BIS to Formulate National Agriculture Code (NAC)
- 05 Oct 2024
The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has initiated the process to create a National Agriculture Code (NAC), aimed at standardizing agricultural practices across India.
Key Points
- Comprehensive Agriculture Standards: The NAC will cover the entire agriculture cycle, setting standards for both general and crop-specific practices, from field preparation to post-harvest operations.
- It will also provide guidelines for input management, sustainability, and new areas like organic farming and the Internet of Things (IoT) in agriculture.
- Guidance for Future Practices: The NAC will serve as a framework for future agricultural practices, helping farmers, universities, and agriculture officials make informed decisions. It will be a comprehensive guide for the farming community, addressing diverse agroclimatic zones and socio-economic factors.
- New and Emerging Practices: Apart from traditional methods, the NAC will include guidelines for organic and natural farming.
- It will also introduce standards for advanced technologies like IoT and smart farming, ensuring India’s agriculture sector keeps pace with modern developments.
- Capacity Building and Training: Once the code is finalized by October 2025, the BIS plans to train farmers on NAC standards. Partnerships with universities will be fostered to facilitate training programs, with financial support from the BIS.
- Standardized Agriculture Demonstration Farms (SADF): BIS is collaborating with premier agriculture institutes to develop SADFs, where various farming techniques will be tested and implemented in accordance with Indian Standards. T
- International Inspiration: China’s success with SADFs serves as a model for India’s initiative, and MoUs have already been signed with institutes like Pantnagar’s Govind Ballabh Pant University of Agriculture and Technology to kickstart these farms.
