Recently, the focus has shifted to the area of natural farming, sparked by events like the national workshop conducted by NITI Aayog. The Zero Budget Natural Farming (ZBNF) model, created by Padma Shri Subhash Palekar, is among the most prevalent in India. This system advocates chemical-free farming that integrates crops, trees, and livestock, harnessing functional biodiversity for maximum utilization.
The Genesis of Natural Farming
Japanese farmer and philosopher Masanobu Fukuoka introduced this farming method in his 1975 book “The One-Straw Revolution.” The approach utilizes natural processes existing within or around farms. Internationally recognized as a form of regenerative agriculture, it presents a strategy to conserve the planet. It works by managing land practices to sequester carbon from the atmosphere into soils and plants, which provides benefits rather than detriment.
In India, the Bhartiya Prakritik Krishi Paddhati Programme (BPKP) promotes natural farming under the umbrella of the Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY). The BPKP aims to highlight traditional indigenous practices that reduce dependence on externally purchased inputs.
Aims of Natural Farming
One prime goal of natural farming is reviving farming’s appeal by enhancing net incomes for farmers by reducing costs, decreasing risks, maintaining yields, and generating revenues from intercropping. It encourages farmers to prepare essential biological inputs using on-farm, natural, and home-grown resources, significantly reducing production costs.
The Significant Advantages it Offers
Natural farming is a cost-effective and employment-boosting strategy that enhances rural development. As it avoids synthetic chemicals, health-related concerns are minimized with food produced having a higher nutritional density. The approach generates local employment through natural farming input enterprises, value addition, and marketing in local areas. Other advantages include better soil biology, improved agrobiodiversity, more efficient use of water, and much smaller carbon and nitrogen footprints.
Environmental Benefits and Resilience
Natural farming is known for its positive impact on the environment, such as soil rejuvenation and enhancing the resilience of crops against extreme weather conditions. The integration of livestock plays a crucial role in restoring ecosystems. It encourages the preparation of eco-friendly bio-inputs like Jivamrit and Beejamrit using cow dung, urine, and other natural products.
Distinguishing Natural Farming from Organic Farming
Unlike organic farming that relies on external organic fertilizers and manures, natural farming promotes decomposition of organic matter by microbes and earthworms directly on the soil surface. This process gradually infuses nutrients into the soil over time. Additionally, natural farming doesn’t involve any ploughing, tilting, or weeding unlike organic farming, making it more pocket-friendly and eco-friendly.
Government Initiatives Related to Natural Farming
Several initiatives like the Rainfed Area Development (RAD), Sub-mission on Agro Forestry (SMAF), National Mission on Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA), Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North Eastern Region (MOVCDNER), Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY), and Green India Mission have been undertaken by the Indian government to support and encourage natural farming.
The Road Ahead
Looking forward, it’s projected that by 2050, the global population will expand to approximately 10 billion. This expansion will possibly result in a 50% spike in agricultural demand compared to 2013. Consequently, a transformation towards holistic approaches like agro-ecology, agroforestry, climate-smart agriculture, and conservation agriculture will become imperative. This change will require the strengthening of agricultural market infrastructure, extending procurement mechanisms to all food grain and non-food grain crops in all states, implementing a price deficiency payment system for select crops, enacting legislation on ‘right to sell at MSP’ and linking MGNREGS with farm work to reduce cultivation costs.
