Lucknow – In a significant step towards boosting farmers’ incomes and transforming rural lives, the Yogi Adityanath-led Uttar Pradesh government is set to implement the National Mission on Natural Farming (NMNF) on a large scale. A key feature of this initiative will be the “One Gram Panchayat, One Cluster” model, aimed at bringing economic prosperity to villages and creating a sustainable future for agriculture.
Under this model, each cluster will cover 50 hectares of farmland and include at least 125 farmers. The initiative will not only lower input costs but also enhance productivity through sustainable and organic farming practices. In its first year, each cluster will receive a grant of ₹7.16 lakh, followed by ₹6.83 lakh in the second year to aid the transition to natural farming.
Enhanced Infrastructure and Farmer Support
Farmers participating in the NMNF will also benefit from being linked with Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs), providing them with access to a wide range of advanced facilities such as:
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Farm Machinery Banks
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Custom Hiring Centres
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Warehouses and Cold Storages
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Agricultural Marketing and Input Centers
These additions will ensure better storage, marketing, and mechanization support for small and marginal farmers. The government aims to scale the mission across the state by FY 2025–26, bringing lakhs of farmers under its ambit.
Village Panchayats to Become Centers of Agricultural Innovation
With the promotion of natural farming, farmers will be encouraged to grow organic produce, which is expected to fetch premium prices in the market. This will not only raise their income but also make village panchayats financially self-reliant and vibrant centers of agri-innovation.
Natural farming also contributes to improved soil health and reduced dependence on chemical fertilizers, thus aligning with sustainable development goals.
CM Yogi’s Vision for Rural Prosperity
The government’s push for natural farming under the leadership of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath is being seen as a transformative rural development initiative. By reducing input costs and increasing earnings, the cluster-based model promises to bring a smile to farmers’ faces and turn gram panchayats into thriving hubs of agricultural progress.
The integration of schemes like PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi and support for FPOs will further maximize benefits for participating farmers, making the initiative a holistic model for rural socio-economic upliftment.