Regenerative Agriculture: 18.19 Lakh Natural Farmers, 25.89 Crore Soil Health Cards and Soil-Centred

Climate Resilience CA_CATEGORY: Agriculture and Environment CA_GS: GS Paper III CA_DATE: 31 August 2026 CA_IMAGE: NO Regenerative Agriculture: 18.19 Lakh Natural Farmers, 25.89 Crore Soil Health Cards and Soil-Centred Climate Resilience Why in News?

• India's regenerative-agriculture push now combines natural farming, organic farming, micro-irrigation, agroforestry and scientific soil management.
• As of 5 March 2026, 18,786 natural-farming clusters covered 8.80 lakh hectares and enrolled 18.19 lakh farmers.
• By 13 March 2026, 25.89 crore Soil Health Cards had been generated since inception, showing the scale of India's soil-testing architecture. **National Mission **on Natural Farming
• NMNF was launched in 2024 and provides an output-based incentive of **₹4,000 **per acre per year for two years, covering up to one acre per farmer.
• The mission provides for 10,000 need-based Bio-input Resource Centres to supply inputs such as Jeevamrit and Beejamrit.
• Each natural-farming cluster is supported by two Community Resource Persons.
• By March 2026, 33,676 CRPs had been trained through KVKs, agricultural universities and local institutions. Soil Health Cards
• Soil Health Cards assess 12 key parameters covering macronutrients, micronutrients and important soil properties.
• Cards are intended to provide crop-specific nutrient and soil-treatment recommendations and are issued periodically.
• 25.89 crore cards and around 7.17 lakh demonstrations create a large extension base for balanced fertiliser use.
• 70,002 Krishi Sakhis had been trained to support dissemination of soil-health advisories at grassroots level. Organic Farming Support
• Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana, launched in 2015, supports cluster-based organic farming and certification.
• Farmers under PKVY can receive **₹31,500 **per hectare over three years for organic-farming support.
• Certification and market access are essential because organic production can involve transition costs before premium prices are realised.
• Organic and natural farming overlap in sustainability goals but are not identical regulatory concepts. Micro-Irrigation Link
• About 109 lakh hectares had been brought under Per Drop More Crop by May 2026, illustrating how regenerative agriculture also includes resource-efficient water management.
• Micro-irrigation can reduce water, energy and fertiliser use when combined with fertigation.
• Soil organic matter improves water-holding capacity, making soil restoration and irrigation efficiency complementary.
• Farm resilience therefore depends on both biological soil processes and engineered water-management systems. Climate and Soil Carbon
• Soils store large amounts of carbon; practices that build organic matter can improve aggregation, infiltration and moisture retention.
• Carbon gains are location- and practice-specific and can be reversed if land management changes.
• Regenerative farming should therefore be evaluated through measured soil carbon, yield stability, water use and farmer income rather than labels alone.
• Reduced synthetic inputs can lower costs, but abrupt withdrawal without agronomic support may create yield risks. Biodiversity
• Crop rotations, mixed farming, agroforestry and reduced chemical pressure can increase on-farm biological diversity.
• Greater diversity can reduce dependence on a single crop and improve resilience to pests and weather shocks.
• Agroforestry also provides biomass, fodder, timber and carbon-storage benefits.
• Landscape-scale planning is important because biodiversity outcomes extend beyond individual plots. Way Forward
• Create long-term field trials comparing yields, costs, soil carbon and water use across agro-climatic zones.
• Use the 25.89 crore Soil Health Card base to target nutrient corrections rather than promote blanket input reduction.
• Expand Bio-input Resource Centres with quality standards so farmers receive reliable inputs.
• Reward measurable ecosystem outcomes while protecting farmer incomes during transition.
• Integrate natural farming with crop insurance, markets, extension and climate adaptation. Prelims Quick Revision
• NMNF launched in 2024.
• 18,786 clusters; 8.80 lakh hectares; 18.19 lakh farmers by March 2026.
• Incentive: **₹4,000 **per acre per year for two years, up to one acre.
• 10,000 Bio-input Resource Centres envisaged; 33,676 CRPs trained.
• 25.89 crore Soil Health Cards; 12 soil parameters; ~7.17 lakh demonstrations; 70,002 Krishi Sakhis. Probable Mains Question Regenerative agriculture must be judged by measurable improvements in soil, water, resilience and farmer income rather than by input labels. Examine India's recent natural-farming and soil-health initiatives.