Context: Recently, the Andhra Pradesh Community Managed Natural Farming (APCNF), a State government’s initiative launched through Rythu Sadhikara Samstha (RySS), has won the Portugal-based Gulbenkian Prize for Humanity (2024).

About Andhra Pradesh Community Managed Natural Farming (APCNF) programme

• The APCNF programme aims to increase the adoption of natural farming practices among the state’s farmers to help them escape the debt cycle caused by high input costs linked to conventional agricultural practices.

• Launched in 2016, it supports farmers to switch from chemically intensive agriculture to natural farming through practices such as:

• using organic residues and minimising tillage to improve soil health

• re-introducing indigenous seeds

• diversifying crops including trees

• Implemented by: RythuSadhikaraSamstha (RySS), a not-for-profit body under the aegis of the Department of Agriculture.

• The APCMNF is aggressively promoting the Pre-Monsoon Dry Sowing (PMDS) Model, as it enables the farmer to take home three crops in a year, even in rainfed conditions in semi-arid areas.

• This is a paradigm shift since, in normal conditions, farmers in rainfed situations grow only one crop and leave the land fallow for the rest of the year. This mode of agriculture is based on scientific principles and comes into play in the non-farming season or whenever there is no crop cover on the land.

• Coverage: Currently, the APCNF is implementing natural farming in 4,116 gram panchayats and 7,746 village organisations through 2.31 lakh SHGs across 662 mandals of Andhra Pradesh. The government aims to reach out to all the 8 million farmer households in Andhra Pradesh in the next 10 years and inspire the programme’s replication in other States too.

• The model is already being incubated across 12 States in India. The programme receives funding from Central schemes like Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana, Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana and Bharatiya Prakriti Krishi Padhati. The recently announced National Mission of Natural Farming is also expected to provide funds from this year.

Positive Impact

• Livelihoods: APCNF positively impacts farmers’ livelihoods by reducing input costs and enhancing yields.

• Climate Resilience: It’s climate-resilient, which is crucial in an era of changing weather patterns.

• Food Security: Citizens benefit from improved food and nutrition security.

• Environment: APCNF contributes to environmental restoration and mitigates climate change.

Success and Global Recognition

• Impact and Scale: The APCMNF has become the world’s largest agroecology program, covering over 500,000 hectares and involving more than a million farmers. It has generated environmental benefits such as soil carbon sequestration and increased biodiversity.

• Recognition and Awards: The program received the 2024 Gulbenkian Prize for Humanity, recognizing its contribution to climate action and sustainable agriculture. This award highlights the success of APCMNF in integrating scientific knowledge with traditional farming practices.

• Future Plans and Expansion: The APCMNF aims to expand its reach to all 8 million farmer households in Andhra Pradesh over the next decade. It also plans to replicate the model in other Indian states and internationally, with support from various donors and government schemes.

About Natural and Organic Farming

• Natural farming and organic farming, both come under agroecological practices.

• In natural farming the focus is on the use of bio inputs prepared from farm and local ecosystems instead of purchasing those from outside.

• Organic farming is defined now more from a perspective of product certification.

• In both the method, there is absence of application of chemical fertilisers or chemical pesticides during cultivation. 

• In India, Natural farming is promoted as Bhartiya Prakritik Krishi Paddhati Programme (BPKP) under Paramparagat Krishi VikasYojana (PKVY).

Components of Natural Farming

• Beejamrit: The process includes treatment of seed using cow dung, urine and lime based formulation.

• Jivamrit: The process enhances the fertility of soil using cow urine, dung, flour of pulses and jiggery concoction.

• Whapasa: The process involves activating earthworms in the soil in order to create water vapour condensation.

• Mulching: The process involves creating micro climate using different mulches with trees, crop biomass to conserve soil moisture.

• Plant Protection: The process involves spraying of biological concoctions which prevents pest, disease and weeds problems and protects the plant and improves their soil fertility.

Government initiatives to boost natural farming

1. National Mission on Natural Farming (NMNF) 

2. Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana

3. Paramparagat Krishi VikasYojana (PKVY)

4. Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana (PMKSY)

5. Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY)

6. Bharatiya Prakriti Krishi Padhati (BPKP)