The Indian government has consistently highlighted organic and natural farming as key priorities, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman frequently mentioning its importance. However, recent information suggests that many initiatives aimed at promoting this greener approach are facing significant implementation challenges.
The ‘Jaivik Kheti’ portal, launched in 2018 to create a national online market for organic products, appears to be defunct. In response to a Right to Information (RTI) request, it was revealed that the contract with the developer, MSTC, has expired, and the website was non-functional as of October 28, 2025. Crucially, the government could not provide data on the portal’s usage, transaction values, or the number of farmers who benefited, despite promises to strengthen it in the 2020 Budget.
Another major initiative, the PM Programme for Restoration, Awareness Generation, Nourishment and Amelioration of Mother Earth (PM-PRANAM), approved in June 2023, aims to reduce the use of chemical fertilisers by incentivising states. Under the scheme, states that reduce chemical fertiliser consumption would receive 50% of the subsidy saved. However, 28 months after its approval, not a single rupee has been disbursed. The Department of Fertilizers confirmed that while 14 states reduced fertiliser use, the grant mechanism is still not finalised. Information about awards for top-performing states was also unavailable.
The supply of organic fertilisers, essential for the success of natural farming, also appears to be a concern. Government data shows a sharp decline in organic fertiliser production between 2021-22 and 2022-23, although it saw some recovery in 2023-24. Even with the recovery, production levels are lower than in 2021-22. Worryingly, several states like Telangana, Goa, and Delhi reported producing zero metric tonnes of organic fertilisers in 2023-24, indicating a significant supply gap.
The Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY), which offers financial assistance to farmers for adopting organic farming, has seen only a marginal increase in the area covered over the past few years. Some states, such as Madhya Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh, have shown no increase in their organic farming coverage since 2020-21.
Initiatives focusing on specific regions, like promoting chemical-free farming along the Ganga river banks, also lack clear progress data. While an action plan was approved for areas along the Ganga, the government could not provide details on how much of this area is actually involved in natural farming. Information on the establishment of 10,000 Bio-Input Resource Centres, intended to support 1 crore farmers in adopting natural farming, is also insufficient. Only 2,200 centres have been set up so far, and data on farmer beneficiaries is not centrally maintained, making it difficult to assess the scheme’s reach.
Similarly, the GOBARdhan scheme, aimed at establishing ‘waste to wealth’ plants and promoting a circular economy, has faced hurdles in providing implementation data. Both the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Agriculture could not provide information on its progress through RTI requests.
While the government’s commitment to organic and natural farming is evident through its policy pronouncements and budget allocations, the lack of concrete data, delayed disbursals, and insufficient supply chains suggest a significant gap between policy goals and on-ground realities. For the vision of sustainable agriculture and soil health to be realised, a robust and transparent support system, including affordable inputs, financial aid, and market access, is crucial for farmers.