Journal article
Natural farming for whom? Environmental justice and state-led chemical-free farming promotion in India
The Journal of peasant studies, pp.1-27
04/10/2026
DOI: 10.1080/03066150.2026.2643200
Abstract
India's government has recently begun promoting ‘agroecological' agriculture through the National Mission on Natural Farming (NMNF). While NMNF is framed as a strategy to improve farmer incomes, health and nutrition, and environmental sustainability, little research has examined its justice implications. Drawing on qualitative and ethnographic research from two districts in eastern Madhya Pradesh, this paper analyzes NMNF through an environmental justice lens. We argue that promoting natural farming without material support risks moralizing farmers’ practices and producing new inequities. In our field sites, these dynamics further marginalize land-poor households. We conclude structural agrarian transformation is required for just agroecological transitions.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Natural farming for whom? Environmental justice and state-led chemical-free farming promotion in India
- Creators
- Carly Nichols - Duke-NUS Medical SchoolNidhi Kumari - Film Independent
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- The Journal of peasant studies, pp.1-27
- DOI
- 10.1080/03066150.2026.2643200
- ISSN
- 0306-6150
- eISSN
- 1743-9361
- Publisher
- Taylor & Francis
- Grant note
- National University of Singapore: Start-Up Grant Fund University of Iowa
This work was supported by National University of Singapore [grant number: Start-Up Grant Fund]; University of Iowa Advancing Environmental Justice Pilot Grant.
- Language
- English
- Electronic publication date
- 04/10/2026
- Academic Unit
- School of Earth, Environment, and Sustainability
- Record Identifier
- 9985153547402771
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