The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has begun formal consultations with industry and academic experts to design new postgraduate and doctoral programmes in natural farming. The Agricultural Education Division of ICAR held a stakeholder consultation meeting to gather inputs for strengthening the proposed curricula and ensuring they meet current and future needs of the agricultural sector.
The meeting was chaired by Dr. M. L. Jat, Secretary of the Department of Agricultural Research and Education and Director General of ICAR. The initiative aligns with the National Education Policy 2020 and seeks to create programmes that are future-ready, globally relevant and deeply connected with farmers, industry and society.
Key facts
- ICAR’s Agricultural Education Division organised the consultation meeting
- Proposed programmes include Master of Science (M.Sc.) and Ph.D. in Natural Farming
- Curricula align with the National Education Policy 2020
- Dr. C. K. Timbadia, Vice-Chancellor of Gujarat Natural Farming Science University, chairs the Syllabus Formulation Committee
- Meeting date: 7 October 2026
- Focus areas include biological inputs, soil health, certification, value chains, marketing, digital technologies and entrepreneurship
What the programmes will cover
The proposed postgraduate and doctoral programmes will take a multidisciplinary, competency-based and industry-oriented approach. According to Dr. Jat, the curricula must incorporate emerging areas that are currently reshaping natural farming practice and knowledge. These include biological inputs, soil health management, certification standards, value chain development, marketing strategies, digital agriculture technologies and entrepreneurship skills.
A key emphasis is developing conceptual clarity on different streams and approaches to chemical-free farming. This means students and researchers will gain comprehensive understanding of the principles, practices and evolving dimensions of natural farming rather than a narrow or superficial exposure.
How this aligns with national education policy
Dr. Yashpal Singh Malik, Deputy Director General (Agricultural Education) at ICAR, highlighted that these programmes will be designed to comply with the National Education Policy 2020. The curricula will prioritise competency development and industry relevance, ensuring that graduates have skills and knowledge applicable to real-world agricultural challenges and opportunities.
Natural farming has emerged as a significant area of opportunity within Indian agriculture. The new programmes aim to prepare students with the knowledge and skills needed to address evolving requirements in this sector, from research and technology development to farm advisory services and agribusiness.
What this means for you
If you are an agriculture graduate interested in pursuing advanced studies, these programmes will offer a structured pathway into natural farming research and practice. The focus on entrepreneurship and value chains suggests that the programmes will not only create researchers but also equip students to start their own ventures in organic and natural farming inputs, certification, or value-added agriculture.
For working professionals in agriculture, agribusiness or rural development, these postgraduate programmes may provide opportunities to deepen expertise in a rapidly growing field. The emphasis on digital technologies and marketing means graduates will be prepared for roles that blend traditional farming knowledge with modern business and technology skills.
Students aspiring to pursue doctoral research will have access to clearly defined research areas within natural farming, from soil microbiology and biological inputs to supply chain management and digital farming applications.
What happens next
The consultation meeting concluded with inputs from industry experts and academic stakeholders. These suggestions will be incorporated into the final curricula. ICAR has not announced a specific timeline for the formal launch of these programmes, but the ongoing syllabus formulation process indicates that implementation is planned in the near term.