Sustainable Agricultural Practices

Key Highlights:

• Government promotes sustainable agriculture through schemes like Per Drop More Crop, Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY), Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North Eastern Region (MOVCDNER), Agroforestry Scheme, and National Mission on Natural Farming (NMNF).
• Per Drop More Crop Scheme has brought 114.60 lakh hectares under micro-irrigation, benefiting approximately 100 lakh farmers.
• Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY) covers 18.93 lakh hectares, benefiting 33.63 lakh farmers in organic farming.
• National Mission on Natural Farming (NMNF), approved on 25.11.24, covers 11.81 lakh hectares, benefiting 24.69 lakh farmers with a ₹4000/acre incentive for two years.
• Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) enhances irrigation access and water-use efficiency, including the Har Khet Ko Pani (HKKP) component.
• Food grain production increased from 252.03 million tonnes in 2014–15 to 357.73 million tonnes in 2024–25, reflecting sustained growth in the agricultural sector.

Detailed Insights:

• Sustainable agriculture emphasizes balanced nutrient management, efficient water use, conservation agriculture, integrated farming systems, agroforestry, and climate-resilient technologies.
• The Soil Health & Fertility Scheme provides assistance for Integrated Nutrient Management, leading to the generation of 26.18 crore Soil Health Cards.
• Per Drop More Crop Scheme promotes micro-irrigation and fertigation, enabling precise nutrient delivery directly to the root zone.
• PKVY and MOVCDNER provide ₹15,000 per hectare assistance to farmers for organic farming through Direct Benefit Transfer.
• The Agroforestry Scheme offers financial assistance for establishing new nurseries (₹16 lakh for 1 ha, ₹10 lakh for 0.5 ha) and raising saplings in existing ones.
• NMNF strengthens agricultural practices with scientific agro-ecological approaches for sustainability, climate resilience, and safe food production.
• Schemes like Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses, National Mission on Edible Oils–Oilseeds (NMEO-OS), National Food Security Nutrition Mission (NFSNM), and Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) promote crop diversification.
• NITI Aayog evaluations indicate significant improvements in water use efficiency, farm productivity, soil health, and reduced input costs across various schemes.
• Strategic interventions under NMEO-OS could increase domestic edible oil availability to 16 MT by 2030 and 26.7 MT by 2047, enhancing self-sufficiency.
• The groundwater situation remains largely stable across the country, with 87.8% of monitoring wells in the normal category as per the pre-monsoon 2026 assessment.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Sustainable Agriculture: Practices that meet current food needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
• Integrated Nutrient Management: Judicious use of chemical fertilizers along with organic and bio-fertilizers to maintain soil health and productivity.
• Micro-irrigation: Efficient irrigation methods like drip and sprinkler systems that deliver water directly to the plant root zone.
• Organic Farming: A method of crop and livestock production that avoids synthetic pesticides, fertilizers, genetically modified organisms, and growth hormones.
• Natural Farming: A chemical-free agricultural method based on traditional Indian practices, emphasizing minimal intervention and natural processes.
• Agroforestry: A land-use system that integrates trees and shrubs with crops and/or livestock on the same land area.