Coimbatore, Nov 19 (PTI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said India is on the path of becoming the global hub of organic farming, and asserted that it is native and traditional to the nation.

The youth are increasingly recognising agriculture as a modern and scalable opportunity and this will greatly empower the rural economy, he said inaugurating here the South India Natural Farming Summit 2025 and also an exhibition.

Fresh from his NDA's stunning victory in Bihar, Modi quipped, citing the audience waving their 'gamcha' (towel) upon his arrival, that it looked like "Bihar winds" had arrived in Tamil Nadu before him.

Incidentally, the AIADMK-led NDA in Tamil Nadu will be taking on the ruling DMK-led coalition in the Assembly polls next year and the opposition alliance is making a fervent bid to unseat the M K Stalin-led dispensation.

On the occasion, the PM released the 21st instalment of PM-KISAN, amounting to more than Rs 18,000 crore to support nine crore farmers across the country. He confirmed that lakhs of farmers in Tamil Nadu have also received funds in their accounts.

Modi highlighted that under this scheme, Rs 4 lakh crore has been directly transferred to the bank accounts of small farmers so far, enabling them to meet various agricultural needs.

Beginning his address by saying that natural farming was very close to his heart, Modi said the expansion of natural farming was the need of 21st century agriculture. In recent years, rising demand has led to a sharp increase in use of chemicals across farms and various agriculture-related sectors.

Excessive use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides is reducing soil fertility, affecting soil moisture, and increasing the cost of farming year after year. He emphasised that the solution to this issue lies in crop diversification and natural farming.

Natural farming is India's own indigenous idea and it is rooted in the country's traditions and suited to the environment, he said, adding "our goal must be to make natural farming a fully science-backed movement." "Natural farming is an indigenous Indian concept—not imported from elsewhere—but born from tradition and aligned with the environment", he asserted. In the coming years, the PM envisioned major transformations in Indian agriculture.

"India is on the path to becoming a global hub for natural farming", he asserted and noted that the country’s biodiversity is evolving, and the youth are now viewing agriculture as a modern, scalable opportunity. Such a shift, he said, will greatly strengthen the rural economy.

During the past 11 years, the entire agricultural sector has undergone a significant change, he said. India's agricultural exports have nearly doubled, and the government has opened every possible avenue to support farmers in modernising agriculture.

Through the Kisan Credit Card (KCC) scheme alone, farmers have received assistance exceeding Rs 10 lakh crore this year. Since the extension of KCC benefits to livestock and fisheries sectors seven years ago, those engaged in such areas have also been availing its advantages extensively. The reduction in GST on bio-fertilizers has further benefited farmers.

Advocating 'One Acre, One Season' of natural farming, he said organic farming helps tackle climate change challenges and revive soil fertility and enhance the nutritional value of crops. The country must move forward on the path of natural farming and it is both a vision and a necessity and only then biodiversity could be preserved for future generations.

The Centre is actively encouraging farmers to adopt natural farming, and a year ago, it launched the National Mission on Natural Farming, which has already connected lakhs of farmers. The positive impact of this initiative is especially visible across south India, with approximately 35,000 hectares of land in Tamil Nadu alone under organic and natural farming.

He expressed joy that farmers in south India are consistently adopting traditional natural farming practices such as Panchagavya, Jeevamrit, Beejamrit, and mulching which improves soil health, keeps crops chemical-free, and also reduces input costs.

Integrating cultivation of Shree Anna—millets—with natural farming plays a vital role in protecting mother Earth and millets have been part of traditional diets for generations, in southern states.

The government is committed to taking this 'superfood' to global markets, he said and emphasised that natural and chemical-free farming will play a major role in expanding their international reach. Modi expressed that this summit must include discussions on such efforts.

Backing multi-crop agriculture, he pointed to hilly areas of Kerala and Karnataka where several crops such as coconut, areca nut, fruit plants, spices and black pepper are grown in a single farm site. Such integrated cultivation reflect the core philosophy of natural farming.

This model of agriculture must be promoted at a pan-India level.

The prime minister, who saw two girl students waving placards, hailing his vision for the economic transformation of the nation, asked security personnel to bring the placards to him and lauded the students. The PM began his address by hailing Lord Murugan, the presiding deity of the popular Marudhamalai shrine here. He also praised the ancient Kalingarayan canal in the state. Organic farming leadership will be also be from same Coimbatore region, he added. PTI VGN VGN SA