Maharashtra to expand natural farming to 25 lakh hectares

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis
| Photo Credit:
ANI

The Maharashtra government has decided to intensify the Mission on Natural Farming to enhance agricultural productivity, improve quality, and protect soil health, with a target of bringing 25 lakh hectares of land under natural farming over the next two years, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said.

Addressing an event at the Laxminarayan Institute of Technology (LIT) in Nagpur, Fadnavis said the State government was fully committed to advancing the mission, as it would benefit farmers while preventing land degradation. He said the move was critical at a time when agriculture was facing multiple challenges, including soil health, rising input costs, and climate stress.

“Two things are important here — natural farming, and the rapid growth of the circular economy driven by institutional participation. Together, they will lead to the creation of large-scale green jobs across agriculture, food processing and allied sectors,” the Chief Minister said.

Mission in Maharashtra

The State government has accelerated the Mission on Natural Farming in Maharashtra, particularly after an appeal by Governor Acharya Devvrat, who urged ministers and legislators to promote natural farming in a mission mode. In October this year, the Governor addressed members of the State Cabinet and the Maharashtra State Legislature at a conference on ‘Natural Farming’ held at Raj Bhavan, Mumbai, where he stressed the need for farmers and experts to clearly understand the difference between organic farming and natural farming.

Since then, Fadnavis has repeatedly highlighted that the excessive use of chemical fertilisers and hybrid seeds has reduced soil fertility and increased cultivation costs for farmers. He said natural farming offers a sustainable alternative by lowering input costs, restoring soil health and improving productivity through the use of locally available natural resources.

Coverage expanded

Maharashtra’s mission on natural farming, which began in 2014, has already brought around 14 lakh hectares under natural farming practices. Following the Governor’s guidance in 2023, the State government decided to significantly scale up the programme and expand coverage to 25 lakh hectares.

Referring to the growing impact of climate change on agriculture, the Chief Minister said that addressing these challenges would require a decisive, long-term shift towards natural farming, which he described as essential to building a resilient, sustainable agricultural system in Maharashtra.

Published on December 23, 2025