AP's Natural Farming Model Wins Global 2026 Food Planet Prize

Vijayawada: Andhra Pradesh’s flagship natural farming programme has earned global recognition with the Andhra Pradesh Community Managed Natural Farming (APCNF) initiative winning the 2026 Food Planet Prize, which is regarded as the world’s largest environmental award for food systems.

The Curt Bergfors Foundation selected APCNF for leading one of the world’s most ambitious transitions to agro-ecology and community-led natural farming.

Special chief secretary (Agriculture) B. Rajasekhar and Rythu Sadhikara Samstha (RySS) executive vice chairman T. Vijay Kumar received the award on behalf of Andhra Pradesh at Båstad in Sweden on Tuesday, June 2. The award carries prize money of $1.5 million.

Over the last decade, APCNF has brought nearly 1.8 million farmers into the natural farming mode, making it one of the largest such programmes globally. Operating across more than 8,000 villages, the initiative promotes farming without synthetic fertilisers and pesticides through women’s self-help groups and a network of over 10,000 farmer trainers.

The jury praised APCNF for demonstrating how nature-positive farming can be scaled across communities while improving livelihoods, climate resilience, and environmental sustainability. Jury co-chair Professor Lindiwe Majele Sibanda said the programme had reduced dependence on synthetic inputs and enhanced farmers’ resilience to droughts, climate shocks, and economic uncertainties.

Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu described the award as a historic first for India. He declared that Andhra Pradesh aims to become a “100 per cent natural farming state” by 2047. “We will restore resources, rejuvenate farmlands, strengthen farmers’ wellbeing, and help heal the planet,” he asserted.

Agriculture minister Kinjarapu Atchannaidu congratulated the state’s 18 lakh farmers, women self-help groups, and community resource persons, noting that natural farming has helped reduce cultivation costs and increase net incomes. He said the Andhra Pradesh model is now being replicated in 22 Indian states as well as Zambia and Sri Lanka.

Speaking after receiving the award, Vijay Kumar of RySS said, “The magic is in the women. Natural farming became possible because women farmers, self-help groups, and communities believed a different future is possible,” he said.

The prize money will support expansion of demonstration sites, development of implementation toolkits, new research partnerships, leadership training programmes, and greater support for “farmer scientists” conducting field-based agricultural research.

Special CS Rajasekhar said the recognition reflects the success of the government’s decade-long policy commitment.