R ARIVANANTHAM
COIMBATORE, NOV 19
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the South India Natural Farming Summit 2025 in Coimbatore on Wednesday, describing the city as a land of “culture, compassion and creativity” and a powerhouse of South India’s entrepreneurial strength. He also recalled Coimbatore’s distinction as the home constituency of Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan.
Addressing the South India Natural Farming Summit in Coimbatore.
https://t.co/HdaKob48Gx— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 19, 2025
Calling natural farming a subject “very close to his heart,” the Prime Minister extended his wishes to the farmers of Tamil Nadu and acknowledged the participation of farmers, scientists, startups, agricultural innovators and industry partners at the summit.
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- Youth now see agriculture as a modern, scalable opportunity for rural transformation
- Excessive chemical use harming soil health; natural farming key to resilience and nutrition
- PM urges farmers to adopt “one acre, one season” and calls for science-driven natural farming models
Reiterating his vision for agricultural transformation, the Prime Minister said, “India is on the path to becoming a global hub for natural farming.” He added that India’s biodiversity is evolving and the youth increasingly see agriculture as a modern, scalable opportunity that will help empower the rural economy.
Boost for Farmers through PM-KISAN
Empowering Every Farmer, Enriching Every Village – PM-KISAN Delivers Prosperity! 🇮🇳
Hon'ble Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi released the 21st installment of PM-KISAN SAMMAN NIDHI, disbursing over ₹18,000 crore to more than 9 crore beneficiary farmers from Coimbatore, Tamil… pic.twitter.com/Y5nidbWdXl
— Ministry of Cooperation, Government of India (@MinOfCooperatn) November 19, 2025
From the same platform, the Prime Minister released the 21st instalment of PM-KISAN, transferring ₹18,000 crore to 9 crore farmers across India. He highlighted that lakhs of farmers in Tamil Nadu also received funds.
He noted that ₹4 lakh crore has been directly transferred so far under PM-KISAN to support small farmers in meeting essential agricultural needs.
Modi recalled that agricultural exports have nearly doubled over the past 11 years and that the government has expanded all avenues to modernise the sector. He pointed out that farmers received assistance exceeding ₹10 lakh crore under Kisan Credit Cards (KCC) this year alone, with livestock and fisheries also benefiting since the scheme’s expansion.
Reduction of GST on bio-fertilisers, he said, has further supported farmers transitioning to sustainable practices.
PM Modi’s lighter moments with the farmers
Natural Farming: A Necessity for the 21st Century
Calling natural farming essential for the future, the Prime Minister warned that excessive chemical fertiliser and pesticide use is degrading soil fertility, damaging soil moisture levels, and increasing cultivation costs.
He stressed that the solution lies in crop diversification and natural farming, stating:
“To revive soil fertility and enhance the nutritional value of crops, the country must move forward on the path of natural farming. This is both a vision and a necessity.”
He added that natural farming strengthens climate resilience, protects soil health, and reduces exposure to harmful chemicals.
Growth of Natural Farming in South India
The Prime Minister noted that the National Mission on Natural Farming, launched a year ago, has already connected lakhs of farmers nationwide. Tamil Nadu alone has brought 35,000 hectares under organic and natural farming practices.
He emphasised that natural farming is an Indian-origin, tradition-based practice, not borrowed from abroad. Farmers in South India, he said, continue to adopt age-old sustainable methods such as Panchagavya, Jeevamrit, Beejamrit, and mulching, which improve soil health while reducing input costs.
Millets and Indigenous Wisdom
Linking natural farming with millet cultivation, he highlighted the cultural and ecological significance of Shree Anna. Referencing traditions such as the offering of Thenum Thinai Maavum to Lord Murugan, he said millets like Kambu, Samai, Ragi, Sajja and Jonna have been part of regional diets for centuries.
He stressed that promoting this “superfood” globally is a national priority and said natural and chemical-free farming will help expand their international reach.
Promoting Multi-Crop, Integrated Farming
The Prime Minister once again urged an end to monoculture and called for promoting multi-crop agriculture. He praised the integrated cultivation systems of Karnataka and Kerala—where coconut, areca nut, fruits, and spices are grown together—as a model to be scaled across India.
South India: A Living Agricultural University
Highlighting the region’s deep agricultural heritage, Modi said South India is home to historic innovations, including ancient dams, the 13th-century Kalingarayan Canal, and temple tanks that acted as decentralised water conservation systems.
He expressed confidence that South India will lead the natural farming movement for the country and the world.
Call for Action: “One Acre, One Season”
Urging collective effort to build a futuristic agricultural ecosystem for a developed India, Modi appealed to farmers to adopt:
“One acre, one season” — practice natural farming on one acre for one season.
He asked scientists and agricultural institutions to treat farmers’ fields as “living laboratories” and to make natural farming a core part of agricultural curricula. “Our goal must be to make natural farming a fully science-backed movement,” he said.
Role of FPOs and Government Support
He emphasised the role of 10,000 Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) formed in recent years, calling for creating small farmer clusters equipped with cleaning, packaging and processing facilities and linked directly to online platforms such as e-NAM.
“When traditional knowledge, scientific strength and government support come together, farmers will prosper and Mother Earth will remain healthy,” he said.
The Prime Minister concluded with optimism that the summit would generate new ideas and solutions to strengthen the natural farming movement.
Hon’ble Governor Thiru R. N. Ravi warmly welcomed Hon’ble Prime Minister Thiru @narendramodi upon his arrival at Coimbatore Airport. The Prime Minister will inaugurate the South India Natural Farming Summit 2025, release the 21st instalment of #PMKISAN of over ₹18,000 crore to… pic.twitter.com/9HWPIbOJvz
— RAJ BHAVAN, TAMIL NADU (@rajbhavan_tn) November 19, 2025
The event was attended by Governor R.N. Ravi and Union Minister L. Murugan, among other dignitaries.
