Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Friday, 3 July 2026, chaired a high-level brainstorming session in Chandigarh under the Haryana Vision-2047 action plan, focusing on agriculture, horticulture, fisheries, and animal husbandry departments to chart a roadmap for a modernised, farmer-centric agrarian economy in the state.

Context

Posting on X, CM Saini said the meeting deliberated on motivating farmers to adopt natural farming over the next five years and on making the agriculture sector 'aur aadhunik evam kisaan-kendrit' (more modern and farmer-centric) to realise the vision of a 'Viksit Haryana' (Developed Haryana). He reaffirmed that the Haryana government is committed to supporting farmers at every step in the adoption of natural farming, zero-budget farming, and modern agricultural technology.

The session is part of a structured action plan under Haryana Vision-2047, the state's long-term development blueprint aligned with the national Viksit Bharat 2047 framework. Multiple Indian states have prepared such documents to synchronise sectoral targets with the central government's centenary development goals.

Policy Backdrop

Zero Budget Natural Farming (ZBNF), popularised by agronomist Subhash Palekar, is an input-cost reduction approach that eliminates the use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides, relying instead on locally available biological inputs. Several Indian states have promoted ZBNF as a means to improve soil health, reduce farmer debt, and diversify income sources.

Haryana, a core Green Revolution state, has faced persistent challenges of groundwater depletion and soil degradation from decades of intensive paddy-wheat cultivation. The state had earlier introduced the Mera Pani Meri Virasat scheme in 2020 to incentivise crop diversification and reduce dependence on water-intensive paddy farming — a policy lineage that the current push for natural farming builds upon.

The July 2026 meeting signals a concerted effort to embed these sustainability goals within a formal five-year departmental action plan, rather than treating them as standalone schemes.

Stakeholders and Impact

Haryana's farming community, which contributes significantly to the state's economy through wheat, paddy, mustard, and horticulture produce, stands as the primary stakeholder. A shift toward natural and zero-budget farming, if scaled, could reduce input costs for farmers while addressing long-standing ecological concerns around soil and water.

The departments of agriculture, horticulture, fisheries, and animal husbandry were all represented in the deliberations, suggesting a cross-sectoral approach rather than a siloed agricultural push. Integration of modern technology — from precision farming tools to digital advisory services — is also part of the envisaged modernisation drive.

What's Next

The immediate focus will be on translating the meeting's deliberations into concrete scheme notifications, budget allocations, and outreach programmes for farmers across Haryana's districts. Rollout timelines and specific financial commitments under the five-year natural farming plan are expected to be the next milestones to watch.

Broader legislative or policy notifications in the Haryana assembly could follow, particularly if the government seeks to anchor the Vision-2047 agriculture action plan in a formal statutory or budgetary framework ahead of the next state budget cycle.