Maharashtra Moves Toward Statewide Natural Farming Framework at High-Level Consultation
18 November 2025, Pune: Maharashtra has taken a decisive step toward formalising a comprehensive natural farming policy with the state hosting a high-level consultation that brought together key stakeholders from across the agriculture ecosystem. Senior government officials, scientists, progressive farmers, certification experts, market representatives and implementing agencies participated in the day-long dialogue aimed at aligning Maharashtra’s policy vision with ground realities as the state scales up natural and residue-free farming.
Organised jointly by the Balasaheb Thackeray Agribusiness and Rural Transformation (SMART) Project, Maharashtra Institution for Transformation (MITRA), Maharashtra Village Social Transformation Foundation (VSTF) and Palladium Consultancy Pvt. Ltd., the consultation served as a platform to harmonise policy intent, certification protocols, market expectations and field-level experiences.
Policy Focus on Structural Reform
Discussions centred on the need for structural reforms to accelerate natural farming adoption. Senior officials underscored that long-term success will require dedicated agri-finance for natural farming, stable and assured market linkages, price security, robust risk-mitigation mechanisms and policy endorsement from allied departments such as Animal Husbandry. Experts also noted that natural farming in Maharashtra continues to underperform due to weak evaluation mechanisms, an unstructured supply chain and limited certification pathways.
The policy brief presented at the event highlighted several priority areas, including the promotion of ecologically regenerative agriculture, strengthening of value chains with full traceability, improvement of soil, water and biodiversity health through scientific interventions and the establishment of a streamlined certification and residue-testing ecosystem. Participants also emphasised expanding institutional capacity in FPOs, SHGs, universities and Block Resource Centres, alongside the need to scale research, evidence generation, and youth-led entrepreneurship in natural farming value chains.
Cluster-Based Expansion and Market Development
The consultation placed strong emphasis on developing cluster-based natural farming models tailored to Maharashtra’s diverse agro-ecological zones, with a special focus on tribal districts where natural farming can offer both ecological and economic gains. Strengthening collaboration between communities and agricultural universities for research trials, demonstration farms and technology transfer was identified as a critical requirement.
Stakeholders also deliberated on building market infrastructure dedicated to natural and residue-free produce, including specialised market areas, processing hubs and logistics support. Strengthening these value-chain components, participants noted, will be vital for ensuring that natural farming produce can tap into premium domestic and global markets.
Roadmap for Statewide Rollout
Recommendations from sector experts were consolidated in a plenary session, where discussions reiterated that natural farming must deliver both ecological resilience and enhanced farmer incomes. The meeting concluded with a unified commitment to drafting a statewide implementation roadmap that will standardise natural farming practices, simplify certification processes for small and marginal farmers, enhance FPO-led aggregation, integrate natural farming into departmental schemes, and position “Naturally Grown in Maharashtra” as a credible market identity.
As Maharashtra faces growing climate variability and soil health challenges, the consultation is seen as a critical milestone in accelerating the state’s transition toward a more resilient, sustainable and farmer-centric agricultural system.
📢 If You’re in Agriculture, Make Sure the Right People Hear Your Story.
From product launches to strategic announcements, Global Agriculture offers unmatched visibility across international agri-business markets. Connect with us at pr@global-agriculture.com to explore editorial and advertising opportunities that reach the right audience, worldwide.
