26,200 Farmers Across Pune Division Embrace Natural Farming; ₹13.95 Crore Subsidy Boosts Sustainable Agriculture
26,200 Farmers Across Pune Division Embrace Natural Farming; ₹13.95 Crore Subsidy Boosts Sustainable Agriculture
Pune, July 3, 2026: While the Maharashtra government has announced the Punyashlok Ahilyadevi Holkar Farmer Loan Waiver Scheme 2026 to provide relief to farmers facing financial distress, officials say long-term debt freedom will depend on reducing cultivation costs through sustainable agricultural practices. In this regard, the National Natural Farming Mission is emerging as a significant initiative to help farmers become financially self-reliant.
The state government continues to implement several farmer-centric schemes to support agriculture. The recently announced loan waiver scheme aims to assist cultivators affected by drought, unseasonal rainfall, hailstorms and excessive rainfall, while also enabling them to access fresh crop loans. However, agricultural experts believe that adopting environmentally sustainable and low-cost farming methods can offer a more lasting solution to recurring debt.
Under the National Natural Farming Mission, farmers are encouraged to use locally available resources and adopt techniques such as Jeevamrut, Beejamrut, mulching and Whapasa (soil moisture management). These practices significantly reduce dependence on chemical fertilisers and pesticides, lowering input costs while improving farm profitability. The mission also promotes sustainable agriculture, helping farmers increase their income without compromising environmental health.
The campaign has gained considerable traction in the Pune Division. During the 2025-26 financial year, a total of 26,200 farmers from Pune, Solapur and Ahilyanagar districts benefited from the scheme, with the Agriculture Department disbursing ₹13.95 crore in financial assistance. In addition, 6,750 farmers from Satara district under the Kolhapur Division received subsidies amounting to ₹3.55 crore.
District-wise, 6,750 farmers each from Pune, Solapur and Satara, along with 12,700 farmers from Ahilyanagar, availed benefits under the mission. Subsidies distributed included ₹3.20 crore to beneficiaries in Pune, ₹3.94 crore in Solapur, ₹3.54 crore in Satara and ₹6.80 crore in Ahilyanagar.
In the current financial year, the mission has already benefited 2,051 farmers across these four districts, with an expenditure of ₹29.43 lakh incurred so far.
Officials highlighted that natural farming not only lowers production costs but also improves soil health, increases organic carbon content, enhances water conservation and supports environmental sustainability. With the growing consumer demand for chemical-free agricultural produce, farmers adopting natural farming methods are also finding better market opportunities and improved price prospects.
The Agriculture Department believes that genuine financial security for farmers lies not merely in periodic loan waivers but in creating a sustainable farming system that reduces input costs and ensures stable income. Against the backdrop of rising cultivation expenses and increasing dependence on chemical inputs, the National Natural Farming Mission is being viewed as a transformative initiative that combines farmer debt reduction, economic prosperity and environmental conservation.
Officials have appealed to more farmers to participate in the mission, emphasising that greater adoption of natural farming practices, coupled with continued support from the Agriculture Department, can play a crucial role in building a resilient and self-reliant agricultural sector.
