Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini announced on Sunday that the state government will formulate a policy next year to promote natural and organic farming on lands owned by Panchayats. The announcement was made during an agriculture workshop organized under the Natural Farming Promotion and Cluster Formation Programme of the Department of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare. Gujarat Governor Acharya Devvrat and Haryana Agriculture Minister Shyam Singh Rana were also present at the event.
Leasing of Agricultural Land for Organic Cultivation
Around 800 acres of land owned by the Agriculture Department will be leased to farmers who commit to practicing natural and organic farming for a minimum of ten years. This initiative aims to encourage long-term adoption of sustainable farming practices.
Financial Assistance for Certified Farmers
Farmers certified by the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) for natural and organic farming will receive financial assistance of Rs 10,000 per acre per year for five years. The Haryana State Seed Certification Agency will be designated as a certification body for organic farming certification. Additionally, testing laboratories and APEDA-recognised certification centres will be established to ensure better market access for farmers selling natural and organic produce.
Smart Agriculture Initiative in Kurukshetra
In collaboration with Haryana Agricultural University, natural farming will be introduced in a 2,000-acre cluster in Kurukshetra under the 'Smart Agriculture' initiative. If farmers suffer any losses, the government will fully compensate them. The Chief Minister also announced that the Morni Block will be developed as a Natural and Organic Farming Block.
Saini urged farmers to contribute towards making Haryana a model state for natural farming and assured that the state government stands with farmers at every stage—from seed to market. He emphasized that it is the collective and moral responsibility of society to pass on fertile land, clean water, and a healthy environment to future generations, which can only be achieved through the adoption of natural farming.
Progress of Natural Farming Scheme
The Chief Minister further stated that the state launched the Natural Farming Scheme in 2022, and so far, nearly 2 lakh farmers have registered nearly 3 lakh acres on the portal. Of these, 23,930 farmers covering 44,077 acres have been verified for adopting natural farming. During 2025-26, natural farming was practiced on 20,727 acres across the state. Additionally, 12,188 participants have been trained at natural farming training centres, while 6,234 Sarpanches have received one-day online training.
Concerns Raised by Gujarat Governor
Gujarat Governor Acharya Devvrat stressed that dedicated efforts are required to take the Natural Farming Mission forward. He cautioned that if adequate attention is not given to this issue, agricultural land could eventually become barren. He expressed concerns over the excessive use of urea, DAP, and pesticides and stated that merely increasing the use of chemical fertilizers would not lead to sustainable growth in agricultural production. Instead, improving soil fertility through natural farming is essential.
