Digital New Guru Uttar Pradesh Desk:
A significant push towards sustainable agriculture, the Uttar Pradesh government has successfully expanded natural farming practices over nearly 94,300 hectares of agricultural land across all 75 districts of the state — positioning the region as one of India’s most ambitious pioneers in eco-friendly farming. This initiative, led by the administration of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, seeks to reduce reliance on chemical inputs, improve soil health, and boost farmer incomes through cost-effective and environment-centric farming methods.
A Mission Mode Move Towards Sustainable Agriculture
Uttar Pradesh’s natural farming expansion represents a strategic shift from traditional chemical-intensive agriculture to low-cost, organic alternatives. As part of this mission-mode campaign, the government has emphasised “low cost, high returns” farming practices that aim to empower small and marginal farmers by lowering input costs while enhancing productivity and resilience against climate variability.
Natural farming in the state now spans a vast area — from the fertile plains of eastern districts to the water-scarce lands of Bundelkhand — creating a diverse agricultural transformation rather than a localized experiment. The state plans to expand this coverage beyond 100,000 hectares in the near future, reaffirming its commitment to creating a sustainable agricultural ecosystem.
Bundelkhand: A Model for Eco-Farming in Challenging Terrains
One of the most noteworthy components of Uttar Pradesh’s strategy is the targeted emphasis on the Bundelkhand region — long challenged by erratic rainfall, soil degradation, and water scarcity. Under the current initiative, 23,500 hectares of Bundelkhand’s agricultural land — spread across Jhansi, Lalitpur, Jalaun, Hamirpur, Mahoba, Banda and Chitrakoot districts — are now dedicated to cow-based natural farming practices.
This focus on Bundelkhand is purposeful. The region’s climatic and ecological constraints have historically made conventional farming difficult, often trapping farmers in cycles of high costs and low returns. By introducing natural farming as a replicable model, the government hopes not only to restore ecological balance but also to create a sustainable framework that can be emulated in other areas with similar challenges.
Techniques and Traditions Rooted in Nature
Natural farming in Uttar Pradesh leans heavily on bio-inputs and indigenous organic formulations such as Jeevamrit and Ghanjeevamrit — traditional solutions made from cow dung, urine, jaggery, pulses, and other natural ingredients. These mixtures foster soil microbial activity, enhance soil structure, and improve water retention, enabling crops to thrive with minimal external inputs.
The emphasis on these inputs is central to the government’s goal of reducing dependence on chemical fertilisers and pesticides, which have long been linked to soil degradation, water contamination and rising cultivation costs. With natural farming, farmers are being equipped to manage crops in a way that restores ecological harmony while also cutting down expenses.
Farmer Training and Capacity Building
A crucial pillar of this transformation is large-scale training and capacity building for farmers. The state government is running extensive programmes that connect farmers with natural farming techniques, equipping them with practical skills and knowledge to implement these practices effectively.
Such training not only demystifies natural farming concepts but also encourages farmers to adopt them in a systematic and economically viable way. By bringing natural farming knowledge into the mainstream, the government aims to make sustainable agriculture not just a policy ideal, but a practical livelihood strategy for rural communities across Uttar Pradesh.
Economic and Environmental Benefits
Natural farming offers a range of economic and environmental benefits:
- Lower cultivation costs: By eliminating or significantly reducing the need for chemical inputs, farmers can lower their expenditure on costly fertilisers and pesticides, boosting their net returns.
- Improved soil health: Natural farming techniques contribute to healthier soil structure and better moisture retention — outcomes that can enhance crop resilience in drought-prone regions such as Bundelkhand.
- Increased resilience: With enhanced water retention and stronger soil ecosystems, farms become more resilient to climate stressors.
- Environmental conservation: Reduced chemical use contributes to cleaner water systems, less pollution and healthier agricultural landscapes.
According to Shyam Bihari Gupta, Chairman of the Uttar Pradesh Goseva Commission, natural farming not only improves the structural quality of soil but also enhances its water retention capacity — making it especially suitable for low-rainfall regions and potentially transformative for their agricultural economies.
Branding and Market Integration
Beyond cultivation techniques, efforts are also underway to brand natural produce and integrate it with markets that value eco-friendly and chemical-free products. Market recognition — especially for health-oriented consumers — can further increase farmers’ incomes and promote sustainable practices more broadly.
By establishing natural farming as both an agricultural and market strategy, the government hopes to make sustainable produce a meaningful part of consumers’ diets, thereby expanding demand and encouraging greater participation among farmers.
A Potential Game Changer for Rural Economies
The expansion of natural farming in Uttar Pradesh — and its spotlight on Bundelkhand — demonstrates a forward-thinking approach to rural development that integrates ecological sustainability with farmer welfare. As the government pushes the initiative beyond the 94,300-hectare milestone and towards its 100,000-hectare target, this agricultural transformation could become a model for other Indian states, particularly those with similar ecological constraints and rural economic challenges.
In conclusion, Uttar Pradesh’s natural farming initiative represents a significant leap towards sustainable agriculture — blending traditional wisdom with modern policy support to create productive, resilient and environmentally sound farming systems. With continued investments, training, market support and community engagement, natural farming has the potential to not only improve livelihoods but also pave the way for lasting rural prosperity across the state and beyond.
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