Regenerative Agriculture in India
India is increasingly promoting regenerative agriculture to make farming systems more sustainable, climate-resilient and economically viable.
Farmers are adopting practices such as natural farming, agroforestry, micro-irrigation, integrated farming systems and scientific soil management with support from various government programmes aimed at improving soil health, conserving resources and strengthening agricultural resilience.
What is Regenerative Agriculture?
Regenerative agriculture is a holistic farming approach that focuses on restoring soil health, improving biodiversity and rebuilding ecosystem functions while maintaining long-term agricultural productivity.
Unlike sustainable agriculture, which mainly aims to maintain existing conditions, regenerative agriculture seeks to actively improve farming systems by:
- Restoring soil fertility.
- Increasing organic matter.
- Enhancing water retention capacity.
- Strengthening biodiversity.
- Improving resilience against climate change.
It promotes environmentally responsible farming while ensuring economic benefits for farmers.
Why Does India Need Regenerative Agriculture?
Declining Soil Health
Intensive cultivation, excessive chemical fertilizer use and monocropping have resulted in:
- Soil degradation.
- Nutrient imbalance.
- Declining productivity.
Regenerative practices help restore soil quality and reduce dependence on external inputs.
Rising Input Costs
Degraded soils often require higher quantities of fertilizers, pesticides and other inputs, increasing production costs, particularly for small and marginal farmers.
Climate Change Challenges
Increasing occurrences of heatwaves, droughts, floods and irregular rainfall have increased agricultural risks. Regenerative agriculture improves the ability of farming systems to withstand climate shocks.
Supporting Sustainable Development
Regenerative agriculture contributes to SDG 13 (Climate Action) by improving resilience and adaptive capacity against climate-related risks.
Key Practices under Regenerative Agriculture
Water and Resource Management
Micro-Irrigation
Drip, sprinkler and other micro-irrigation techniques deliver water directly to plant roots, reducing wastage and improving water-use efficiency.
Farm Mechanisation
Modern machinery enables timely farm operations, reduces input wastage and improves productivity while lowering the carbon footprint of agriculture.
Soil and Nutrient Management
Natural Farming
Natural farming reduces dependence on chemical inputs by using biological preparations such as:
- Jeevamrit.
- Beejamrit.
- GhanJeevamrit.
- Neemastra.
It promotes traditional seeds, mulching, multi-cropping and livestock integration to improve soil health.
Scientific Soil Management
Practices such as green manuring, cover cropping and mulching increase organic matter, improve moisture retention, prevent erosion and support carbon sequestration.
Integrated and Climate-Resilient Farming Systems
Integrated Farming Systems (IFS)
IFS combines crops with livestock, fisheries, horticulture, agroforestry and apiculture to diversify farmer income and reduce risks.
Agroforestry
The integration of trees with crops improves soil moisture, stores carbon, restores degraded land and provides additional income opportunities.
Climate-Resilient Agriculture
Climate-resilient farming promotes balanced nutrient management, efficient water use, improved seed systems and community-based approaches to reduce climate risks.
Government Initiatives Promoting Regenerative Agriculture
National Mission on Natural Farming (NMNF)
Launched in 2024, NMNF promotes natural farming through:
- Financial incentives.
- Training and capacity building.
- Bio-input availability.
The scheme supports Bio-input Resource Centres and farmer clusters for wider adoption of natural farming practices.
Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY)
Launched in 2015, PKVY promotes organic farming through:
- Financial assistance.
- Organic certification.
- Market linkages.
The scheme encourages farmers to adopt environmentally friendly agricultural practices.
Per Drop More Crop (PDMC)
The scheme promotes micro-irrigation systems such as drip and sprinkler irrigation to improve water-use efficiency.
It provides financial assistance to farmers for installing water-saving technologies and reducing agricultural water stress.
Rainfed Area Development Programme (RAD)
RAD promotes Integrated Farming Systems in rainfed regions by combining agriculture with allied activities such as:
- Horticulture.
- Livestock.
- Fisheries.
- Apiculture.
It helps farmers diversify income sources and improve climate resilience.
Agroforestry Component under PM-RKVY
This initiative promotes tree-based farming by supporting:
- Agroforestry nurseries.
- Quality planting material.
- Research and skill development.
- Carbon-related initiatives.
It helps improve land productivity and ecological restoration.
Soil Health Card Scheme
The Soil Health Card Scheme provides farmers with scientific soil analysis and crop-specific nutrient recommendations.
It promotes:
- Balanced fertilizer use.
- Better soil management.
- Efficient use of agricultural inputs.
Conclusion
Regenerative agriculture represents a transition from merely sustaining agricultural production to restoring the ecological foundation of farming.
Through natural farming, agroforestry, integrated farming systems, micro-irrigation and scientific soil management, India is moving towards a more resilient agricultural model.
By improving soil health, reducing input dependency and strengthening farmers’ capacity to face climate challenges, regenerative agriculture can play an important role in achieving sustainable food security and the vision of Viksit Bharat @2047.
Frequently Asked Questions About regenerative agriculture
What is regenerative agriculture?
Regenerative agriculture is a farming approach that focuses on restoring soil health, improving biodiversity, conserving resources and strengthening ecosystem resilience while maintaining agricultural productivity.
Why is regenerative agriculture important for India?
It can help address soil degradation, rising input costs, water scarcity and climate change while improving farm resilience and supporting long-term food security.
What are the major practices of regenerative agriculture?
Key practices include natural farming, agroforestry, integrated farming systems, micro-irrigation, cover cropping, mulching and scientific soil management.
Which government schemes promote regenerative agriculture in India?
Major initiatives include the National Mission on Natural Farming (NMNF), Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY), Per Drop More Crop (PDMC), Soil Health Card Scheme and Rainfed Area Development Programme (RAD).
How does regenerative agriculture benefit farmers?
It can improve soil fertility, reduce input dependence, conserve water, diversify farm income and increase resilience to climate-related risks, supporting long-term agricultural sustainability.
