The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) is working on revamping the curriculum of the undergraduate (UG) as well as postgraduate (PG) courses in the field of agriculture and will add natural farming as a key component, an official said Thursday.

In December 2021, an eight-member committee, headed by Praveen Rao, vice-chancellor of Professor Jayashankar Telangana State Agricultural University (PJTSAU), was constituted to incorporate the components of natural farming into the curriculum.

Kimothi added that natural farming was not taught as a separate topic until now and was only a part of organic farming lessons. “Since the committee is still working on finalising the coursework, it is unlikely for it to come into practice this year. Natural farming will be introduced as a part of all UG, PG courses in agricultural courses from next academic session onwards,” he said.

Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar said on Wednesday that the central government is working on a scheme to promote natural farming and is mulling incorporating this traditional method of cultivation in the syllabus of agri-varsities.

Tomar made the comments while addressing the valedictory function of the annual conference of vice-chancellors of agriculture varsities and directors of ICAR institutes. “Scientists should research traditional farming methods and it should be made part of the syllabus in agri-varsities,” he said, adding that ICAR has set up a committee to look into the matter.