Bhagalpur: Bhagalpur district is set to promote climate-resilient natural and organic rice cultivation by developing three farm clusters covering 375 acres under the National Mission for Natural Farming (NMNF). The initiative will also encourage desi cattle rearing to support sustainable farming.The selected clusters are Khanpur gram panchayat in Sultanganj block, Bhawanipur Deshari gram panchayat in Jagdishpur block, and Tarcha, Damchak, Sondiha and Satjori gram panchayats in Goradih block. Each block has been allotted 125 acres for natural farming.The centrally sponsored NMNF aims to promote chemical-free agriculture, improve soil health, enhance climate resilience and reduce cultivation costs through traditional farming practices.District agriculture officer Prem Shanker Prasad said the scheme promotes farming without synthetic fertilisers, pesticides or weedicides. Instead, farmers will use organic manure prepared from cow dung and urine, along with traditional formulations such as ‘Beejamrut’ for seed treatment and ‘Jeevamrit’ for soil nourishment.The programme also encourages crop rotation, multi-cropping, mulching and integrating crop cultivation with desi cattle rearing to improve soil fertility and nutrient recycling.Prasad urged farmers owning up to one acre of land in the selected gram panchayats to apply through their block agriculture officers or agriculture coordinators by Aug 11.He said eligible farmers would receive an incentive of Rs 4,000 per acre annually for cultivating natural rice varieties, including scented katarni, basmati and other approved varieties under the scheme.According to agriculture department officials, the Centre has approved an outlay of Rs 2,481 crore under the NMNF to promote natural farming across 7.5 lakh hectares, benefiting one crore farmers through 15,000 village clusters nationwide.Prasad said the initiative would help Bhagalpur farmers increase incomes through sustainable and environmentally friendly farming while contributing to the conservation of natural resources.
