BJP MP Anurag Thakur on Monday, 22 June 2026, called natural farming a broad people's movement aimed at balancing nature, the environment, and human health — going well beyond a mere agricultural technique. Thakur credited the central government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi with taking what he described as a historic initiative to promote natural farming at the national level, with the twin goals of raising farmer incomes and cutting cultivation costs.

Context

In his post, the Hamirpur MP wrote: 'प्राकृतिक खेती केवल खेती करने की एक पद्धति नहीं, बल्कि प्रकृति, पर्यावरण और मानव स्वास्थ्य के बीच संतुलन स्थापित करने का एक व्यापक जन आंदोलन है' ('Natural farming is not merely a method of cultivation, but a broad people's movement to establish a balance between nature, the environment, and human health'). Thakur further stated that the Modi government has made a historic push to protect soil fertility while reducing the financial burden on farmers. The post was accompanied by four images, underscoring the on-ground outreach around the theme.

Policy Backdrop

The central government's pivot toward natural and organic farming has roots in the Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY), launched in 2015, which promoted organic clusters and sought to reduce chemical input dependency across states. Since then, policy emphasis has gradually shifted away from the input-intensive practices of the Green Revolution era, responding to twin concerns: deepening soil degradation and chronic farmer indebtedness. Zero-budget natural farming models have been piloted in several states, receiving varying degrees of central financial and technical support. The broader sustainable agriculture agenda is also tied to India's climate commitments and rural income enhancement targets.

Stakeholders and Impact

Small and marginal farmers are the primary intended beneficiaries of the natural farming push, as reduced dependence on chemical fertilisers and pesticides can directly lower per-acre input costs. Soil health restoration is a long-term gain for farming communities, particularly in states where decades of chemical-intensive cultivation have depleted land productivity. Consumer health advocates and environmental groups have also backed natural farming as a way to reduce chemical residues in food and water systems.

What's Next

Attention will now turn to the allocation for natural farming programmes in the next Union Budget and whether the government expands certified natural farming clusters under central schemes. Thakur's high-profile advocacy signals continued political momentum behind the agenda, potentially translating into larger budgetary commitments or new scheme announcements. Whether state governments — particularly Himachal Pradesh, which has its own organic farming ambitions — align their programmes with central frameworks will be a key indicator of on-ground scale-up.