How natural farming is transforming food production in southern India

UNEP
2026.05.22

The state of Andhra Pradesh in India may be famous for its stunning emerald-green slopes covered in lush vegetation.  Over the past few decades, however, the region has lost 30 to 40 per cent of its original forest cover, according to Dinesh Kumar, a local government official. 

“Intensive agricultural expansion has been one of the major drivers of deforestation and habitat loss in Andhra Pradesh,” says Kavita Sharma, a Task Manager with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and Global Environment Facility (GEF) Biodiversity and Land Degradation Unit. “This has led to poor soils, loss of agroecological biodiversity, and lower groundwater tables.” As the quality of soil deteriorated, many small farming communities have been struggling to cultivate their crops. 

To counter these worrying trends, in 2004 the state government launched a programme on Community Managed Sustainable Agriculture, which evolved into the Andhra Pradesh Community Managed Natural Farming initiative (APCNF) in 2014. Building upon this initiative, UNEP and GEF with support from the Indian Government, are implementing a project that combines traditional knowledge with science to restore ecosystems, diversify crops, and improve soil health. 

Read more here.

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