How natural and organic farming can be a key to combating the climate crisis

By Raj Kumar Sinha* 

On July 9, while addressing the “Sahkar Samvad” in Ahmedabad with women and workers associated with cooperatives from Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan, Union Home Minister Amit Shah emphasized that natural farming is essential for both our health and the health of the soil. This is a significant statement in the context of addressing the climate change crisis. Natural farming can play a crucial role in combating climate change. Also known as organic farming, it is a system of agriculture that can increase food production without harming the environment. Natural farming has the potential to reduce carbon emissions by 35% to 50%.

Natural farming—also referred to as “no-input” or “zero-budget” natural farming—focuses on minimizing or eliminating external inputs such as fertilizers, pesticides, or even compost. Instead, it promotes natural processes like the decomposition of organic matter by soil microbes and earthworms. Tilling (plowing) the soil is generally avoided in this practice. It is considered a low-cost agricultural system since it doesn’t rely on external inputs, whereas organic farming can be more expensive. Certification is typically required for organic farming but not for natural farming.

Natural farming is a holistic approach that depends on natural ecological processes, while organic farming is a specific system that emphasizes the use of organic inputs. By increasing the organic content of the soil, natural farming improves soil health and sequesters carbon dioxide from the atmosphere into the soil. Eliminating the use of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides also helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Natural farming enhances the soil's water-holding capacity, contributing to water conservation and building resilience against extreme weather events like droughts and floods. It also promotes biodiversity, which increases crops' resistance to climate change. Growing diverse crops helps improve soil health and control pests and diseases.

Indian agriculture has evolved systematically over thousands of years. Being largely rainfed, sustainable farming techniques have developed. The science of agriculture is inherently linked to recycling. Recent research on natural farming shows that this method can yield better results even in adverse conditions. Crops grown using this technique withstand droughts and heavy rainfall. By adopting mixed farming, multiple crops can be cultivated in a single field, ensuring a regular income for farmers. This method uses up to 40% less water than conventional methods, and local vegetation is used for crop protection.

Agriculture is a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions and thus to the greenhouse effect and climate change. At the same time, changing climate patterns are having far-reaching impacts on agricultural productivity, threatening future food security. Increased water use and droughts may lead to shortages of water essential for food production. Global food security depends on both food production and accessibility, and is defined accordingly. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the consensus is that the climate has changed significantly since the 1950s, and global average surface air temperature could rise by 0.4 to 2.6°C by the end of this century.

Rising temperatures and carbon dioxide levels may create favorable conditions for higher crop yields in some regions, but in others, extreme events like excessive heat and drought during flowering stages could limit this potential. Several regions may witness declining crop yields over the 21st century due to climate change. The impact on both global and Indian agricultural systems is expected to be large-scale. On the other hand, pesticide use is contaminating groundwater and poisoning the environment. Beneficial insects are disappearing. Although chemical inputs are widely promoted for increasing crop yields, their numerous adverse effects cannot be ignored. The use of chemical fertilizers in farming has raised serious health concerns. Consuming such grains is linked to cancer, hypertension, and other chronic illnesses.

For the fiscal year 2025–26, the Government of India has allocated more than ₹1.67 lakh crore for fertilizer subsidies, which accounts for nearly 70% of the agricultural budget. A landmark event in Indian agriculture was the Green Revolution that began in 1967–68. It focused on high-yielding seed varieties, greater use of fertilizers and pesticides, and assured irrigation. This helped India become self-reliant in food grains. However, since the 1980s, the Green Revolution has faced challenges. The rising cost of inputs has pushed many farmers into debt, leading to suicides. The Home Minister’s suggestion is thus critical in helping farmers escape this crisis. Concrete policies and their effective implementation are necessary.

According to Down To Earth magazine, due to climate change, India experienced extreme weather events on 322 out of 366 days between January 1 and December 31, 2024. These events claimed 3,472 lives and damaged 4.07 million hectares of agricultural land. In response, the government is encouraging farmers to shift toward chemical-free agriculture to mitigate the impacts of climate change. To maintain sustainability in agriculture, farmers should adopt organic and conservation-based farming systems.

In India, farming is practiced over approximately 140 million hectares, of which about 6.5 million hectares are under organic farming. In Madhya Pradesh, organic farming is being expanded from 1.7 million hectares to a target of 2 million hectares. According to the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Madhya Pradesh produces around 1.5 million tonnes of organic products annually, with over 0.5 million tonnes exported. Demand and production of organic products are rising in India. The Indian organic market is valued at ₹16,800 crore. There is a need to promote this sustainable method, which ensures safe and healthy food for all.

Districts like Mandla, Dindori, Balaghat, Chhindwara, Betul, Katni, Umaria, and Anuppur are major centers of organic farming. A significant portion of India's organic grains is produced by small and marginal farmers. For many of them, organic farming has become a way to reduce costs and improve livelihoods. It is the responsibility of our policymakers to place farmers at the center and focus on agro-ecological methods that ensure sustainable food security for the country and stable livelihoods for farmers.

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*With Bargi Dam Displaced and Affected Association