Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis | Photo credit: ANI
Speaking at the Laxminarayan Institute of Technology (LIT) in Nagpur, Fadnavis said the state government was fully committed to furthering the mission as it would benefit farmers and prevent land degradation. He said the move was critical at a time when agriculture was facing multiple challenges, including soil health, rising input costs and climate stress.
“Two things are important here: natural farming and the rapid growth of the circular economy, driven by institutional participation. Together they will lead to the creation of large-scale green jobs in agriculture, food processing and related sectors,” the Prime Minister said.
Mission in Maharashtra
The state government has accelerated the natural farming mission in Maharashtra, especially after a call from Governor Acharya Devvrat, who urged ministers and legislators to promote natural farming on mission. In October this year, the Governor addressed members of the State Cabinet and the Maharashtra Legislature at a conference on ‘Natural Farming’ at Raj Bhavan, Mumbai, where he emphasized on the need for farmers and experts to clearly understand the difference between organic farming and natural farming.
Since then, Fadnavis has repeatedly emphasized that the excessive use of chemical fertilizers and hybrid seeds has reduced soil fertility and increased the cost of cultivation for farmers. He said natural farming provides a sustainable alternative by reducing input costs, restoring soil health and improving productivity through the use of locally available natural resources.
The coverage is extensive
Maharashtra’s natural farming mission, which started in 2014, has already brought about 14 lakh hectares under natural farming practices. On the advice of the Governor in 2023, the state government decided to significantly scale up the program and expand its coverage to 25 lakh hectares.
Referring to the growing impact of climate change on agriculture, the Prime Minister said addressing these challenges would require a decisive long-term shift to natural farming, which he described as essential for building a resilient, sustainable agricultural system in Maharashtra.
Published on December 23, 2025
#Maharashtra #expand #natural #farming #lakh #hectares