Answer

Natural Regenerative Farming (NRF) focuses on restoring soil health, enhancing biodiversity, and reducing chemical dependence through sustainable agricultural practices. According to the Ministry of Agriculture, nearly 30% of India’s soil is degraded, threatening long-term food security. With climate change intensifying, regenerative methods offer a viable solution to enhance ecological resilience while maintaining agricultural productivity.

Role of Natural and Regenerative Farming in Ensuring India’s Food and Ecological Security

• Enhancing Soil Fertility: These farming systems improve soil health by promoting microbial activity, increasing organic matter, and reducing soil degradation caused by chemical inputs.
  For example: A study on Subhash Palekar Natural Farming (SPNF) reported that the application of 10% Jeevamrit at 15-day intervals, increased maize grain equivalent yield by 8.65% over conventional farming
• Reducing Water Consumption: It requires less irrigation, as organic matter in soil enhances water retention, reducing dependence on groundwater and mitigating drought impacts.
  For example: Zero Budget Natural Farming (ZBNF) in Andhra Pradesh has shown potential increases in water holding capacity and more responsible irrigation.
• Mitigating Climate Change: These practices sequester carbon in soil, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and enhancing resilience against extreme weather events like droughts and floods.
• Ensuring Long-Term Food Security: By enhancing biodiversity and reducing dependency on external inputs, these methods offer a stable food supply without compromising future agricultural productivity.
  For example: In Sikkim, which became India’s first organic state, food security improved due to enhanced soil health and reduced pest infestations.
• Promoting Farmer Welfare: These systems increase farmer incomes by reducing input costs on fertilizers and pesticides while fetching premium prices for organic produce in markets.

Challenges of Mainstreaming Natural and Regenerative Farming

• Yield Uncertainty: Initial yield decline during the transition period discourages farmers from shifting to natural farming, affecting short-term food production.
• Market Access Issues: Farmers face limited market linkages for organic produce, as supply chains and certification processes remain underdeveloped.
  For example: Despite Sikkim being fully organic, many farmers struggle with access to premium organic markets, limiting their financial benefits.
• Lack of Awareness and Training: Many farmers lack technical knowledge of agroecological principles, and extension services are insufficient to provide guidance on natural farming practices.
• Certification and Regulatory Barriers: Organic certification is costly and time-consuming, making it difficult for small farmers to get recognized and benefit from premium prices.
• Policy and Subsidy Gaps: Government policies favor intensive farming through fertilizer and pesticide subsidies, making it financially unviable for farmers to shift to natural farming.
  For example: In Chhattisgarh, the implementation of the Godhan Nyay Yojana aimed to address policy gaps by promoting organic farming through financial incentives.

Potential Benefits of Mainstreaming Natural and Regenerative Farming

• Higher Long-Term Yields: Over time, regenerative farming restores soil health, leading to stable and even improved crop yields, ensuring food security.
• Healthier and Safer Food: Eliminating chemical pesticides ensures toxin-free food, reducing health risks linked to pesticide exposure and antibiotic resistance.
• Environmental Conservation: These methods reduce soil erosion, prevent water pollution, and enhance biodiversity, contributing to long-term ecological sustainability.
• Cost Savings for Farmers: Eliminating chemical fertilizers and pesticides reduces input costs, increasing profit margins and making farming more viable for small farmers.
• Climate Resilience and Sustainability: These methods make farms more resilient to climate change, reducing crop failures due to extreme weather.

Natural regenerative farming holds the key to India’s food and ecological security, but its success hinges on policy support, market incentives, and farmer awareness. A multi-stakeholder approach, blending traditional wisdom with modern innovations, can transform agriculture into a resilient, sustainable, and climate-adaptive powerhouse.