this week. Shrapnels fell in the chemical terminal at the port and some other projectiles fell at the oil refinery, two sources aware of the matter said. They claimed there were no injuries. Adani's port, however, was not impacted by the strike. A piece of interceptor shrapnel was also found at the Kishan West (Haifa port) but there were no injuries, they said. Cargo operations at the Adani-operated port were unhampered. 'There are eight ships in the port now, cargo operations are normal,' a source told PTI. The Iranian ballistic missile attack did not inflict any damage to the port or its operations, the sources claimed. How Haifa port Operates? Haifa port is totally functioning normally, sources said, adding 8 ships were handling cargo as on Sunday. The port has approximately 700 employees. It handles different type of cargo, including containers, bulk, breakbulk, cement and general cargo. Haifa port serves as a crucial maritime hub, handling over 30 per cent of Israel's imports. It is owned by Adani Ports, which controls a 70 per cent share. Haifa is less than 3 per cent of the volume handled by Adani Ports and SEZ and contributed less than 2 per cent to the profits. Haifa handles a total cargo of 10-11 million tonnes annually, while APSEZ annual volumes are upwards of 450 million tonnes. Haifa is located at the nexus of Israel's economic and military networks, plays a critical role as an oil refinery, for industrial exports, and also for supporting naval operations. These functions give more importance to any foreign investor. India's acquisition of the Haifa port is part of its broader goals within the proposed India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC). This multinational initiative brings together India, Israel, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, the EU, and the US. It will connect Indian ports to Europe via the Arabian Peninsula and Israel. It can also be an alternative to the Red Sea–Suez Canal route. For India, holding a direct stake in the Haifa port gives multiple advantages, like streamlined trade with Europe, enhanced logistics infrastructure, and strengthened strategic ties with regional partners.
The Hindu
38 minutes ago
- The Hindu
Goyal optimistic about signing first tranche of U.S. trade deal before July 9
As the clock ticks towards U.S. President Donald Trump's 'reciprocal tariffs' to kick in on July 9, Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal has expressed optimism that India and the U.S. could sign a preliminary or early tranche of a larger trade deal before that date, though he stopped short of confirming a deal would be signed. 'We are in continuous dialogue. I have always been an optimist,' Mr Goyal said in an interview with The Hindu on the fringes of a conference organized by the India Global Forum 2025 in London. Also Read | India-U.S. trade deal faces delays, original fall deadline back on the table 'I'm very confident that, given that the US and India are very friendly countries, trusted partners, both wanting to have resilient, reliable, trusted supply chains, both vibrant democracies, we will be able to come up with a win-win for the businesses of both countries,' Mr Goyal added. Failure to sign such a deal would , as things stand, would result in Indian goods entering the U.S. being tariffed at 26% starting in early July. Also Read | What is the significance of the India-U.K. free trade agreement? Mr Goyal did not comment on whether a deal on the sensitive dairy and agricultural goods sectors would form part of the preliminary tranche of the Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) under discussion with the U.S. 'I think negotiations are best left to the negotiators and the negotiating table. We will, of course, inform the media at the right time,' he said. Mr. Goyal also did not want to comment on the impact of the U.S.'s Trade Promotion Authority, which is a process in the U.S. Congress to delegate authority to the U.S. President to negotiate trade deals, including deals that offer below Most Favoured Nation (MFN) tariff rates to some trading partners of the U.S. Earlier, Mr Goyal had participated in a moderated discussion with his U.K. counterpart, Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds. The two countries had announced a free trade agreement on May 6. Mr Goyal said the UK and India were successful in concluding a deal because the sides had agreed to be sensitive to one another's concerns, setting aside issues that could not be negotiated easily. On the India-EU trade talks, Mr Goyal said the sides were looking to conclude a trade deal by the end of this calendar year, when asked whether they would announce a full-scale trade deal or an interim agreement first. 'There's that famous English phrase…since we are in Great Britain …'the air is pregnant with possibilities', he said adding he did not know what size and shape the agreement would have. On weather the Trump administration's return to the White House had impacted the speed and direction of India's trade talks with the E.U., Mr Goyal suggested that third parties did not impact bilateral deals. Last week the E.U.'s foreign minister , Kaja Kallas, had said at a joint press conference with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar that the E.U. was a 'reliable, predictable and credible partner for India'. Countries have been seeking to recalibrate their relationship with the U.S. since the return of U.S. President Donald Trump and his 'America First' philosophy to the White House. 'I don't think there's any impact of any other situation on a negotiation between two countries, because these negotiations are not a short term arrangement. These are like long-term marriages you are negotiating after crystal-gazing … 25 years, 50 years, into the future,' Mr Goyal said. India wants WTO strengthened On the relevance of the World Trade Organization given the change in the U.S. administration and its retrenchment from multilateralism, Mr Goyal said the world trade body had an 'important' role to play and that India believed 'very strongly' in multilateralism. '[ India ] believes we have to strengthen the WTO over the next few years through dialogue and discussions and will continue to play an increasingly important role to promote multilateralism,' he said. Tata Steel Not Discussed with the UK Mr Goyal also said that India had not made an intervention with the U.K. on behalf of Tata Steel which owns the Port Talbot steel plant in south Wales. The plant has had to import raw material from India and Europe following the closure of its blast furnace last year as it prepares to operationalize an electric-arc furnace in 2027. This may mean it runs afoul of the U.S.'s rules on inputs to qualify for any tariff reductions that the U.K. and U.S. agree to. The Trump administration has threatened to fully or partially maintain tariffs of 25% on British steel unless the U.K. provides guarantees on Tata Steel's inputs, as per a report in the Guardian. 'That, the U.K., has to negotiate with the U.S.,' Mr Goyal said.
Mint
41 minutes ago
- Mint
Independence Day: Toll relief, annual pass for pvt vehicles on highways from 15 Aug
New Delhi: The government on Wednesday announced a FASTag-based annual pass priced at ₹ 3,000, effective from 15 August, offering commuters relief from having to paying frequent hefty toll charges on national highways. The new pass, which will be valid for a year from the date of activation or 200 trips—whichever comes first—is designed exclusively for non-commercial private vehicles such as cars, jeeps, and vans to facilitate hassle-free, faster and smoother travel experience for millions, minister of road transport and highways Nitin Gadkari said in a post on X. 'In a transformative step towards hassle-free highway travel, we are introducing a FASTag-based Annual Pass priced at F3,000, effective from 15th August 2025… The Annual Pass will enable seamless and cost-effective travel across National Highways throughout the country. A dedicated link for activation and renewal will soon be made available on the Rajmarg Yatra App as well as on the official websites of NHAI and MoRTH,' Gadkari said. Mint reported in February on a plan for annual discounted toll passes for private vehicles on national highways. Travellers will also get a discount on the toll on certain national highway stretches. 'This policy addresses long-standing concerns regarding toll plazas located within a 60 km range and simplifies toll payments through a single, affordable transaction. By reducing wait times, easing congestion, and minimizing disputes at toll plazas, the Annual Pass aims to deliver a faster and smoother travel experience for millions of private vehicle owners,' the minister's post said. The move follows rising concern over high toll charges on Indian highways. Several new stretches have a string of toll booths that make travelling on them extremely expensive for both personal and commercial vehicles. It is estimated that toll charges for a one-way journey on the 1,386-km Delhi-Mumbai expressway, which is still under construction, could range between ₹ 1,000 and ₹ 3,000 depending on the type of vehicle. The toll is determined on the basis of distance as well as the road structure. For instance, it is higher on routes with more railway overpasses. Toll charges grew by over 3% in FY25 and are projected to grow by 3.5-4.2% in FY2026, according to an Icra report. The annual pass has been designed in a way that it does not impact the revenue of concessionaires operating highway stretches. This means that any loss in projected revenue from highway stretches would be covered by the government. The toll pass could significantly reduce travel costs for frequent commuters and enhance ease of movement. Several states, including Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu, have already tried out monthly toll passes, which demonstrated their feasibility. The loss of revenue from discounting is expected to be limited given that private vehicles contribute just about 26% of annual toll collection, while 74% share is with commercial vehicles. The user fee collection or toll collection at plazas on national highways stood at ₹ 55,882.12 crore in FY24. This was a jump over the ₹ 48,032.40 crore collected in FY23 and ₹ 33,928.66 crore in FY22. In FY25, the ministry of road transport and highways is targeting toll collection of ₹ 70,000 crore. As on October, 2024, there were a total of 1,015 user-fee plazas on national highways. A 3-5% traffic growth is likely to see toll collection grow by 7-9% in FY2026, the Icra report said. The ministry will also implement a barrier-less global navigation satellite system (GNSS)-based toll collection system on certain stretches of national highways as an added facility along with FASTag. A GNSS-based toll collection system would do away with the need for toll plazas on those highways stretches, facilitate smooth movement of vehicles and enable distance-based tolling so users pay only for the stretches they have travelled.
