Bio-Input Resource Centres

Scaling Sustainable Agriculture in India

- 

Aimed at providing farmers with locally prepared, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly bio-inputs as alternatives to chemical fertilizers; BRCs are emerging as crucial components in promoting sustainable agriculture in India. While the government has announced support for BRCs under the National Mission on Natural Farming, challenges such as lack of standardization, short shelf life, and financial sustainability must be addressed, Shweta Nikam reports.

The concept of Bio-Input Resource Centres (BRCs) has gained prominence in India with the Central Government's announcement of establishing 10,000 BRCs under the National Mission on Natural Farming (NMNF). These centres are seen as key factors in transitioning towards sustainable agriculture, especially in promoting the use of bio-inputs. However, to fully understand how BRCs can help scale up sustainable farming, it is crucial to address the challenges they face.

Need for Bio-Inputs in Sustainable Agriculture

One of the primary obstacles to scaling sustainable agriculture is limited access to bio-inputs. In 2023-24, agricultural subsidies in India amounted to INR4051.56 billion, with chemical fertilizers accounting for 43.2 per cent of this total. By popularizing bio-inputs among farmers, a portion of these subsidies can be redirected towards supporting more sustainable farming practices. This would, in turn, benefit the environment by reducing the damage caused by conventional chemical agriculture.

What is a Bio-Input Resource Centre (BRC)?