Governor of Gujarat Highlights Importance of Natural Farming at National Workshop

Halol, Gujarat: In a significant move toward promoting sustainable agricultural practices, the Governor of Gujarat, Acharya Devarat, emphasized the crucial role of natural farming in harmonizing the ecosystem and meeting human needs. Inaugurating a two-day national workshop on natural farming at the Gujarat Natural Farming Science University in Halol, the Governor underscored the benefits of natural farming in improving soil health, restoring ecosystems, reducing farmers’ dependency on external markets, and fostering climate resilience.

“Natural farming is not just about agriculture; it’s about securing safe and healthy food and a sustainable environment for future generations,” the Governor said, highlighting its potential to reduce input costs and provide long-term benefits to farmers and society.

Presiding over the workshop, Dr. Devesh Chaturvedi, Secretary, Department of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare, shared insights into the National Mission on Natural Farming (NMNF), approved by the Central Government in 2025. He described the mission as a farmer-driven initiative inspired by decades of traditional practices across India.

“The NMNF scheme aims to integrate scientific approaches with farmers’ field practices to strengthen natural farming. This mission is a collective effort involving farmers, scientists, and institutions for capacity building, training, and extending natural farming practices nationwide,” Dr. Chaturvedi said.

The workshop brought together 90 resource persons from seven Centers of Natural Farming (CoNFs) across states such as Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Haryana, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Tamil Nadu, Jammu & Kashmir, and West Bengal. The Gujarat Natural Farming Science University, hosting the event, is one of the identified CoNFs under the NMNF mission.

In addition to experts, the event saw the participation of 10 local farmers practicing natural farming, along with 52 students and professors from the host university. Dr. Anju Sharma, Additional Chief Secretary (Agriculture) for the Gujarat Government, and senior officials from the Union Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare, including Franklin L. Khobung and Rachna Kumar, were also present.

This two-day workshop marks the first of many training activities planned under the NMNF mission. Resource persons were encouraged to become ambassadors of natural farming, driving a paradigm shift in Indian agriculture towards sustainability and self-reliance.