Zero Budget Natural Farming
concept came in 1990's post Green Revolution period. When a Maharashtra based agriculturalist Sir Subash Palekar bought into light that green revolution has made farmers use chemical bounded fertilizers and pesticides which are harmful for soil and cropping pattern in long run. He suggested the method of Zero Budget Natural Farming which would be traditional process free from chemicals.
Zero Budget Natural Farming would signify that farmers will not have to keep a budget or cost for purchasing and using chemical fertilizers and pesticides, they can relay on old methods of using natural fertilizer which would be free of cost or nominal cost in comparison to chemical items. This would increase benefit for farmers pocket along with soil and crop health.
4 pillars of Zero Budget Natural Farming
1. Jivamrutha - Natural ingredients used to enrich the soil fertility as practiced by our forefathers, like mixture of cow dungs, cow urine, gud/jaggery, etc to make natural compost fertilizers.
It would be a natural method to increase soil health and fertility as it promotes soil earthworms and microorganisms present in soil.
2. Beejamrita - Seed treatment to keep them free from insects and pests. Natural ingredients like neem, green chilies, tobacco, etc were used earlier to act as pesticides. These all traditional processes can be used to grow crops healthy and chemical free.
These processes and ingredients are cheap and easily available to farmers
3. Achadana - To protect soil moisture by covering it naturally. The process may be linked to mulching. This increases soil's natural moisture and fertility.
4. Whapasa - Water in form of soil moisture & ground water and air molecules present in soil plays a vital role in healthy crop production, it should be preserved for providing crops natural water supplies. This would reduce demand of artificial irrigation.
Zero Budget Natural Farming has good effect on soil and also reduces farmers extra cost of chemical fertilizers procurement and demand. Thus saving government subsidies money along with farmers input cost. So government has accepted the Zero Budget Natural Farming concept.
Government in 2019 budget mentioned about "back to basics" should be adopted by farmers to derive benefits in long run, and also government is committed towards Zero Budget Natural Farming through extensive study and impact analysis.
States like Andra Pradesh has commitment of being 100% natural farming by 2024 and many other states have also started Zero Budget Natural Farming in pilot mode to bring acceptance among farmers.
Benefits of Zero Budget Natural Farming
1. Cost saving to farmers
2. Boost soil health and crop growth naturally
3. Less water consumption and relay on irrigation
4. Every zonal crop is benefited from Zero Budget Natural Farming
5. Eliminate extensive use of synthetic inputs
6. Promotes natural intercropping
7. Restores small scale cultivation
8. Brings synchronisation between cattles and agricultural land.
Do share your views and any other opinions on ways to improve the farming in comments below.
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