The Gujarat government has approved four Centres of Excellence for natural farming across Navsari, Morbi, Bhavnagar, and Chhota Udepur, committing ₹20 crore for the initiative in 2026-27. The centres will serve as integrated hubs offering training, technical guidance, and direct access to agricultural inputs — each capable of accommodating up to 100 farmers simultaneously. The scheme is being rolled out under the guidance of Governor Acharya Devvrat, a prominent advocate of natural farming in India.

Where the Centres Will Come Up

In the first phase, the four facilities will be located at Nani Bhamti village in Vansda taluka of Navsari district, Halvad in Morbi district, Valavad village in Sihor taluka of Bhavnagar district, and Chudel village in Jetpur Pavi taluka of Chhota Udepur district. Implementation has been entrusted to the Gujarat Prakrutik Krishi Vikas Board.

The sites have been selected to ensure geographic spread across the state, covering both coastal and tribal belt districts — a signal that the programme is designed for broad outreach rather than concentrated benefit.

What Training Will Cover

The curriculum will include preparation and application of bio-inputs such as Jeevamrut, Ghan Jeevamrut, Beejamrut, and Neemastra. Practical demonstrations will cover the five-layer natural farming model, mixed cropping, intercropping, and the use of natural pesticides.

Farmers will also receive guidance on soil testing, quality assessment of produce, value addition, post-harvest processing, storage, and packaging. Officials and agricultural experts will additionally conduct on-field visits to provide crop-specific demonstrations.

Inputs and Materials on Site

Beyond training, the centres are planned as production facilities. Each will manufacture bio-inputs and make them available to farmers at nominal prices. Facilities for producing and selling mulching materials, crop seeds, horticultural saplings, cuttings, grafts, and other planting material are also planned on campus.

'The initiative is intended to provide farmers adopting natural farming with training, technology, guidance and essential agricultural materials at a single location. Training in value addition, processing, storage and packaging is also expected to support better returns from farm produce,' officials said.

Broader Push for Natural Farming in Gujarat

Gujarat has positioned itself as a national leader in natural farming promotion, with Governor Devvrat having championed the practice well before it became a central government priority. The National Mission on Natural Farming, launched by the Centre, has aligned with Gujarat's existing state-level framework, giving the new centres additional policy tailwind.

The four centres are envisioned not merely as classrooms but as model campuses — demonstration farms that both practising and aspiring natural farmers can visit for hands-on exposure. With Gujarat targeting wider adoption across its agricultural districts, these hubs are expected to anchor the next phase of that expansion.