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Natural farming boosts crop yield , profitability: ICAR study
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Thursday, 23 July, 2026, 08 : 00 AM [IST]
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Our Bureau, Mumbai
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The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has reported encouraging outcomes from its ongoing research on natural farming, indicating improvements in crop productivity, soil health and farmer profitability when natural farming practices are implemented using scientifically validated techniques.
Since 2020-21, ICAR has been implementing a comprehensive study under the All-India Network Programme (AINP) on Natural Farming (formerly AINP-Organic Farming). The initiative spans 20 cooperating centres across 16 states, involving 11 State Agricultural Universities, eight ICAR institutes/centres, and one deemed-to-be university. The programme focuses on evaluating eight major cropping systems, developing state-specific packages of practices for natural farming, and assessing cropping systems under organic farming.
According to ICAR, research findings indicate that adopting natural farming in a balanced and technically appropriate manner can enhance crop yields over time. Improved soil health during the initial years has been linked to better crop quality, enhanced taste, and sustained long-term productivity. In addition, lower dependence on chemical inputs significantly reduces cultivation costs, leading to higher net returns for farmers.
The research also highlights the agronomic benefits of key natural farming practices. Mulching helps conserve soil moisture, suppress weeds and increase organic matter, while promoting beneficial microbial activity and improving soil health. Multi-cropping enhances biodiversity, optimizes nutrient utilization and reduces the incidence of pests and diseases.
As part of the network programme, ICAR has developed natural farming packages tailored to different agro-climatic regions. These include:
Groundnut + sesame – fennel + cabbage for Rajasthan and Gujarat.
Soybean + maize – wheat + mustard for Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh.
Cassava-based natural farming package for Kerala.
Productivity Comparable or Superior to Conventional Systems
Field trials conducted across multiple states have demonstrated promising productivity under natural farming:
In Bajaura (Himachal Pradesh), Almora (Uttarakhand), and Gangtok (Sikkim), the soybean + maize – vegetable pea + coriander cropping system achieved an average productivity of 6,475 kg soybean equivalent per hectare annually over five years under complete natural farming—approximately 5% higher than organic farming and integrated crop management.
In Bhopal and Jabalpur (Madhya Pradesh) and Raipur (Chhattisgarh), the soybean + maize – wheat + mustard system recorded an average productivity of 3,346 kg soybean equivalent per hectare annually, matching the performance of integrated crop management and organic farming.
In S.K. Nagar (Gujarat), Ajmer, and Udaipur (Rajasthan), the cowpea + maize/groundnut + sesame – fennel + cauliflower/cabbage cropping system achieved an average productivity of 9,209 kg cowpea equivalent per hectare annually, demonstrating performance comparable to integrated crop management.
ICAR's research also found substantial improvements in soil health under natural farming. Soil Organic Carbon (SOC) levels increased consistently within two to three years of adopting natural farming practices. In Himalayan region trials, SOC rose from approximately 0.90 per cent to 1.15 per cent.
The studies further revealed greater abundance and diversity of beneficial soil microorganisms, including bacteria, fungi and actinomycetes, compared to chemically cultivated fields. Enhanced microbial activity supports better nutrient cycling, improved soil structure and long-term soil fertility, creating a sustainable foundation for future crop production.
The findings are further supported by a NITI Aayog assessment, which reported that:
91.2 per cent of farmers practising natural farming experienced higher crop productivity along with improved soil health.
90.1 per cent of farmers reported reduced production costs due to lower dependence on external agricultural inputs.
To encourage wider adoption of natural farming, the Mission provides an Output-Based Incentive (OBI) of Rs4,000 per acre per year for two years, covering up to one acre per farmer.
The financial support enables farmers to adopt natural farming practices, train fellow farmers, maintain livestock, prepare natural farming inputs, purchase mixing and storage containers, or procure bio-inputs from Bio-input Resource Centres (BRCs), thereby strengthening the ecosystem for sustainable agriculture.
The ongoing research and government support underscore India's commitment to promoting natural farming as a scientifically validated and economically viable approach to sustainable agriculture, with long-term benefits for farmers, soil health and food security.
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