Chandigarh, June 8
Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Sunday announced that the state government will formulate a policy next year to encourage natural and organic farming on panchayat-owned land. The announcement was made during an Agriculture Workshop organised under the Natural Farming Promotion and Cluster Formation Programme in Kurukshetra.
Addressing farmers and stakeholders at the event, Saini said that around 800 acres of land owned by the Agriculture Department would be leased exclusively to farmers who commit to practicing natural and organic farming for a minimum of 10 years.
The workshop was attended by Gujarat Governor Acharya Devvrat, Haryana Agriculture Minister Shyam Singh Rana, and senior officials from the agriculture sector.
To strengthen the adoption of sustainable farming practices, the Chief Minister announced financial assistance of ₹10,000 per acre annually for five years for farmers certified by the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) for natural and organic farming.
He said the Haryana State Seed Certification Agency would be designated as the certification body for organic farming in the state.
Saini also announced that natural and organic farmers would be provided dedicated space in agricultural mandis located in Panchkula, Yamunanagar, Karnal, Sonipat, Rohtak, Gurugram, Faridabad, Hisar, Charkhi Dadri and Narnaul for the sale of their produce. Testing laboratories and APEDA-recognised certification centres will also be established to improve market access and support farmers.
As part of a new initiative, the state government, in collaboration with Haryana Agricultural University, will introduce natural farming in a 2,000-acre cluster in Kurukshetra under the Smart Agriculture programme using modern technologies. Saini assured farmers that any losses incurred under the scheme would be fully compensated by the state government.
The Chief Minister further announced that Morni block in Panchkula district would be developed as a dedicated natural and organic farming block.
Calling upon farmers to contribute towards making Haryana a leading state in natural farming, Saini said the government remains committed to supporting cultivators at every stage, from seed to market. He stressed that preserving fertile land, clean water, and a healthy environment for future generations requires greater adoption of natural farming practices.
Highlighting the progress of the state’s natural farming mission, Saini said nearly two lakh farmers have registered approximately three lakh acres of land on the dedicated portal launched by the government. Of these, 23,930 farmers covering 44,077 acres have been verified for natural farming, while the practice was adopted on 20,727 acres during 2025-26.
He added that training centres have been established at Gurukul in Kurukshetra, Hameti in Jind, Mangiana in Sirsa, and Gharaunda in Karnal to promote awareness and provide training in natural farming. A state advisor has also been appointed at the Kurukshetra training centre to guide progressive farmers.
Speaking on the occasion, Gujarat Governor Acharya Devvrat stressed the need for dedicated efforts to advance the natural farming movement. He cautioned that continued dependence on chemical fertilizers could eventually render agricultural land barren and create long-term environmental and health challenges.
Devvrat said natural farming offers a sustainable and low-cost alternative capable of restoring soil fertility and protecting natural resources. He urged farmers to begin adopting natural farming on a small portion of their land and gradually expand its use.
The workshop concluded with a renewed emphasis on sustainable agriculture, farmer welfare, and long-term environmental conservation through natural and organic farming practices.
