What government policies support sustainable farming transitions?

Governments, including in India, have launched several policies to move away from chemical-intensive farming and promote sustainability.

• Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY): This is a flagship Indian scheme to promote organic farming. It provides financial assistance to farmers in a cluster-based approach, supporting them from seed to market. This includes costs for organic certification, purchasing organic inputs, and marketing.
• Soil Health Card (SHC) Scheme: This program provides every farmer with a "report card" for their land, detailing its nutrient status and health. The goal is to encourage balanced and judicious use of fertilizers, advising farmers on specific crop needs to prevent overuse of nitrogen and replenish depleted micronutrients.
• National Mission on Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA): A broad mission that includes several components:
  • Rainfed Area Development (RAD): Promotes Integrated Farming Systems (IFS), combining crops, livestock, and horticulture to minimize risk in regions dependent on monsoon rains.
  • Sub-Mission on Agroforestry (SMAF): Encourages farmers to plant trees on their farmland, which improves soil health, sequesters carbon, and provides an additional income source from timber or fruit.
• PM-PRANAM Scheme: This policy (PM Programme for Restoration, Awareness, Nourishment and Amelioration of Mother Earth) is designed to incentivize states to reduce their use of chemical fertilizers. States that save on their fertilizer subsidy bill are rewarded with grants, which can be used for further sustainable agriculture projects.