Archive · 20 Jan 2026
India's Shift to Natural Farming
India is trying to switch to natural farming because the old ways of farming are causing problems.
The old methods use a lot of chemicals and water, which are becoming expensive and harmful to the soil and environment.
Natural farming is a way of farming that works with nature and local conditions.
It's not just about using new techniques but about changing how farmers think and work.
The government and other groups are helping farmers make this change, but it's a slow process that needs a lot of support and time.
They are learning from past mistakes, like the Green Revolution, to make sure this new way of farming works better and lasts longer.
India is transitioning to natural farming to address rising input costs, soil degradation, water stress, and income vulnerability.
Natural farming, or agroecology, aligns agriculture with local ecology and requires a systems approach.
The Green Revolution's success was due to a supportive ecosystem, but it under-invested in ecological limits and long-term resource governance.
JIVA, an agroecology programme, emphasizes local context, continuous extension, and adaptive judgment in implementing natural farming.
Sustained investment in behavioural change, local entrepreneurship, branding, and landscape-level ecosystems is crucial for long-term resilience.
- Who
- Farmers, civil society organizations, public institutions in India
- What
- Transition to natural farming and agroecological approaches
- When
- Ongoing, with historical context from the Green Revolution
- Where
- Across India, particularly in rain-fed and ecologically fragile regions
- Why
- To address rising input costs, soil degradation, water stress, and income vulnerability, exacerbated by climate change
- Primary Category
- AGRICULTURE
- Secondary Category
- SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES
- Tertiary Category
- NATURAL FARMING
- Quaternary Category
- TRANSITION CHALLENGES
- Rising Input Costs
- Yes
- Soil Degradation
- Yes
- Water Stress
- Yes
- Income Vulnerability
- Especially among smallholders
- Climate Change Impact
- Accentuating pressures in rain-fed and ecologically fragile regions
- Natural Farming Definition
- Agroecology aligned with local ecology
- Green Revolution Lessons
- Gradual, adaptive, institutionally anchored transition
- JIVA Programme
- Agroecology programme focusing on local context and continuous extension
- Key Design Insights
- Multiple pathways, continuous extension, adaptive judgment
- Long-term Investments Needed
- Behavioural change, local entrepreneurship, branding, landscape-level ecosystem