NMSA Update: Cabinet Approves ₹1 Lakh Crore Boost, Know Full Details Here

Recently, the Union Cabinet approved two major agriculture schemes worth ₹1 lakh crore to promote sustainable agriculture and ensure food security. The names of these schemes are ‘PM Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana’ (PM-RKVY) and ‘Krishi Unnati Yojana’ (KYC). While the PM-RKVY scheme will focus on promoting sustainable farming, the Krishi Unnati scheme will focus on food security and achieving self-reliance in farming.

According to an official statement, in an important Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi today, a proposal was approved to rationalize all the centrally sponsored schemes (CSS) under the Ministry of Agriculture into these two major schemes. Through this article, we will cover everything about the National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture.

The objective of the National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture

1. To make agriculture more productive, sustainable, profitable, and climate-resilient by promoting location-specific integrated farming systems.
2. To conserve natural resources through appropriate soil and moisture conservation measures.
3. To adopt comprehensive soil health management practices based on soil fertility maps, soil test-based application of macro and micronutrients, and the use of appropriate fertilizers.
4. To optimize water resources through efficient water management, aiming to achieve “more crop per drop.”
5. To enhance the capacity of farmers and stakeholders in the area of climate change adaptation and mitigation, in collaboration with ongoing missions such as the National Agricultural Extension and Technology Mission, National Food Security Mission, and National Agro-Climate Resilience Initiative (NICRA).
6. To establish effective inter- and intra-departmental/ministerial coordination for improving the productivity of rain-fed agriculture by leveraging resources from other schemes and missions like the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGA), Integrated Watershed Programme (IWMP), RKVY, etc. The goal is to mainstream rain-fed technologies through NICRA pilot models in selected blocks and achieve key deliverables under the National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture as part of NAPCC.

#Cabinet approves launching of National Mission on Natural Farming (NMNF), with a total outlay of Rs. 2,481 crore as a standalone Centrally Sponsored Scheme under the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare

NMNF aims to promote Natural Farming practices to provide safe and… pic.twitter.com/MzkpRMngOe

— PIB India (@PIB_India) November 25, 2024

Functional Areas of the National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture

The key functional areas of the mission (NMSA Update)include research and development, technologies, products and practices, infrastructure, and capacity building. The mission focuses on 10 dimensions, which aim to promote suitable agricultural practices. These include seed and water management, pest control, nutrient management, agricultural practices, credit, insurance, market access, information dissemination, and livelihood diversification. Key areas of work also include dryland agriculture, risk management, information access, and the use of biotechnology.

मोदी सरकार देशवासियों के उत्तम स्वास्थ्य, भूमि संरक्षण और किसानों की आय को बढ़ाने के लिए निरंतर प्राकृतिक खेती को बढ़ावा दे रही है। इसी दिशा में आज केंद्रीय कैबिनेट ने National Mission on Natural Farming (NMNF) को मंज़ूरी दी।

₹1584 करोड़ की केंद्रीय सहायता के साथ ₹2481 करोड़… pic.twitter.com/7gNAhdjuKv

— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) November 25, 2024

Shortcomings of the National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture

India’s National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture has a strong structural foundation and can effectively identify the challenges faced by agriculture. However, the mission’s provisions and strategies need modernization. Some of the key shortcomings include:

1. Broad Provisions Targeting Only Big Farmers
   The proposed provisions are too broad, primarily benefiting large farmers while leaving smaller, vulnerable farmers at a disadvantage.
2. Overemphasis on Water Management, Ignoring Chemical Fertilizers
   While sustainable agriculture(NMSA Update) is based on understanding ecosystem services, the mission prioritizes water management and largely overlooks the issue of chemical fertilizers, which are detrimental to the environment. The overuse of chemical fertilizers also requires more water for irrigation than organic farming methods.
3. Lack of Focus on Climate Change Challenges
   The mission does not adequately address the challenges posed by climate change on agriculture, which is essential for the future resilience of farming practices.