National Agriculture Code (NAC) in India

The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) is taking a significant step toward improving agricultural practices in India by formulating a National Agriculture Code (NAC). This initiative aims to establish a comprehensive framework for agricultural standards, similar to existing codes for buildings and electrical systems.

Why is the NAC Needed?

• Current Gaps in Agricultural Standards
  • While the BIS has set standards for agricultural machinery and inputs like fertilizers and pesticides, many essential practices remain unregulated.
  • Areas such as field preparation, irrigation methods, and overall agricultural practices lack standardized guidelines, which can lead to inefficiencies and inconsistencies in farming.
• Need for a Comprehensive Framework
  • Policymakers have long recognized the necessity of a unified standards framework to enhance productivity and sustainability in agriculture.
  • The NAC will provide guidelines covering the entire agricultural cycle, aiding farmers, agricultural universities, and officials.

Key Features of the NAC

• Structure of the Code: The NAC will consist of two main parts:
  • General Principles: Applicable to all crops.
  • Crop-Specific Standards: Targeting specific crops like paddy, wheat, oilseeds, and pulses.
• Areas Covered: The NAC will encompass a wide range of agricultural practices, including:
  • Crop selection
  • Land preparation
  • Sowing and transplanting
  • Irrigation and drainage
  • Soil health management
  • Plant health management
  • Harvesting and post-harvest operations
  • Input management (fertilizers, pesticides, etc.)
  • Storage and traceability
• Inclusion of Emerging Practices: The code will address modern agricultural practices such as:
  • Natural and organic farming
  • Utilization of Internet-of-Things (IoT) in agriculture

Objectives of the NAC

The NAC aims to:

• Create a national code that considers agro-climatic zones and socio-economic diversity.
• Promote a quality culture in Indian agriculture by providing a reference for policymakers and regulators.
• Serve as a guide for the farming community to make informed decisions.
• Integrate Indian Standards with recommended agricultural practices.
• Address critical areas such as sustainability, traceability, and documentation.
• Support capacity-building programs through agricultural extension services and civil society organizations.

Proposed Timeline and Implementation

• The BIS has outlined a plan with working panels to draft the NAC, targeting completion by October 2025.
• Post-completion, training programs for farmers will be conducted to ensure effective implementation of the standards.

Standardized Agriculture Demonstration Farms (SADF)

• Purpose and Importance
• • In parallel to the NAC, the BIS plans to establish Standardized Agriculture Demonstration Farms (SADF) in selected agricultural institutes.
  • These farms will serve as experimental sites for testing and implementing agricultural practices based on Indian Standards.
• Collaboration with Agricultural Institutes
• • The BIS will collaborate with premier agricultural institutes, signing Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) to develop these farms.
  • The initiative will provide financial support for the setup of SADFs, offering hands-on learning opportunities for farmers and industry professionals.