Government Sustainable Agriculture Schemes Progress Report
The Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare provided a comprehensive update on India's sustainable agricultural practices through various government schemes. Agriculture being a State subject, the Central Government supplements State/UT efforts through multiple programs focusing on balanced nutrient management, efficient water use, conservation agriculture, integrated farming systems, agroforestry, natural and organic farming, and climate-resilient technologies.
Under the Soil Health & Fertility Scheme, 26.18 crore Soil Health Cards have been generated to promote Integrated Nutrient Management and improve fertilizer use efficiency. The Per Drop More Crop Scheme has brought 114.60 lakh hectares under micro-irrigation, benefiting approximately 100 lakh farmers while promoting fertigation for precise nutrient delivery.
Organic farming initiatives show significant progress: Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY) has covered 18.93 lakh hectares benefiting 33.63 lakh farmers, while Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North Eastern Region (MOVCDNER) has brought 2.36 lakh hectares under organic farming benefiting 2.74 lakh farmers. Both schemes provide assistance of ₹15,000 per hectare through Direct Benefit Transfer.
The Agroforestry Scheme has established 826 nurseries and raised about 1062.18 lakh saplings in the last 3 years, with financial assistance including ₹16 lakh for big nurseries (1 ha), ₹10 lakh for small nurseries (0.5 ha), and up to ₹5 lakh per existing nursery for raising saplings.
The National Mission on Natural Farming (NMNF), approved by the Union Cabinet on 25.11.24, has covered 11.81 lakh hectares in 24,031 clusters, benefiting 24.69 lakh farmers. The mission provides incentive support of ₹4,000/acre for 2 years for farmers to practice Natural Farming and prepare or purchase inputs from Bio-input Resource Centers.
Additional missions including Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses, National Mission on Edible Oils–Oilseeds (NMEO-OS), National Food Security Nutrition Mission (NFSNM), and Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) promote crop diversification with financial assistance per respective operational guidelines.
Water conservation efforts include Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) implemented by Ministry of Jal Shakti for irrigation potential creation and restoration, and Viksit Bharat – Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission – Gramin (VB-G RAM-G) by Ministry of Rural Development prioritizing 110 water conservation works out of 318 permissible Natural Resource Management works.
NITI Aayog evaluation reports indicate strong scheme outcomes: 62.46% of farmers reported substantial increase in water use efficiency or crop yield under Per Drop More Crop Scheme; 70.28% reported substantial improvement in farm productivity under Rainfed Area Development Scheme; 63.78% experienced improved fertilizer use efficiency or crop yield using Soil Health Card recommendations; 68.5% reported improved soil health through natural inputs; 75.85% of organic farmers reported significant improvements in soil fertility, reduced chemical input costs, or enhanced produce quality; and 90.1% of Natural Farming practitioners reported reduced input costs compared to chemical fertilizers. The evaluation projects domestic edible oil availability could reach 16 MT by 2030 and 26.7 MT by 2047.
Central Ground Water Board's pre-monsoon 2026 assessment shows 87.8% of 9,085 monitoring wells (7,977 wells) fall under normal category, indicating stable groundwater situation nationwide. These interventions contribute to efficient water management, resource conservation, improved climate resilience, and long-term sustainability of agricultural production systems.
Despite regional variations in adoption due to agro-climatic conditions and infrastructure availability, the agriculture sector has recorded sustained growth. Food grain production increased from 252.03 million tonnes in 2014–15 to a record 357.73 million tonnes in 2024–25, while horticulture production increased from 280.98 million tonnes to 370.73 million tonnes over the same period, reflecting the resilience and steady growth of agricultural production across India.