Overview
- Cotton and soybean procurement centres will open on October 30, and the chief minister urged growers not to sell below the minimum support price.
- The announcement followed a Natural Farming conference at Raj Bhavan where the governor asked ministers and legislators to promote the shift in mission mode.
- Officials framed natural farming as a path to lower input costs, healthier soils and better productivity compared with chemical-intensive practices.
- The state reports 14 lakh hectares already under natural cultivation since a 2014 program, with the new mission designed to scale the area to 25 lakh hectares after 2023 guidance.
- Governor Acharya Devvrat said natural farming can reduce water use by up to 50% and improve groundwater levels, presenting the claim as part of his advocacy.