How Andhra Pradesh Moved Natural Farming From Demonstration Plot To 17.7 Lakh Farmers

Andhra Pradesh Community Managed Natural Farming (APCNF) was awarded the Food Planet Prize by the Curt Bergfors Foundation on June 2, 2026, in Båstad, Sweden.

Implemented by Rythu Sadhikara Samstha under the Government of Andhra Pradesh, APCNF covers 9,26,000 hectares across 8,168 gram panchayats, benefiting 17.7 lakh farmers.

A study in Nature Ecology & Evolution (September 2025) found that natural farming maintains crop yields and increases field-level profits by an average of 123.6 per cent compared to agrichemical farms.

The programme replaces synthetic inputs with natural preparations like jiwamrita, beejamrita, mulching, cover cropping, and biological perches, while also supporting farmland biodiversity.