Harnessing natural farming for sustainable agro-ecosystems and SDG advancement in India

Abstract

Natural farming represents a synthesis of traditional wisdom and modern agroecological science, offering a viable pathway for sustainable, climate-resilient, and inclusive agricultural development in India. This article realigns scientific evidence, field-level experiences, and large-scale programme in addressing the twin challenges of farm income stress and environmental degradation. Natural farming functions as an integrated agroecological solution that simultaneously enhances farm livelihoods, restores natural resources, and supports India’s commitments to the SDGs. This popular article synthesises the scientific rationale, methodological framework, and empirical evidence from research trials and farmers’ fields across diverse agro-ecological regions of India. It highlights the relevance of natural farming for different farming communities, its role in environmental sustainability and climate adaptation, and outlines future trends for scaling and mainstreaming natural farming within Indian agriculture.