essay on natural farming

Essay on Natural Farming

Students are often asked to write an essay on Natural Farming in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Natural Farming

Introduction.

Natural farming is a unique method of agriculture that focuses on nature’s own processes. It avoids using artificial chemicals and genetically modified organisms, promoting a healthier environment.

The Concept of Natural Farming

Benefits of natural farming.

Natural farming benefits both the environment and people. It reduces soil erosion, increases biodiversity, and produces healthier food. It also reduces the farmer’s reliance on expensive, harmful chemicals.

In conclusion, natural farming is a sustainable way to grow food, respecting nature’s balance and providing us with healthier, tastier produce.

250 Words Essay on Natural Farming

Introduction to natural farming, principles of natural farming.

Natural farming is underpinned by four fundamental principles: no tillage, no fertilizers, no pesticides, and no weeding. The principle of no tillage supports the natural process of soil regeneration. By not using fertilizers and pesticides, farmers allow the ecosystem to maintain its balance, reducing harm to beneficial organisms. The no weeding principle acknowledges that what we often consider ‘weeds’ can contribute to soil health and biodiversity.

Natural farming offers numerous benefits. It promotes biodiversity, contributing to resilient ecosystems that can withstand climatic changes. It also improves soil health, enhancing its capacity to store carbon, which helps mitigate climate change. Moreover, natural farming reduces reliance on synthetic inputs, making it a cost-effective method for small-scale farmers.

Challenges and the Way Forward

Despite its advantages, natural farming faces challenges. It requires a profound understanding of local ecosystems, and the transition can initially lead to reduced yields. However, as our understanding of agroecology advances, so too will our ability to implement natural farming effectively. Emphasizing education and research in this field is crucial to ensure a sustainable agricultural future.

500 Words Essay on Natural Farming

Natural farming, also known as organic farming, is a farming methodology that focuses on minimizing human intervention, promoting biodiversity, and maintaining ecological balance. It underscores the importance of allowing nature to take its course without the use of synthetic inputs such as pesticides, fertilizers, or genetically modified organisms.

The Principles of Natural Farming

Natural farming operates on four primary principles. The first is the rejection of chemical inputs, which are replaced by natural alternatives like compost and green manure. The second principle is the integration of crops and livestock, which creates a symbiotic relationship where the waste of one serves as the nutrient for the other. The third principle is the preservation of biodiversity, which helps to maintain a balanced ecosystem. Lastly, the principle of regeneration emphasizes the importance of improving the soil’s health rather than depleting it.

Challenges in Natural Farming

Despite its benefits, natural farming faces several challenges. The transition from conventional to natural farming requires significant investment and time, which can be a deterrent for many farmers. Additionally, natural farming typically yields less than conventional farming, which can impact a farmer’s income. Moreover, there is a lack of institutional support and public awareness about the benefits of natural farming, which hinders its widespread adoption.

Natural Farming and the Future

In the face of these challenges, the future of natural farming hinges on strategic interventions. Governments, NGOs, and other stakeholders need to provide financial and technical support to farmers transitioning to natural farming. Public awareness campaigns about the benefits of natural farming and organic produce can also help increase demand and make natural farming more economically viable.

That’s it! I hope the essay helped you.

Happy studying!

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Making Small Farms More Sustainable — and Profitable

• Lino Miguel Dias,
• Robert S. Kaplan,
• Harmanpreet Singh

A case study of Better Life Farming, an innovative public-private partnership in India, Indonesia, and Bangladesh.

Smallholder farms provide a large proportion of food supply in developing economies, but 40% of these farmers live on less than U.S.$2/day.  With a rapidly growing global population it is imperative to improve the productivity and security of farmers making up this sector.  This article presents the results of Better Life Farming, an ecosystem that connects smallholder farmers in India, Indonesia, and Bangladesh to the capabilities, products, and services of corporations and NGOs.

More than 2 billion people currently live on about 550 million small farms, with 40% of them on incomes of less than U.S. $2 per day. Despite high rates of poverty and malnutrition, these smallholders produce food for more than 50% of the population in low-and middle-income countries, and they have to be part of any solution for achieving the 50% higher food production required to feed the world’s projected 2050 population of nearly 10 billion people.

• LD Lino Miguel Dias is Vice-President Smallholder Farming in the Crop Science Division at Bayer AG, a global pharmaceuticals and life sciences company based in Germany, and Invited Professor at University of Lisbon, Portugal.
• Robert S. Kaplan is a senior fellow and the Marvin Bower Professor of Leadership Development emeritus at Harvard Business School. He coauthored the McKinsey Award–winning HBR article “ Accounting for Climate Change ” (November–December 2021).
• HS Harmanpreet Singh is Smallholder Partnerships Lead for the Asia Pacific region at Bayer AG, a global pharmaceutical and life Sciences company.

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Essay on Natural Farming | Natural Farming

Essay on Natural Farming : Products yielded from natural farming is best for body as it contains all natural nutrients in it as is it produced without using chemical fertilizers. Government is also promoting natural farming for its health benefits as well as it's strength in creation of job opportunities. Thus essay on natural farming very important essay topic for students.

Essay on Natural Farming

Natural farming produces natural products which are chemical free and good for health. Presently, in agriculture sector, advanced technology and chemical fertilizers are used to get high productivity. These chemical fertilizers increases productivity but quality of products decreases in comparison to natural farming. Produces yielded from natural farming are very high quality and are full of all natural nutrients. Thus, it is very good for health as well as environment as it is chemical free or organic.

What is Natural Farming

Natural Farming is a method of farming without using chemical fertilizers. This is also known as traditional farming or organic farming method. It is a diversified farming system based on agro-ecology that integrates crops, trees and livestock with functional biodiversity. Natural Farming is largely based on on-farm biomass recycling. This focuses on biomass mulching, use of on-farm cow dung-urine formulations and periodic soil aeration.

Benefits of Natural Farming

Natural Farming is considered as cost-effective farming practices. This provides employment opportunities in the rural areas and helps in rural development. It is a diversified farming system based on agro-ecology that integrates crops, trees and livestock which allow the optimum use of functional biodiversity.

Natural Farming is considered a form of regenerative agriculture which is a prominent strategy to save the planet. This method of farming has many other benefits, such as restoration of soil fertility and environmental health, mitigating greenhouse gas emissions and global warming and curbing pollution . Natural Farming also has potential to manage land practices and sequester carbon from the atmosphere in soils and plants, where it is actually useful.

Obstacles in Natural Farming

Natural Farming is associated with decline in yields which hamper the farmer’s income. An often-cited barrier by farmers in transitioning to Natural Farming is the lack of readily available natural inputs and not every farmer has the time, patience, or labour to develop their own inputs for natural farming.

Also Read:  Essay on Electric Vehicle: The future of Transport

Measures to Scale up Natural Farming

Bhartiya Prakritik Krishi Paddhati Programme (BPKP) under Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY) has been launched by Government of India to promote Natural Farming. The scheme aims to promote traditional indigenous practices which reduce externally purchased inputs.

Another scheme named Sub-mission on AgroForestry (SMAF) aims to encourage farmers to plant multi-purpose trees together with the agriculture crops. This scheme also aims to promote enhanced feedstock to inter alia wood-based and herbal industry which create additional source of income to the farmers. National Mission on Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA) was also launched which aims to develop, demonstrate and disseminate the techniques to make agriculture resilient to adverse impacts of climate change.

Also Read:  Essay on Governance 4.0

Natural Farming: Way Forward

Method of Natural Farming is more popular and can easily be promoted in ra infed regions as these regions use less fertilizers in compared to the areas where irrigation is prevalent. To promote the Natural Farming, government’s crop insurance scheme, PM Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) can be helpful as it will help in risk prevention and farmers will feel assured.

To address the challenge of unavailability of readily available inputs required for natural farming, the promotion of natural farming needs be scaled up at village-level through preparation and sales shops at village level.

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Fukuoka, Natural Farming, and the Developing World

Buddhism and agriculture - part 3.

In his later life, Masanobu Fukuoka became very concerned with using natural farming to solve real-world problems. This was reflected in the progression of ideas in his writings. In his first book, The One-Straw Revolution , Fukuoka (1978/2009) outlined the philosophy and practice of natural farming. In his final book, Sowing Seeds in the Desert (Fukuoka, 1996/2012), he provided a more concrete manifesto of how natural farming can provide solutions to some of the world’s most pressing challenges. This includes a strong focus on some of the major issues affecting farming communities in developing countries.

In my first article in this series , I explored the philosophy of Masanobu Fukuoka and his system of natural farming, drawing mostly on The One-Straw Revolution . In the second article , I reported on my visit to Fukuoka-sensei’s farm in Iyo and how things have changed there since he passed away in 2008. In this post, I would like to make some general reflections on whether the philosophy and methodology of natural farming (as defined by Fukuoka-sensei) can offer benefits to poor farmers in developing countries. This post provides only some initial reflections – much more work needs to be done to document and evaluate Fukuoka’s impact in the developing world. I would, therefore, invite you to read this post and engage by leaving your thoughts in the comments section, below.

Healing the World

In Sowing Seeds in the Desert , Fukuoka (2012) treats the problems of developing societies as part of a generalised sickness afflicting all of the modern world. The symptoms of this sickness appear in the form of desertification, overpopulation, hunger and other malaises. Parts of the world – the deserts, the slums, the mountains of waste and the hollowed-out mines – are crying out for healing. According to Fukuoka, however, the road to recovery must be holistic. To illustrate this, he draws on the distinction between Western medicine – which focuses on the localised treatment of sickness – with Eastern medicine – which concerns itself with the holistic conditions of health. In so doing, he makes note that Eastern medicine’s concern with holistic health has become difficult, as we have all become so estranged from the conditions of true health (i.e., a healthy natural environment and lifestyle) that we have lost sight of what health means.

Whether the disease is in an individual body or at the level of societies or ecosystems, the path to healing lies in reconsidering the relationship between humanity and nature. As such, it is clearly not as simple as attempting to fix specific problems with a new technological intervention. The Green Revolution demonstrates clearly enough that producing more food has not had the effect of reducing hunger (see Rosset, 2000; Vanhaute, 2011). Healing occurs in relations of love, care, and joy, which bring the organism back into its condition of integration with the natural world.

When it comes to social problems like poverty and environmental destruction, the modern mentality tends to assume that the solution will lie in more ‘rational’ modern interventions: through a new efficiency measure, new technology, new development program and so on. We hope that the problem of poverty can be solved through more consumption, without recognising the extent to which consumption is part of the problem. Fukuoka steps back and observes how many of our problems relate to the simple fact that we have lent value to material possessions. If we allowed ourselves to place value on things other than ownership, many of our problems would drop away. Returning to nature by way of agriculture would allow us to live simple lives where the need for endlessly expanding consumption would be far less. Unfortunately, global agri-business has removed access to agriculture for the many of us. This begins to get closer to the root cause of the systemic illness: alienation from agriculture and, by implication, alienation from the natural world. Fukuoka points out that modern consumer societies like Japan and most Western nations have become very vulnerable, as their estrangement from agriculture means that people will lack a means of survival in the (inevitable) event of an economic collapse.

When Fukuoka looks to poorer countries, he almost seems more hopeful. He suggests that many Asian and African countries have retained a “proud agrarian ethic” and that for them, a shift towards more urbanisation in the manner of Japan and the West would be highly destructive. In saying this, he retains the somewhat romantic notion that agrarian populations would rather not be a part of modern society, citing an Ethiopian nomad who once told him that accumulating material possessions was a degrading way to live. He suggests that most of the world’s farmers see skyscrapers as ‘tombstones of the human race’ (Fukuoka, 2012: 56). 1

Fukuoka provides an insightful analysis of how post-colonial states came to lose their biodiversity and farmers’ self-sufficiency. Referring specifically to Eastern Africa, he suggests that the initial disruption to natural farming in the region came with the colonial imposition of monocultures, which killed off the forests and native varieties of cereals and vegetables. Ultimately, this left farmers in a position in which they lacked access to the seeds necessary for basic self-sufficiency. Furthermore, they drew up boundaries and imposed national parks on the people, unsettling the grazing patterns of nomads, which had occurred in a sustainable, cyclical fashion for centuries, forcing them into ever-more inconvenient arrangements and ultimately leading them to conflict amongst themselves. All of this was compounded by the fact that postcolonial states have tended to promote cash-cropping and urbanisation at the expense of rural self-sufficiency. Indeed, Fukuoka claims that on travelling to Somalia, he was requested by authorities not to promote farmer self-sufficiency too much by providing them with seeds.

In short, Fukuoka sees the colonial intervention, the imposition of modernity, and our alienation from nature as the source of the ‘disease’. The ‘cure’ can only be to rebuild the rural self-sufficiency that colonialism pulled away. This implies revegetation of lands damaged by decades and centuries of intensive cultivation, re-building agri-biodiversity and a re-establishing a healthy relationship with the earth. This is the pathway towards healing the world and healing ourselves.

Natural Farming to Revegetate the World’s Deserts

In the final quarter of his life, revegetating deserts and deforested areas in developing countries became one of Fukuoka-sensei’s chief interests. In doing this, he followed the same basic principles as he had in formulating his methods of natural farming. His guiding assumption was that the trouble of desertification was misguided human interventions into nature, and that the solution lay in removing these interventions and allowing nature to run its course.

The mainstream solution to desertification has been irrigation. The assumption is that more water will allow dried-out areas to be cropped once again. In Sowing Seeds in the Desert , Fukuoka (2012) argues against this approach, as it relies on the construction of harmful dams or the tapping of finite ground water reserves and may ultimately lead to the salinisation of soils. Instead, he promotes minimal use of water and the careful broadcasting of diverse seeds. One must sow ground-covers and grasses to cool the soil and create a mulch; trees to provide shade and bring water up from underground; poisonous plants to keep away goats; legumes to promote the proliferation of micro-organisms in the soil; and densely growing plants such as bamboo to prevent erosion along riverbanks. In this way, he deployed the methods of natural farming to address desertification and claimed some success in this endeavour in Eastern Africa and India.

Ideally, Fukuoka argued that the best approach to revegetation was to broadcast a diverse variety of seeds across the desert in clay pellets. The pellets would provide the seeds protection, moisture and sustenance and allow them to remain dormant for long periods. From there, one could leave the process up to nature. When rain finally came, suitable seeds would germinate and begin a process of rebuilding a natural ecosystem. Though most of the plants would not survive the desert conditions, even those that died might remain in the soil as mulch, nourishing other plants and cooling the soil. Trees would take root and bring up water from beneath the ground, simultaneously hydrating and cooling. Soon enough, animals would return, and a chain reaction of greening would be initiated.

In spreading these seeds, Fukuoka cared little for whether the seeds were native or not. Certainly, having some local varieties would be important, as plants from arid regions would be most suitable to the dry, hot, occasionally salty conditions of desertified lands. Nonetheless, Fukuoka insists that the movement of organisms has already become globalised and there is no point in imposing limits on which plants to sow. What’s more, the global environment has changed so much that there is no guarantee that the native varieties are, any more, the best suited to rebuild the deserts. As such, he suggested suggests:

I think we should mix all the species together and scatter them worldwide, completely doing away with their uneven distribution. This would give nature a full palette to work with as it establishes a new balance given the current conditions. I call this the Second Genesis. (Fukuoka, 2012, p. 95)

Initiating this ‘Second Genesis,’ however, proved challenging. As I described in a previous article in this series, Fukuoka was ultimately very disappointed with the limited global impact of his work. This was especially true of his efforts to combat desertification. During our visit to the farm in November, his grandson Hiroki-san informed us that Fukuoka-sensei felt disappointed that despite the tremendous potential of his plans to revegetate deserts, they were only being practiced on small tracts of land.

Fukuoka in India

During our visit to Fukuoka-sensei’s farm in Iyo, his grandson, Hiroki-san, informed us that in all the world there were probably only ten people practicing natural farming in the manner that his grandfather had taught. Many others had adopted aspects of his methods, but were unwilling to leave things to nature to such a large extent as Fukuoka-sensei – they are only partially practicing ‘natural farming’ (and Hiroki-san included himself in this). Those who were practicing a pure form of natural farming were mostly doing it as an experiment or as a way of life, but not as a commercial initiative, and they were overwhelmingly from wealthier countries. Furthermore, the overwhelming number of visitors coming to the farm today are from Europe and North America. It is telling that a farming method that has the potential to mend the damaged lands of the post-colonial world and which requires very little expenditure on labour and other inputs, has not become more popular amongst the peasant societies of Asia, Africa and Latin America. This was despite Masanobu Fukuoka’s extensive efforts at revegetation in the Philippines, Thailand and East Africa.

The one developing country in which Fukuoka-sensei did made some in-roads, however, was India. Indeed, even today, The One-Straw Revolution can often be found in a great variety of India’s bookstores and is well-known, ironically, amongst the urban middle classes. In India in the early 1990s, Fukuoka found a government receptive to his ideas regarding the regeneration of arid lands, which agreed to support projects of aerial seed drops. According to Fukuoka’s own account in Sowing Seeds in the Desert , these seed drops, in which clay seed balls were dropped from planes on damaged lands, were mostly successful and led to the sprouting of wild rice along the Ganges and new mangroves in the Ganges Delta.

For many pages of Sowing Seeds in the Desert , however, Fukuoka elaborates on one of his less successful endeavours – the Chambal Gorge, a desertified region of Madhya Pradesh. This region, once a forest home to elephants and tigers, had been subject to rapid and severe desertification. He found the lands red and barren. Even after seed dropping, very little vegetation had taken root: the seeds either failed to germinate, were washed away by rains or were eaten by goats. Fukuoka was forced to reflect in some length as to why his seed ball method was not generating results. He came to the conclusion that this land had been so damaged, that repair would take longer than planned. Though his spirits were lifted by the few patches of green growing in the shadows between rocks, he ultimately had to consider the root causes of desertification which were making recovery so difficult. In this region, he claimed, deforestation, over-grazing and erosion had severed the vital connections between water, soil, plants and micro-organisms, which, in nature make up a single, living unit. There was, essentially, no living soil.

In his discussion of these issues in Madhya Pradesh, Fukuoka drifts into deep reflection on the causes of the crisis, but a clear solution is not provided. His final suggestions to the Indian government, however, was that they should simply be more persistent and continue to drop seed balls year after year with the hope that some would eventually generate the desired effect. He suggested that all barriers to the free transfer of seeds from Japan should be lifted (such as quarantining), that there should be no restrictions on access to wasteland (to allow seeding to be done by farmers) and that farmers should be given free and easy access to seed banks. He complains that India’s onerous bureaucratic procedures were making it too difficult for farmers to gain access to seeds and sow them. The process needed to be simplified. Having said all this, given the very modest gains from aerial seed dropping, it seems unlikely that simply allowing the further spread of seeds would generate instant, miraculous results.

Part of Fukuoka’s attraction to India was the strong resonance between his ideas and those of Mahatma Gandhi. Both Fukuoka and Gandhi had been critical of science, both encouraged simple agrarian lifestyles and both critiqued the way that modernity encouraged a proliferation of desires for material goods that could never be met. In 1997, Fukuoka again travelled to India to attend a Gandhi seminar, to mark 50 years of India’s Independence. In a film documenting this visit , we see Fukuoka speaking of a world in turmoil, in which more and more people are coming to him for direction. Here, he asserts the value of Gandhi’s philosophy, suggesting that we are at a crossroads and that the fate of the world rests on how effectively we can embrace Gandhi and live simpler lives, restraining our desires. Despite this, there are clearly points of difference. In dialogue with Gandhians, he refused to accept purist adherence to vegetarianism. He acknowledges that too much meat is not good, but argues that prohibitions on eating particular foods on the basis of religion are causing people to become confused. Nature should be the guide to what is acceptable to eat and nature does not have a problem with one animal consuming another.

The documentary is also revealing in showing the kind of advice Fukuoka-sensei attempted to bestow on Indian farmers. During his visit to India in 1997, Fukuoka-sensei met with a number of practicing natural farmers, many of whom were struggling and in need of advice. Interestingly, the documentary shows that he was equally philosophical in his dialogues with farmers as he was in his books – speaking of the futility of human knowledge and the value in leaving things to nature. He was purist in his adherence to principle, reprimanding farmers for even slight tillage of the soil or having fixed ideas of how nature ought to behave. He holds to the value of scattering seed, and makes the point that in desertified lands, one need only be more rigorous, scattering seed balls continually until they take root.

At the end of the film, Fukuoka-sensei visits the farm of Bhaskar Save, perhaps the most prominent farmer to be inspired by both his philosophy and that of Gandhi. Touring Save’s farm on a bullock cart, Fukuoka declares it to be superior to his own farm and the best natural farm he has seen anywhere in the world.

Although many in India seem to have been inspired by the philosophy of Fukuoka, very few have strictly adopted the practices of natural farming. Rajagopalan, head of the Gandhi Peace Foundation, in a piece on the Foundation’s website , writes in great praise of Fukuoka and the harmonies between his philosophies and Gandhi’s. Yet, he concludes his piece with a ‘cautionary note,’ advising that the method of simply scattering seed balls is not appropriate for the Indian climate and that to attempt to apply it there would be ‘disastrous.’ While I believe this may be an over-statement, it is noteworthy that even Bhaskar Save, supposedly the chief example of a natural farmer in India, writes within his own publications that he is not a natural farmer in the purest sense. Save points out that although his mature orchards can be said to be “natural” and the goal is always to establish a system that needs minimal human intervention, young plants still need to be cared for by the farmer in the early stages, just as a child needs care from a mother (Save, 2008: 27-28) . Fukuoka-sensei, by contrast, advocated leaving nature to provide this love and care for the young plants.

Given that someone like Bhaskar Save, who had become an ideological figurehead for natural farming in India, was unable to carry out the philosophy to the letter, it seems unlikely that the average farmer could find herself comfortable with ever being a purely ‘natural farmer.’ In the above-mentioned documentary, Fukuoka talks to farmers who have attempted his approach and encountered losses. After they describe their experiences to him, he tells them that the problem was the sowing time. Seeds were scattered either too early or too late. He advises them to experiment the following season broadcasting seed balls either one month earlier or one month after and suggests that after 2-3 years he will have it figured out. One wonders if the average Indian farmer, knee-deep in debt and confronted with fluctuating markets and the insecurity of environmental change, can afford the additional gamble of a farming method whose results are contingent upon trial-and-error experimentation on each and every farm.

My own research has focused on attempts to promote more sustainable farming systems in India. The farmers I have encountered who had experimented with Fukuoka-sensei’s methods mostly discontinued. They retained a strong belief in the theory and philosophy of natural farming, but their own experience of failure with ‘do-nothing’ techniques led them to believe that Fukuoka-sensei’s level of intuitive understanding of nature far surpassed their own and that it was not possible for them to be true natural farmers in practice. They remained inspired by his ideas but could not follow them all the way to the end. Perhaps, ultimately, this is the more ‘natural’ approach: nature rarely follows the same principles in all circumstances – it makes do with what it can manage, forges impromptu, contingent solutions, and combines awkwardly diverse elements to build systems and sub-systems most suited to the local level.

Do-Nothing Development?

Despite a tremendous global interest in Fukuoka-sensei’s ideas, the practical impact of natural farming on the ground has been rather modest: a fact of which Fukuoka himself was all-too-painfully aware. I believe that the core reason for this is that unlike other systems of sustainable, chemical-free farming (such as agro-ecology and permaculture), natural farming has not been able to pitch itself as a solution to farming communities’ most urgent social and economic needs. Indeed, where agro-ecology and permaculture promote scientifically-backed methods to allow communities to meet their aspirations, Fukuoka instead offers a more bitter medicine: communities should reconsider their aspirations – consider wanting less , doing less .

A further challenge of natural farming is ensuring that the methods of promotion are congruent with Fukuoka-sensei’s overall philosophy. Grand initiatives to revegetate large tracts of land are often too dependent upon centralised, state-led interventions that require a great deal of planning, money, technology and long-term commitment. Yet, natural farming claims to aim for effortless action – action that is an extension of natural processes. In the context of global neoliberal hegemony, however, natural farming is quite the opposite: it is like swimming against the flow of the stream.

Could we imagine Fukuoka’s ‘do-nothing farming’ as being embedded within a model of ‘do-nothing development’? A model of development that, rather than being dependent upon large coordinated teams of middle class development workers is instead a kind of ‘minimal gesture’: a passing on of a few simple tools or ideas, that quickly proliferate through the ‘natural’ dispositions of rural communities throughout the world?

Why begin with what is challenging? Why attempt to convert commercial farmers, for whom it has become ‘natural’ to farm for money? Why attempt to capture large state-funded projects, when it is known that the state, in the long term, will always act in the interests of capital? Why not recognise the domains in which natural farming does resonate with what people do naturally?

Children have an innate interest in nature and the method of creating clay seed balls and scattering them in desertified and damaged lands could be seen as great fun. Sowing seeds in the desert could easily be embedded in school science programs, as a kind of experiment. Revegetation could be seen not as ‘work’ but as ‘play’ and also ‘research.’ Such a project could be an opportunity for learning for students on a wide array of subjects: from biodiversity and ecological inter-connectedness to plant biology. And ultimately the seeds that such projects would sow within the children’s hearts might be the most fruitful of all.

• I would suggest that on this issue Fukuoka greatly under-estimates the pull that modernity exerts over all of us, including farmers. In my experience in India, the majority of people in the countryside are looking for pathways out of agriculture. We need to accept this fact to move forward.

Fukuoka, M. (1978/2009). The One-Straw Revolution (L. Korn, C. Pearce & T. Kurosawa, Trans.). New York Review Books: New York.

Fukuoka, M. (1996/2012). Sowing Seeds in the Desert (L. Korn, Ed. & Trans.). White River Junction, Vermont: Chelsea Green Publishing.

Rosset, P. (2000). Lessons from the Green Revolution. Oakland: Food First [online]. Available from: http://www.foodfirst.org/media/opeds/2000/4-greenrev.html

Save, B. (2008). The Great Agricultural Challenge (transcribed by Bharat Mansata). Kolkata: Earthcare Books.

Vanhaute, E. (2011). From famine to food crisis: What history can teach us about local and global subsistence crises. The Journal of Peasant Studies, 38(1), 47–65.

Dr Trent Brown

The mud room: stacking functions in design, check out your permaculture tool box.

Hi, I live in the The Great Basin high desert on border of Nevada and California. I live in a natural desert and I have had different levels of success with spreading seeds. There are specific species (sagebrush, rabbit brush, penstemmon, rocky mountain bee balm) that do very well here and can be spread randonly onto ground with no irrigation. The problem comes with your zone 1, 2 and 3 where you add irrigation. Irrigation will cause a massive amount of weeds and you have to seed at 4 times the recommended rate to barely compete with weeds in spring. I have found that cluster planting perennials and deep heavy mulch works alot better. Because I live in a cold desert the growing season is very marginal and you have to give plants proper spacing or else they compete for sunlight and become leggy and stunted. This is all a massive amount of trial and error. I have seeded whole areas with 1000s of seeds and watched as all plants become stunted after initial success and them the weeds find away to shade out your weakling plants. Alfalfa has been a champion. Extremely drought tolerant, heals the soil and grows massive during the random torrential high desert storms. I have altered my seeding methods to include a catch crop at end of summer when most of the weeds stop sprouting. Its mostly daikon radish (fukuoka inspired) because I can still harvest them under the snow up until Christmas when the ground freezes. I think your very right in that methods need to be applied to the right circumstance. Fukuoka was a master of his environment. And his commitment to letting nature run its course is a spiritual journey worth undertaking. But I specifically had to alter my course and use desert ecology to guide me. Thanks for the article, I have loved all of them!

Hey Trent, this is a good read and thanks for sharing your perspective about Natural farming in India.

Thank you very much for this profound article!

Or, in answer to the Endnote 1, transform our society and economy to the degree where natural farmers are recognized as the caretakers of not just the environment but humanity, and be paid accordingly; not crushed by the “free market” economy to the lowest level of subsistence and even, as in India, suicide.

We living in a world in which the biggest and most wealthy companies produce nothing except a waste of time and energy, ie the Facebooks of the world, and speculatively gambling on imaginary 1s and 0s in the money market is worth billions, while the people who produce the food & environment we survive on can’t even afford the basics of life.

That is something that needs changed, How … I have no idea.

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Natural Farming: Principles, Practices and Opportunities in North East India

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Natural Farming: A Sustainable Approach to Agriculture and Environmental Conservation | Sociology UPSC | Triumph IAS

Table of Contents

Natural Farming

(relevant for geography section of general   studies paper prelims/mains).

Natural Farming is both an art and a practice, and it’s progressively becoming a scientific endeavor focused on harmonizing with nature to attain higher outcomes with fewer resources. Nonetheless, this approach has often been linked to reduced crop yields and limited improvements in farmers’ incomes.

This agricultural approach was introduced by Masanobu Fukuoka, a Japanese farmer and philosopher, in his 1975 book ‘The One-Straw Revolution.’

It represents a diverse farming system that integrates crops, trees, and livestock, facilitating the optimal utilization of functional biodiversity.

Globally, Natural Farming is recognized as a type of regenerative agriculture, a prominent strategy for environmental conservation.

It offers the potential to not only increase farmers’ income but also contribute to soil fertility restoration, environmental well-being, and the mitigation or reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.

This approach has the capability to effectively manage land practices and sequester carbon from the atmosphere into soils and plants, where it can be highly beneficial.

Several initiatives have been launched in this context:

• Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY)
• Sub-mission on AgroForestry (SMAF)
• National Mission on Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA)
• Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yoj

Measures that can be taken to scale up Natural Farming

• Expanding Beyond the Ganga Basin: The focus should extend to the promotion of natural farming in rainfed regions beyond the Gangetic basin.
• Rainfed areas utilize only one-third of the fertilizers per hectare compared to irrigated regions, making the transition to chemical-free farming more feasible.
• Moreover, farmers in these regions can benefit significantly as current crop yields are comparatively low.
• Mitigating Risks for a Smooth Transition: To facilitate a seamless shift to chemical-free farming, farmers transitioning should be automatically enrolled in the government’s crop insurance scheme, PM Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY).
• Any change in agricultural practices, such as crop diversification or altered farming methods, introduces additional risks for farmers. Addressing these risks could encourage more farmers to embrace the transition.
• Supporting Agricultural Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (Agri MSMEs): The government should extend support to microenterprises that produce inputs for chemical-free agriculture.
• To tackle the challenge of the limited availability of natural inputs, the promotion of natural farming should go hand in hand with the establishment of village-level input preparation and sales shops. With two such shops in every village nationwide, it could provide livelihood opportunities for at least five million youth and women.
• Inspiration from Fellow Farmers: NGOs and exemplary farmers who have championed sustainable agriculture practices across the country can serve as inspirational figures.
• According to research by CEEW (Council on Energy, Environment, and Water) , approximately five million farmers are already engaged in some form of sustainable agriculture, with numerous NGOs actively promoting these practices.
• Learning from peers, especially exemplary farmers, through on-field demonstrations has proven highly effective in scaling up chemical-free agriculture in Andhra Pradesh.
• Leveraging Community-Based Institutions: Community institutions can play a pivotal role in raising awareness, inspiring others, and providing social support.
• The government should foster an environment where farmers can learn from and support each other during the transition.
• Beyond revising the curriculum in agricultural universities, there is a pressing need to enhance the skills of agricultural extension workers in sustainable farming practices.

Sample Question for UPSC Sociology Optional Paper:

Question 1 : What is the sociocultural impact of transitioning from conventional to Natural Farming ? Short Answer : The transition from conventional to Natural Farming can have a profound sociocultural impact by reinforcing traditional agricultural wisdom and community bonds, leading to a more sustainable and ecologically conscious society.

Question 2 : How does Natural Farming intersect with the concept of social capital? Short Answer : Natural Farming often involves community cooperation and shared knowledge, thereby enriching social capital by fostering community ties, trust, and mutual assistance.

Question 3 : What role do NGOs play in the promotion and scaling of Natural Farming in India? Short Answer : NGOs play a critical role in awareness-raising, training, and providing resources for Natural Farming, thereby serving as catalysts for its adoption and scalability.

Question 4 : Discuss the gender dimensions of Natural Farming . Short Answer : Natural Farming can empower women by involving them in decision-making processes and offering them opportunities in agricultural microenterprises, thereby improving gender equality in the sector.

Question 5 : How does Natural Farming contribute to rural development? Short Answer : Natural Farming can spur rural development by increasing farmers’ incomes, improving food security, restoring soil health, and generating employment opportunities, especially through Agri MSMEs.

To master these intricacies and fare well in the Sociology Optional Syllabus , aspiring sociologists might benefit from guidance by the Best Sociology Optional Teacher and participation in the Best Sociology Optional Coaching . These avenues provide comprehensive assistance, ensuring a solid understanding of sociology’s diverse methodologies and techniques.

Natural Farming, Sustainable Agriculture, Masanobu Fukuoka, Regenerative Agriculture, Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana, Sub-mission on AgroForestry, National Mission on Sustainable Agriculture, Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yoj, Soil Fertility, Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Rainfed Regions, Chemical-Free Farming, Agri MSMEs

Choose T he Best Sociology Optional Teacher for IAS Preparation?

At the beginning of the journey for Civil Services Examination preparation, many students face a pivotal decision – selecting their optional subject. Questions such as “ which optional subject is the best? ” and “ which optional subject is the most scoring? ” frequently come to mind. Choosing the right optional subject, like choosing the best sociology optional teacher , is a subjective yet vital step that requires a thoughtful decision based on facts. A misstep in this crucial decision can indeed prove disastrous.

Ever since the exam pattern was revamped in 2013, the UPSC has eliminated the need for a second optional subject. Now, candidates have to choose only one optional subject for the UPSC Mains , which has two papers of 250 marks each. One of the compelling choices for many has been the sociology optional. However, it’s strongly advised to decide on your optional subject for mains well ahead of time to get sufficient time to complete the syllabus. After all, most students score similarly in General Studies Papers; it’s the score in the optional subject & essay that contributes significantly to the final selection.

“ A sound strategy does not rely solely on the popular Opinion of toppers or famous YouTubers cum teachers. ”

It requires understanding one’s ability, interest, and the relevance of the subject, not just for the exam but also for life in general. Hence, when selecting the best sociology teacher, one must consider the usefulness of sociology optional coaching in General Studies, Essay, and Personality Test.

The choice of the optional subject should be based on objective criteria, such as the nature, scope, and size of the syllabus, uniformity and stability in the question pattern, relevance of the syllabic content in daily life in society, and the availability of study material and guidance. For example, choosing the best sociology optional coaching can ensure access to top-quality study materials and experienced teachers. Always remember, the approach of the UPSC optional subject differs from your academic studies of subjects. Therefore, before settling for sociology optional , you need to analyze the syllabus, previous years’ pattern, subject requirements (be it ideal, visionary, numerical, conceptual theoretical), and your comfort level with the subject.

This decision marks a critical point in your UPSC – CSE journey , potentially determining your success in a career in IAS/Civil Services. Therefore, it’s crucial to choose wisely, whether it’s the optional subject or the best sociology optional teacher . Always base your decision on accurate facts, and never let your emotional biases guide your choices. After all, the search for the best sociology optional coaching is about finding the perfect fit for your unique academic needs and aspirations.

To master these intricacies and fare well in the Sociology Optional Syllabus , aspiring sociologists might benefit from guidance by the Best Sociology Optional Teacher and participation in the Best Sociology Optional Coaching . These avenues provide comprehensive assistance, ensuring a solid understanding of sociology’s diverse methodologies and techniques. Sociology, Social theory, Best Sociology Optional Teacher, Best Sociology Optional Coaching, Sociology Optional Syllabus. Best Sociology Optional Teacher, Sociology Syllabus, Sociology Optional, Sociology Optional Coaching, Best Sociology Optional Coaching, Best Sociology Teacher, Sociology Course, Sociology Teacher, Sociology Foundation, Sociology Foundation Course, Sociology Optional UPSC, Sociology for IAS,

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Natural Farming – process, advantages and challenges – Explained, pointwise

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• 1 Introduction
• 2 What is Natural farming?
• 3 How Natural farming is different from other methods?
• 4 How are the soil nutrients managed in Natural farming?
• 5.1 Initiatives at the state level
• 6 What are the advantages of shifting to Natural farming?
• 7 What are the challenges in adopting natural farming?
• 8 What should be done to promote natural farming?

Introduction

Recently, the Prime Minister urged all state governments to introduce natural farming. The Prime Minister observed, “We need to unlearn the wrong practices that have crept into our agriculture.”

Andhra Pradesh has been promoting natural farming for some time now. Australian soil microbiologist and climate scientist Walter Jehne has said, “regenerative agricultural practices adopted in Andhra Pradesh have fundamentally changed the economic viability of farming and enormously empowered local communities to take charge of their future.”

What is Natural farming?

Natural farming is related to soil microbiology. It involves chemical-free farming and livestock-based farming methods .

It is a diversified farming system that integrates crops, trees and livestock, allowing the optimum use of functional biodiversity.

It has many indigenous forms in India, the most popular one is practised in Andhra Pradesh called Zero Budget Natural Farming (ZBNF) .

How Natural farming is different from other methods?

Modern agriculture is based on the principle that the soil has to be replenished by chemical nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorous, depending on the intake by the crop. Using chemical inputs reduces the microbe population and hinders this natural process.

In organic farming , similarly, the soil is replenished by applying organic manure like cow dung. But since cow dung contains very little nitrogen, massive amounts have to be applied, which may be difficult for a farmer to arrange.

Natural farming works on the principle that there is no shortage of nutrients in soil, air and water, and healthy soil biology can unlock these nutrients.

How are the soil nutrients managed in Natural farming?

A cow dung-based bio-stimulant is prepared locally by fermenting dung with cow urine, jaggery and pulses flour . The requirement of dung is very low compared to organic farming, just about 400 kg for an acre of land.

The fermented solution when applied to fields increases the microbial count in the soil, which supplies the plants with essential nutrients ( Jivamrit ).

This farming method also uses a host of other interventions . Seeds are treated with cow dung-based stimulant which protects young roots from fungus and other soil and seed-borne diseases ( Beejamrit ).

The fields are managed to have some green cover around the year to aid carbon capture by plants from the air and nurture the soil-carbon-sponge. This also keeps the microbes and other organisms like earthworms alive which helps the soil become porous and retain more water ( Whapsa ).

During the cultivation of main crops, crop residues are used as mulch ( Acchadana  or Mulching) to retain soil moisture and prevent the growth of weeds .

Growing multiple crops in the same patch of land also raises soil fertility.

About Natural farming in India

Bharatiya Prakritik Krishi Paddhati (BPKP) is a sub-mission under the Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY) which falls within the umbrella of the National Mission on Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA) . The scheme aims to promote traditional indigenous practices, which give freedom to farmers from externally purchased inputs.

Initiatives at the state level

Andhra Pradesh launched natural farming as a state policy in 2015. The state is now home to the largest number of farmers in India who have transitioned from chemical nutrients to applying locally prepared natural inputs.

Further, Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh have adopted natural farming as part of the state policy.

What are the advantages of shifting to Natural farming?

Small and marginal farmers who spend a lot of money on chemical inputs will benefit the most by taking up this type of farming.

Improving farmers’ income : The use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides can be replaced with locally prepared stimulants while maintaining comparable yields. This will reduce cost of cultivation by 60-70%. Natural farming also makes soil softer and enhances the taste of food. Thereby, it can result in higher net income for farmers .

A study undertaken by Andhra University (surveyed over 3500 natural and conventional farms) found that Net revenues for paddy farmers were higher by 15-65% depending on the crop season, while for commercial crops like chillies, cotton and onion, net revenues were 40-165% more than conventional farming. Average net returns from natural farming were 50% higher.

Reduce the dependence on credit : A panel survey of 260 farm households which were surveyed in 2018-19 and 2019-20, found that natural farming reduced the dependence on credit, freeing many farmers from exploitative and interlinked input and credit markets.

Reduce India’s fertilizer subsidy bill : India’s fertilizer subsidy bill, driven by a spike in natural gas and other raw material prices, is estimated to touch a staggering ₹1.3 trillion in 2021-22. Promoting natural farming can reduce these costs to the exchequer.

More flexible than organic farming : Organic farming is more about certification, while natural farming is a gradual process. But, there is relative flexibility in natural farming for adoption. This makes it easier for small farmers to transition.

Benefit end consumers : At present, consumers are forced to purchase food with chemical residues in it. Certified organic food is more expensive, but the sheer cost savings in natural farming can ensure safe food at affordable prices .

Helps in combating climate change : Natural farming not just create cost savings for farmers, but also ensure higher carbon fixation into the soil, which can mitigate climate change.

Natural farming based land management and farming practices can rehydrate and re-green the global landscape. Further, it can meet fertility (requirements of soil) and the nutritional integrity of the food.

Reduce Ocean acidification : Since natural farming eliminates chemical fertilisers and pesticides, it reduces ocean acidification and marine pollution from land-based activities. It also helps to reduce the contamination and degradation of rivers and oceans, like contamination of ammonium nitrate in fertilisers, and hazardous chemical pollutants from pesticides into rivers and oceans.

What are the challenges in adopting natural farming?

First , some agriculture experts feel that it is premature to recommend widespread adoption of natural farming as it may lead to massive damage to the hard-earned knowledge and benefits of agricultural research and development over the last 70 years.

Second , India’s crop protection industry is valued at ₹18,000 crores. Promoting natural methods will threaten the very existence of their entire business ecosystem.

Third , natural farming can improve soil health and reduce the incidence of pest infestation, but that does not mean farmers can manage without chemicals during outbreaks .

Fourth , limited support from the Central Government : India’s National Mission on Sustainable Agriculture receives only 0.8% of the agricultural budget.

What should be done to promote natural farming?

First , a balanced approach should be adopted while promoting Natural farming. The experience of Sri Lanka must be kept in mind where the Government at once prohibited the use and import of chemical fertilizers leading to massive drop in production and shortage of food.

Second , the experience in Andhra Pradesh shows that a transition can be successful if farmers are convinced and gradually ease into natural farming, a process that can take between three-five years . Hence, the government should provide adequate time, promote awareness campaigns with practical examples. Civil Society Organizations can be engaged to promote farmer-to-farmer capacity building for sustainable agriculture.

Third , the practice of natural farming needs to be validated by scientific research. The Indian Council of Agricultural Research is designing a curriculum on natural farming for both undergraduate and post-graduate courses, which is a good first move.

Fourth , the application of pesticides in India is many times lower than in countries like US and Japan. Farmers need to use chemicals judiciously to further lower the application of pesticides.

National policy focus should be shifted from food to nutrition security, looking beyond yields. Government can support the transition and bear short-term losses . Instead of input-based subsidies for fertilizer and power, the focus should be to incentivize outcomes like nutrition output, water conserved or desertification reversed.

Source: Mint

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Natural farming practices for chemical-free agriculture: implications for crop yield and profitability.

1. Introduction

2. materials and methods, 2.1. outline of the research, 2.2. study area description, 2.3. demographic characteristics, 3. results and discussion, 3.1. results, 3.1.1. adoption of natural farming, 3.1.2. yield variation, 3.1.3. benefit–cost analysis of natural farming, 3.1.4. benefits perceived by nf farmers, 3.1.5. awareness among non-nf farmers, 3.1.6. reasons for non-adoption among non-nf farmers, 3.2. discussion, 3.3. limitations, 4. conclusions and recommendations, 4.1. conclusions, 4.2. recommendations, author contributions, institutional review board statement, informed consent statement, data availability statement, acknowledgments, conflicts of interest.

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Share and Cite

Kumar, R.; Kumar, S.; Yashavanth, B.; Venu, N.; Meena, P.; Dhandapani, A.; Kumar, A. Natural Farming Practices for Chemical-Free Agriculture: Implications for Crop Yield and Profitability. Agriculture 2023 , 13 , 647. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture13030647

Kumar R, Kumar S, Yashavanth B, Venu N, Meena P, Dhandapani A, Kumar A. Natural Farming Practices for Chemical-Free Agriculture: Implications for Crop Yield and Profitability. Agriculture . 2023; 13(3):647. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture13030647

Kumar, Ranjit, Sanjiv Kumar, BS Yashavanth, Nakeertha Venu, PC Meena, A Dhandapani, and Alok Kumar. 2023. "Natural Farming Practices for Chemical-Free Agriculture: Implications for Crop Yield and Profitability" Agriculture 13, no. 3: 647. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture13030647

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What does the UN Environment Programme bring to the table in the zero-budget natural farming debate?

Farming is the bedrock of India’s economy— 43 per cent of its population are employed in agriculture . Yet, paradoxically, around 60 per cent of India’s people is likely to experience severe food shortages by 2050.

Climate change impacts—including crop losses due to global heating—unregulated use of fertilizers and pesticides leading that degrade the soils, deplete groundwater and cause health hazards; costly seeds, inputs and high interest rates on loans are among the challenges facing India’s agricultural sector. The latter are leading to chronic farmer indebtedness and are causing great distress to farming families.

“High-input based agriculture that has been practised since the green revolution of the 1960s is one of the causes of these problems,” says Harpinder Sandhu, Senior Lecturer, University of South Australia, Australia, and close collaborator with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) on agriculture and food issues. “It is not an option in future, and hence farmers are looking for alternatives.”

Zero budget natural farming is a form of agricultural system redesign being practised at scale in India, particularly in the state of Andhra Pradesh. It is an emerging set of agricultural practices designed dramatically to reduce farmers’ direct costs (hence “zero budget”) while boosting yields and farm health through the use of non-synthetic inputs sourced locally ("natural farming”).

Andhra Pradesh has set out the aim of “rolling out” this approach to all 6 million of the state’s farmers through a state-led programme of training and extension.

UNEP hosts the Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity, a global initiative focused on “making nature’s values visible”. The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity for Agriculture and Food was launched in 2014 to make the dependencies and impacts that the agri-food value chain has on nature visible to decision makers.

“The principles of zero-budget natural farming are aligned with the Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity for Agriculture and Food’s own principles , as they seek to steer away from the prevailing focus on per hectare productivity, and instead focus on a holistic approach that also values human, social and environmental benefits and costs from agriculture,” says Salman Hussain, the coordinator of this UNEP initiative.

He adds that agriculture brings myriad positive and negative externalities, that is, costs or benefits that are externalized to third parties. Examples of negative externalities include the pollution of water bodies from nitrate leaching and human health impacts such as pesticide poisoning.

“A farming enterprise may not even be aware that it is imposing such costs on society, or it may be aware of it, but is not incentivized by the market, to change its behaviour. On the flip side, the positive contributions that farming can make to communities are also systematically undervalued—such as providing community cohesion and the maintenance of livelihoods for smallholder farmers,” says Hussain.

“The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity for Agriculture and Food evaluation framework examines the true costs of agriculture and food systems. The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity has not as yet conducted a full assessment of zero budget natural farming (although one is planned for later this year) but there is evidence that it has positive ecological effects—on soil quality, fertility and water retention capacity—as well as socio-economic benefits such as decreases in yield variability, and increased and diversified farmer incomes through intercrops. There is also evidence of positive impacts on food security and climate change resilience.

“The key point is this: some of these benefits simply do not get included in economic decision-making. We need a level playing field, with positive and negative externalities being accounted for, otherwise we are not paying the true cost for our food. In other words, we need true cost accounting.

“Since zero budget natural farming is reportedly providing a range of positive externalities, this would show up in a the Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity for Agriculture and Food evaluation. The evaluation aims to inform decision makers on the extent to which society at large is benefiting from zero budget natural farming and thus the value of encouraging it.

“The jury is out on whether zero budget natural farming produces consistently higher yields or not, compared to more conventional farming practices, but to measure performance on this sole metric is fundamentally flawed.

“Those who criticize zero budget natural farming should do so having accounted for the myriad positive externalities it provides, and the negative externalities of conventional systems. We should also be aware of the political economy at play here—there are vested interest groups which benefit from externalizing costs and maintaining the status quo of heavily subsidized intensive farming,” says Hussain.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations also stresses the importance of transitioning away from high-input, resource-intensive farming, and is urging nations to adopt approaches such as agroecology, to increase productivity, deliver sustainable food and make efficient use of natural resources. The organization has therefore been very supportive of zero budget natural farming in Andhra Pradesh. However, agricultural scientists are also recommending location-specific solutions.

“Zero budget natural farming may offer such solutions at the local level and has the potential to improve farm outputs, protect the environment and enhance societal well-being,” says Sandhu.

The UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration 2021–2030 , led by the United Nations Environment Programme, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and partners such as the Africa Restoration 100 initiative, the Global Landscapes Forum and the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, covers terrestrial as well as coastal and marine ecosystems. A global call to action, it will draw together political support, scientific research and financial muscle to massively scale up restoration. Help us shape the Decade .

For more information, please contact Salman Hussain: [email protected]

• Fresh water
• Agriculture
• Biodiversity
• Sustainable Development

Further Resources

• The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity for Agriculture and Food
• Zero Budget Natural Farming
• Towards redesign at scale through zero budget natural farming in Andhra Pradesh, India
• Potential yield challenges to scale-up of zero budget natural farming
• Andhra Pradesh to become India’s first Zero Budget Natural Farming state
• Last call for a food systems revolution
• Scaling-up Agroecology through Zero Budget Natural Farming (India)
• Agroecology Knowledge Hub, Zero Budget Natural Farming in India
• The future of agriculture and food: Evaluating the holistic costs and benefits

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• Organic Farming Essay

An introduction to Essay on Organic Farming

Organic farming describes how it uses organic elements and composts and tries to expand soil richness by taking care of soil miniature existence with build-ups from life. For example, trash fertilizer, sewage, excrement, plant deposits, food handling squanders, etc. This essay on organic farming will help you to discover the parts and importance of organic farming. 

This article also deals with the advantages and barriers to it. The organic farming essay also explains the principles behind it and how it is different from the traditional farming technique. An essay on organic farming is essential because it helps us understand the advantages of organic farming and also tells us how the effect of normal farming is harmful.

Segments of Organic Farming

Segments of Organic Farming are discussed below in detail.

Organic Manures

Organic manure provides basic nutrients that are required by plants in limited edition. It is a natural practice adopted by farmers to provide food (plant nutrients) to crop plants. There are various organic manures that are used by farmers such as farm wastes, oilcakes, vermicompost, and biological waste - animal bone. 

Biological Pest Management

The preservation of regular pests is significant for evading the utilization of compound pesticides. Organic pesticides, for example, neem, tobacco and other restorative plants need promotion. Specific microbial pesticides, for instance, Bacillus Thuringiensis offer a guarantee. It is essential to have biological pest management to improve the quality of the soil.

Non-Chemical Weed Control 

Mechanical strategy for weed control is commonly polished to lessen the weed populace. Organic control of weed needs promotion. 

Agronomical Practices

Yield revolution, blended trimming, green manuring practices will improve the physical and compound properties of soil. Consideration of leguminous yields in these practices adds to the ripeness. 

Alley Cropping

Coordination of lasting plants (generally leguminous) in the cultivating framework is called backstreet trimming. 

Principles of Organic Farming

No Chemical Fertilizer

In the event that nature is left to itself, fruitfulness is expanded, organic remains from plants and creatures gather and are deteriorated on a superficial level by microbes and growths. Utilizing straw, green compost, and ranch yard excrement, one can get significant returns without substance manure. 

No Use of Herbicide

Straw mulch and impermanent flooding give successful weed control in numerous fields. 

No Use of Pesticides

The preservation of common adversaries of irritations and the utilization of organic pesticides stay away from the utilization of synthetic pesticides. 

Upkeep of Healthy Soil

Soil well-being is kept up by developing vegetables, green manuring, green leaf manuring, crop pivot, entomb, and blended editing, including vegetables.

Importance of Organic Farming Essay

It doesn't bring about any ecological contamination since it evades the utilization of substance and plant insurance synthetic compounds. 

Less energy is utilized in organic cultivating contrasted with ordinary horticulture.

Less motorization is required. 

Less unsettling influence of soil, legitimate structure, high organic issue substance will be kept up. 

Organic food gets more cost than the product acquired by regular strategies.

Threats to Organic Farming

In changing over to organic cultivating, an underlying harvest misfortune, by and large, happens, especially whenever done rapidly. 

Land assets can move unreservedly from organic cultivating to regular cultivating; they don't move the converse way openly. 

Organic controls may have been debilitated, which may take three or four years for deposits to misfortune their impact.

Short Essay On Organic Farming

Organic farming is an essential part of today’s world. Organic cultivating implies cultivating in the organic connection between soil, water, and plants; between soil, soil organisms, and side-effects. This also implies the connection between the plant realm and the collective of animals; among agribusiness and ranger service; between soil, water and environment. Nature receives diverse techniques to gracefully supplement the dirt and keep up the soil’s fruitfulness. The gracefulness of supplements is undisrupted in nature. The plant leaves produce carbs and later change these carbohydrates into sugar, starch, cellulose, lignin, and so on. 

Organic compost includes mixing carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, and potash rich materials. The minor components are available in extent, and the pivotal carbon-nitrogen proportion is neither too high nor excessively low. This sort of arrangement is inside the capability of ranchers. There is no need to include some nitrogenous manure as a supplement. The nitrogenous substance compost agitates the supplement equalization of soil. Nitrogenous manure is known as an energizer of development, and there is furore for it among the ranchers. Organic farming has many benefits in today’s world and it is esteemed to be much more cautious than the traditional ways of farming. This method, when used, can improve the health of people and the richness of soil on which farming is done. The reliance on these methods is beneficial as they provide more nutritious crops and better nourishment.

Through organic farming, the fertility of soil gets improved. Organic movement and the physical and mineral nature of the dirt are contributing factors. Organic farming is preferred over other modes for this very reason.

FAQs on Organic Farming Essay

1. What is the focus of Organic Farming?

Organic creation of yields is fundamentally the same as normal creation for planting, gathering. Assortments are normally the equivalent. Ripeness, weeds and different nuisances should be overseen in a more serious manner. Harvest pivot and timing of mechanical development are basic to progress. The mix of animals, to help gracefully excrement/fertilizer supplements will likewise be an advantage. Consider joining a few of the natural cultivating affiliations, for example, Canadian Organic Growers (COG) or Ecological Farmers of Ontario (EFO) to build your organization of natural cultivating contacts particularly among other natural ranchers in your general vicinity. 

2. What are the six basic methods of Organic Farming Practices?

The six basic methods of Organic Farming practices are crop diversity, soil management, weed management, controlling other organisms, livestock and genetic modification. These different methods are used in organic farming to improve yield and make farming more efficient. Organic farming methods improve the yield by following traditional practices with new scientific technology.

3. How do students learn about the basics of Organic Farming?

Organic farming can be intimidating for beginners, and one can start little by little and then advance. Basics can be learnt through many sources and sites now available even online. Students can learn about the basics of Organic Farming if they go to Organic Farming Essay for Students in English available on this page. This essay deals with what Organic Farming essentially is and what its advantages, as well as disadvantages, amount to. 

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Explained: What Is Natural Farming?

The government is pushing natural farming across india, without the use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides..

Bengaluru: Nearly 3.8 million hectares, or 2.7% of the total area under farming in India, is farmed organically or through natural methods, which means using natural processes and inputs to improve the health of soil, crop yield and quality, a move away from commonly used chemical fertilisers and pesticides.

The objective of natural farming, said the government's 2021 Economic Survey , is elimination of chemical fertilisers and pesticides, the indiscriminate use of which pollutes the environment, and to promote "good agronomic practices", which means using science and technology to manage crops. In the 2022 budget speech , Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced that "chemical-free natural farming will be promoted throughout the country, with a focus on farmers' lands in 5-km wide corridors along river Ganga, at the first stage".

This move towards chemical-free farming is juxtaposed against a large workforce ( 43% ) employed in agriculture and related jobs, a sector that contributes to just 18.8% of India's gross domestic product. Increased farmer indebtedness due to costly agricultural inputs like chemical fertilisers, pesticides , seeds, the increasing cost of cultivation, climate change, and low farm produce prices, have aggravated India's farm crisis , even as the government has said that farmer income will double by 2022.

But experts are divided on whether a complete transition to natural and organic farming would work in India's favour, especially if it is pushed top down, and follows a rigid definition of what natural farming entails.

Supporters of natural farming believe that it will reduce farm input costs, improve soil health and water efficiency and lead to an increase in farm produce prices. Though natural farming might be able to reduce costs and mean that farmers use methods that suit the agro-ecology of a region, say experts, there are concerns that yields from natural farming could be lower, especially in nutrient-deficient soil in many parts of the country.

While we need a forward-looking sustainable model in agriculture and not a revivalistic model that talks about farming practices centuries ago, existing [government] schemes are getting politicised, said G.V. Ramanjaneyulu, executive director of the Secunderabad-based nonprofit, the Centre for Sustainable Agriculture . "The focus should be on reducing agro-chemicals, water use and energy utilisation."

In a multi-part series, IndiaSpend will explore the different facets of natural farming, its implementation in India, and the possibility of success. In this first part, we explain what natural farming is, and where it is being practised in India.

What is natural farming?

India became food secure by using high yielding varieties of seeds, fertilisers to nourish the soil and pesticides to keep crop damage at bay. But this was accompanied with environmental damage through overuse of fertilisers , and impacted human and ecological health .

Due to the impact of the Green Revolution, "heightened further" by the pandemic, "there is an urgent need to scale up alternative approaches" of farming, wrote economist Mihir Shah, in a January 2022 report in the journal Ecology, Economy and Society .

In December 2021, during a conclave on natural farming, Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasised the need for working on alternative methods of farming, while acknowledging the importance of chemicals and fertilisers in the Green Revolution. "We have to take our agriculture out of the lab of chemistry and connect it to the lab of nature," he said.

This refers to agroecology , which guides public policies towards sustainable agriculture and food systems, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). While there is no specific set of practices that are classified as agroecological, it includes those methods that maintain and enhance natural processes related to soil, water and climate in agricultural production, reduce the use of purchased inputs, like fossil fuels and agrochemicals, and create resilient agroecosystems, noted a 2019 High Level Panel of Experts for Food Security and Nutrition (HLPE) of the FAO. These methods focus on promoting crop diversification, restoring and rebuilding natural cycles in the soil, and reducing water demand, among others.

Natural farming and organic farming, both come under agroecological practices and are terms used interchangeably in India. In natural farming the focus is on the use of bio inputs prepared from farm and local ecosystems instead of purchasing those from outside. "Organic farming is defined now more from a perspective of product certification . Except for such certification, organic and natural farming in India are largely similar," said Sridhar Radhakrishnan, activist and independent agriculture researcher based in Thiruvananthapuram.

What binds organic and natural farming proponents "is the thrust on the absence of application of chemical fertilisers or chemical pesticides during cultivation", said R. Ramakumar, an economist at the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS). In organic farming, farmers might use "external agricultural inputs" such as rock phosphate, biopesticides and biofertilisers, he added.

"But [some] natural farming proponents argue that even these external applications are not required, as the farm itself can generate much of the inputs required," he said, adding that, "therefore, they call it Zero-Budget Natural Farming."

Zero-Budget Natural Farming is one of the many methods of natural farming, popularised by agriculturist Subash Palekar (later known as Subash Palekar Natural Farming ). According to the approach, a concoction of natural inputs like cow urine and dung, jaggery, lime, neem among others are used to improve soil health, nutrients and reduce input costs, among other benefits.

In July 2022, the government announced that it would constitute a committee to "promote zero-budget based farming, to change crop pattern keeping in mind the changing needs of the country, and to make MSP [Minimum Support Price] more effective and transparent…". On natural farming the committee will make suggestions for programmes for value chain development, strategies to introduce natural farming curriculum in universities and suggest farmer-friendly alternative certification systems for natural farm produce.

Is natural farming better than 'conventional' farming?

Various state governments have supported organic farming as an alternative farming option in the last few decades. But there are debates worldwide on the impact on crop yield by transitioning to agroecological farming methods and discarding conventional practices that use chemical inputs, especially where soils are nutrient-deficient .

If biofertilisers, rhizobium and acetobacter can fix soil health to an extent, there is no need for heavy chemical use, said Ramanjaneyulu. This would also help the government cut spending on fertiliser subsidies, which cost Rs 1.4 lakh crore ($18.7 billion) in 2021-22 and are estimated to cost Rs 1.1 lakh crore ($14.7 billion) in 2022-23, which could rise to Rs 2.5 lakh crore due to higher import prices.

But compared to 'conventional farming', according to a 2019 ICAR-National Academy of Agricultural Research Management report , "organic products are usually 3-4 times more expensive due to higher labour cost, certification costs, handling costs and comparatively lower yields".

The jury is still out on which method or which combination of methods would be the best for crop yields. There are knowledge gaps on comparing relative yields and performance of different agroecological practices, according to the HLPE report .

"..out of the 504 times that yield results were recorded during 2014–19, 41% of the times yields were highest with organic approach, followed by 33% with integrated and 26% with inorganic approach," said the February 2022 CSE report that analysed the All India Network Project on Organic Farming (AI-NPOF) of the Indian Council of Agriculture Research and other scientific studies. It reported evidence of highest net returns and best soil health under the organic approach in study centres.

"There is scientific evidence on the benefits of natural farming, but the government has to take the initiative to formally collate like it did under AI-NPOF," said Vineet Kumar, deputy programme manager of Sustainable Food Systems at CSE.

On the other hand, the 2019 NAAS report highlighted that studies initiated by the Indian Council of Agriculture Research-Indian Institute of Farming System Research "clearly indicated that yield levels were drastically reduced in rice-wheat cropping system by 59% in wheat and 32% in basmati rice" when tenets of zero-budget natural farming were followed. It further showed a three-year natural farming experiment that showed "a yield decline" in crops tested which "established that food security will be seriously challenged along with farmers' income, if ZBNF [Zero Budget Natural Farming] is adopted".

There is concern that yields will fall with natural farming because 59% of soils in India are deficient in nitrogen, 49% are low in phosphorus and 48% are low in potassium, said Ramakumar. "Organic or ZBNF methods do not replenish enough nutrients in the soils as much as the plants uptake them every season."

Organic and natural farming can be scaled up only to a level, because of several reasons . These include a lack of a national action plan to promote organic and natural farming, dependence on expensive certification for organic produce, which smaller farmers cannot afford, inadequate funding, target-driven and timeline-based policies for natural farming, among others.

Why painting all other farming methods with one brush isn't right

When proponents of organic/natural farming use the term 'conventional farming', they use it to denote all cases of misuse or overuse of chemicals in agriculture, none of which are sanctioned by agricultural scientists.

"..condemning the technology that ushered in Green Revolution for the negative impacts on the environment and health is neither fair nor justified. It was the injudicious, indiscriminate and excessive use of agro-chemicals which is to be blamed," said a 2019 National Academy of Agricultural Sciences (NAAS) report on Zero Budget Natural Farming (ZBNF).

Some say scientific conventional farming can be considered closer to natural farming than most think.

Scientific farming involves the use of both organic manures as well as chemical fertilisers, but only where required, after a soil test and in prescribed quantities, which scientists call balanced nutrient management, said Ramakumar. "Similarly, they prescribe 'integrated pest management', where you use natural means to control pests and diseases and use pesticides only as a last option. I would like to consider this as 'conventional farming'."

Government schemes for natural farming

Source: Centre for Science and Environment

The Union government's 2005 policy on organic farming was "not successful in bringing necessary attention towards organic farming", noted a 2020 CSE report . Since then, the government has had several initiatives and sub-missions under ​​the National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA), which began in 2014-15, the Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY), which began in 2015, and the Mission Organic Value Chain Development in North East Region (MOVCDNER), which started in 2015.

A scheme to promote chemical-free organic farming in clusters of land, PKVY provides financial assistance of Rs 50,000 per hectare for three years for creating farming clusters, capacity building, incentive for inputs, value addition like processing, packaging and marketing of organic produce.

In 2020-21, Bhartiya Prakritik Krishi Paddati (BPKP), a subscheme under PKVY, was launched to promote natural farming including Zero-Budget Natural Farming. Nearly 410,000 hectares has been covered in eight states with a total fund of Rs 49.8 crore . The 2022 allocation for PKVY is not clear and as of 2022-23 it has been rationalised under the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana , a Union government scheme to develop agriculture and allied sectors.

Have other countries adopted natural farming?

There have been various agroecological initiatives in different parts of the world. In November 2021, 45 governments, led by the UK, pledged urgent action and investment to protect nature and shift to more sustainable ways of farming at the 26th Conference of Parties, the climate change conference in Glasgow, according to a UK government press release . It said that the commitments would help leverage over $4 billion of public sector investment into agricultural innovation to improve soil health, helping make these techniques and resources affordable and accessible to farmers.

In May 2020, the EU announced the Farm to Fork Strategy , as a part of the European Green Deal to "make food systems fair, healthy and environmentally-friendly". As part of the strategy, the European Commission announced a 50% reduction in the use and risk of chemical pesticides, and in the use of more hazardous pesticides by 2030.

But as countries are promising to transition to sustainable agriculture, Sri Lanka's experience of transitioning to the first organic farming nation failed. The country's government, which fell after weeks of massive protests and an ongoing economic crisis, had announced , in April 2021, that only organic farming would be allowed across the country. It proceeded to ban imports of chemical inputs, impacting millions of farmers. Following farmer protests, the ban was revoked in November 2021.

"The chemical fertiliser ban, combined with bad weather, led to falling crop yields and contributed to inflation hitting a 47-month high of 8.3% in October with food inflation at 11.7%," said a November 24, 2021 Reuters report .

The way ahead

Experts believe that there are far too many debates on methods of natural and conventional farming, rather than the impact and design of the schemes being implemented.

For instance, Subash Palekar's method for Zero-Budget Natural Farming is considered too rigid, and has created a dichotomy about farm practices that were organic or natural, said Radhakrishnan, the independent agricultural researcher. "Although this is not a criticism of ZBNF, in some ways the government prioritises ZBNF over other agroecological farming practices."

In addition, "there are a lot of concerns about BPKP and PKVY", the government programmes, said Kumar of CSE. "Usually, these schemes are implemented by the state agriculture department who may not have adequate training on this."

There is a need to invest more resources, including trained agriculture staff, and funds for science and technology and research, to better understand organic and natural farming practices, experts say.

"A modern agricultural scientist may not even be able to explain why a concoction sprayed by a farmer increased yield in natural farming, while the scientist may understand how chemicals work," said Kavitha Kuruganti, a social activist with the Alliance for Sustainable & Holistic Agriculture ( ASHA ). There is a need for the government to support alternative farming methods rather than only supporting farming that uses chemicals, she added.

The 2022 Union budget announced that states will be encouraged to "revise syllabi of agricultural universities to meet the needs of natural, zero-budget and organic farming, modern-day agriculture, value addition and management".

The government needs to invest in processing and packaging of products, and ensure that products are procured in sufficient quantities to ensure remunerative prices for farmers. Due to gaps , for example, in PKVY, "..in the absence of direct linkages with processors, retailers and exporters, farmers are dependent on middlemen to market their produce", said the 2020 CSE report .

The agroecological methods need to be based on local contexts in various states and regions and use bio-inputs based on local ecosystems. Andhra Pradesh (AP community-managed natural farming) has established a ZBNF system to suit its requirements, while other states like Himachal Pradesh, Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka and Kerala have also initiated it. Karnataka initiated implementation of ZBNF on a pilot basis in 2,000 ha in each of the 10 agro-climatic zones of the state.

Ramakumar reiterated that India needs to trust its agricultural scientists. "Only by practising scientific agriculture can we attain the goals of raising farm incomes, raising yields and reducing chemical use in agriculture. And this science has to be promoted in the public sector and not through private corporates."

We welcome feedback. Please write to [email protected] . We reserve the right to edit responses for language and grammar.

Shreehari Paliath

Shreehari has reported on public policy around labour and employment, agriculture, water, and elections. He received a special mention at the 2019 Red Ink Awards. He has a post-graduate diploma from the Asian College of Journalism, Chennai, and a master's degree in development from Azim Premji University.

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Nutritional Benefits of Naturally Grown Food Products (2021)

Authors: Priya Agarwal and Srajesh Gupta

Abstract: This discussion paper by the National Coalition for Natural Farming, Hyderabad, explores the various nutritional benefits that naturally grown foods provide when included in the daily dietinstead of the conventionally-grown foods that we widely consume now. In the paper, the term naturally grown foods is used to cover the various kinds of foods produced or cultivated through agricultural practices, eliminating chemical inputs for ease of understanding. The paper aims to provide an overview by summarizing some of the available research and studies on nutrition and health benefits from naturally grown foods. It also seeks to highlight the need for more extensive studies that can conclusively put forth the impact.

https://vikalpsangam.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Rajinder-Ch-Kavitha-Kuruganti-Nutritional-Benefits-of-Naturally-Grown-Food-Products.pdf

State of Organic and Natural Farming in India: Challenges and Possibilities (2020)

Author: Centre for Science and Environment

Overview: Organic and Natural Farming in India is still at a nascent stage. To scale them up and turn them into a mass movement, governments at the Centre and in states must take big steps.

Mainstreaming organic and Natural Farming will address the ecological and economic crises in Indian agriculture. Only by using farming methods that are sustainable in the long run will Indian agriculture, and India, become truly self-reliant.

https://www.cseindia.org/state-of-organic-and-natural-farming-in-india-10346

Effect of various cow-based bio-enhancers and botanicals on growth, yield and quality of organic wheat (2019)

Authors: PP Javiya, RK Mathukia, SC Kaneria and W Rupareliya

Abstract: An experiment was conducted on medium black calcareous clayey soil at Junagadh (Gujarat) in rabi 2016–17 and 2017–18. Twelve treatments comprising Panchagavya as foliar spray @ 3% at 30,45 and 50 DAS, Jivamrit @ 50O L/ha with irrigation at sowing, 30,45 and 50 DAS, Banana sap as foliar spray @ 7% al30,45 and 60 DAs and Seaweed extract as foliar spray @ 3.5% at 30, 45 and 60 DAS were evaluated and supplemented with FYM 5 t/ha) in comparison to vermi compost 4 t/ha + FYM 6 t/ha + Bio fertilizers, FYM 24 t/ha, Control and 100% RDF (outside the organic plot) in randomized block design with three replications. The experimental results revealed that next to 100% RDF, application of FYM 24 t/ha and Panchagavya as foliar spray @ 3% at 30, 45 and 60 DAS + FYM 5 t/ha were found superior in respect of the growth parameters and yield attributes, along with higher grain yield (4148 and 3877 kg,/ha), straw yields (6383 and 5175 kg/ha) and application of vermicompost 4 t/ha + FYM 6 t/ha + Bio fertilizers enhanced grain protein.

https://www.chemijournal.com/archives/2019/vol7issue3/PartAZ/7-3-254-607.pdf

Thesis: Effect of liquid organic manure ‘Jivamrit’ on the productivity of wheat under Zero Budget Natural Farming (2018)

Author: Anusha L.

Abstract: A field experiment was conducted during rabi 2016–17 at the model organic farm of the Department of Organic Agriculture, CSK HPKV, Palampur, to study the effect of liquid organic manure, Jivamrit, on the productivity of wheat under the Zero Budget Natural Farming system. The experiment consisted of 10 treatments, comprising sole drenching of Jivamrit (at sowing – T1, at sowing + 30 DAS – T2, at sowing+30+45OAS-T3andatsowing+30+45+60DAs-T4), application of [email protected] t/ha at sowing along with Jivamrit drenching (at sowing B – T5, at sowing + 30 DAS – T6, at sowing B + 30 + 45 DAs -T7 and at sowing + 30 + 45 + 60 DAS -T8) and sole application of vermicompost @ 7.5 t/ha – T9 and vermicompost @ 10 t/ha (check) – Tl0. Significantly higher grain yield was recorded in T8. 16.16, 8.99, 3.36 and 2.16 per cent higher grain yield was recorded in T8, T7, T4 and T3 over check, respectively. However, significantly higher net returns (72,389 and 172814 /ha) and net returns per rupee invested (2.88 and 2.76) was recorded in T3 and T4, respectively. Microbial studies revealed that significantly higher colony forming units (cfu) of bacteria 123.72 t 106l, fungi (17.31 x 103) and actinomycetes (3.55 x 102) per gram of soil sample were recorded in T8, better than rest of the treatments. Whereas higher soil organic carbon (1.44%1, available NPK (279, 38 and 206 kg/ha, respectively) was recorded in check, on par with T9, T5 and T6, after the harvest of crop.

https://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/5810071986

Effect of Panchagawa, Jivamrit and Cow Urine on Beneficial Microorganisms and Yield of Capsicum (Capsicum annuum L. var. grossum) (2017)

Authors: B. Boraiah, N. Devakumar, S. Shubha and K.B. Palanna

Abstract: A field experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of organic liquid formulations on growth and yield of capsicum at Agricultural Research Station, Arsikere, and Karnataka, lndia. The experiment consisted of 12 treatment combinations, with three factors—Jivamrit (2 levels), cow urine (2 levels) and panchagavya (3 levels). Among different organic liquid formulations, application of Jivamrit recorded significantly higher fruit yield (32.26,39.55,5L.63,127.2O,100.28, 86.40, 50.05 q ha-1 at 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 110 and 120 DAT, respectively), N-fixers (23.86, 24.49 at 60 DAT and 16.79, L7.37 X 103 at harvest during kharif and summer, respectively) and P-solubilizer (27.90, 31.50 at 60 DAT and 26.68, 30.43 X 103 at harvest during kharif and summer respectively). Significantly higher fruit yield (30.76, 38.0, 48.52, ll7 .73,97 .L5,84.33, 48.44 q ha-1 at 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 110 and 120 DAT, respectively), N-fixers (23.18, 25.03 at 60 DAT and 16.48, 18.27 X 103 at harvest during kharif and summer, respectively) and P-solubilizer (28.91, 31.18 at 60 DAT and 27 .26,30.34 X 103 at harvest during kharif and summer, respectively) were recorded with the application of cow urine. Panchagavya 6 per cent spray recorded significantly higher fruit yield (30.25, 37.49, 48.97, 7\8.91, 96.L5,86.29,47.81 q ha-1 at 60,70,a0,90, 100, 110 and 120 DAT, respectively), N-fixers life (23.58, 25.59 at 60 DAT and 17.77, L7.78 x 103 at harvest during kharif and summer, respectively) and Psolubilizer (28.43, 33.04 at 60 DAT and 27.46,34.53 x 103 at harvest during kharif and summer, respectively).

https://www.ijcmas.com/6-9-2017/B.%20Boraiah,%20et%20al.pdf

lnfluence of Organic and lnorganic lnputs on Non-Rhizosphere Mycoflora Population and Species Diversity of Cotton Field (2016)

Authors: Shaikh NF, Gachande BD

Abstract: A field experiment was conducted in a cotton field, during 2010–13, to study the effect of various organic and inorganic inputs on non-rhizosphere mycoflora population and species diversity in cotton field. The mycoflora population and diversity were studied by using the serial dilution technique. It was found that the application of organic inputs like farmyard manure, Beejamrit and Jivamrit increases non-rhizosphere mycoflora population and species diversity. The application of inorganic inputs lowers the non-rhizosphere mycoflora population and species diversity. A total 27 mycoflora species were isolated and identified from the non-rhizosphere of the organic field and a total 23 mycoflora species from non-rhizosphere of the inorganic field. The isolated mycoflora species belonged to genera Aspergillus, Cephalosporium, Cladosporium, Curvularia, Penicillium, Trichoderma, Fusarium, Rhizopus, Cladosporium and Mucor, in both the organic and inorganic fields. Species like Alternaria brassicae, Chaetomium globosm, Trichoderma Koningii, Orechslera bicolar, Drechslera tetramera and Helminthosporium spp. are found in non-rhizosphere of organic field. Organic inputs contain essential soil nutrients and microbial load, which increases the mycoflora population, which in turn leads to better growth and production. Based on this, we can conclude that organic liquid manure can be used for increasing the microbial population and species diversity to achieve sustainable eco-friendly development.

https://www.ijser.in/archives/v4i1/IJSER15651.pdf

Current Status of Cow Dung as a Bioresource for Sustainable Development (2016)

Authors: Kartikey Kumar Gupta, Kamal Rai Aneja and Deepanshu Rana

Abstract: Cow dung is a cheaply and easily available bioresource. Many traditional uses of cow dung—such as burning it as fuel, using it as a mosquito repellent and as cleansing agent—are already known in India. Cow dung harbours a diverse group of microorganisms that is beneficial to humans due to its ability to produce a range of metabolites. Along with the production of novel chemicals, many cow dung microorganisms have shown a natural ability to increase soil fertility through phosphate solubilization. Nowadays, there is an increasing research interest in developing cow dung microorganisms for biofuel production and management of environmental pollutants. This review focuses on recent findings being made on cow dung that could be harnessed for usage in different areas, such as medicine, agriculture, and industry.

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186%2Fs40643-016-0105-9

Influence of Organic and lnorganic lnputs on Soil Physico-Chemical Properties of Jowar Field (2015)

Abstract : A field experiment was conducted in a jowar (rabi) field during 2010–13 to study the effect of various liquid organic and inorganic inputs on the soil physico-chemical properties. Overall results showed that in the field where organic inputs were applied, there was a significantly minimum and maximum increase in soil properties like organic carbon (0.11 % to 0.34 %), phosphorus (6.62 kg/h to 15.16 kg/h), water-holding capacity (3.3 % to 8.5 %). There was a significant decrease in pH (0.79 to 1.23) and electrical conductivity (0.07 ms/cm to 0.36 ms/cm) of soil in the organic field compared to inorganic one. The potassium content was higher in both the fields. It was thus clear that the application of organic inputs significantly improved soil-nutrient properties, which increased fertility and productivity.

https://www.ijsr.net/archive/v4i10/SUB158724.pdf

Efficacy of Cow Urine as Plant Growth Enhancer and Antifungal Agent (2015)

Authors: Savita Jandaik, Preeti Thakur, and Vikas Kumar

Abstract : This study was conducted to determine antifungal activity of three different concentrations (5, 10, and 15%) of cow urine against three fungal pathogens (Fusarium orysporum, Rhizoctonia solani, and sclerotium rolfsii) isolated from infected plants of methi and bhindi that showed symptoms of damping off and wilting disease by poison food technique. The extent of growth of test fungi in plates poisoned with cow urine was lesser when compared with the control plates. Among these concentrations, cow urine at 15% was most effective. When the three fungal organisms were compared, maximum growth suppression was observed in Fusarium oxysporum l78.57yol at 15yo concentration of cow urine followed by Rhizoctonia solani l78.37yol and Sclerotium rolfsii (73.84%). Finally, we concluded that cow urine has antifungal activities. The nutritional effect of cow urine on plant growth was also tested with Trigonella foenum-graecum (Methi) and Abelmoschus esculentus (Bhindi) plants and the chlorophyll and protein content estimated. It was revealed from the study that cow urine caused inhibition in growth of all the three fungal pathogens. This demonstrated fungi-toxic potential of cow urine. The biochemical contents of both the plants increased when they were sprayed with cow urine. Therefore, it was proven that the use of cow urine provided a better alternative to synthetic chemicals, which are expensive and pose potential danger to farmers, marketers, consumers, and the environment. Cow urine can also be used as a bio pesticide.

https://www.hindawi.com/journals/aag/2015/620368/

Effect of Organic Bio-Booster and inorganic inputs on Rhizosphere Mycoflora Population and Species Diversity of Wheat (2015)

Abstract: An experiment was conducted in a wheat field during 2010–13 to study the effect of various liquid organic and inorganic inputs on rhizosphere mycoflora population and species diversity. The soil rhizosphere mycoflora population and diversity was studied using the serial dilution technique. Result showed that the application of organic liquid bio-boosters enhanced the rhizosphere mycoflora population and species diversity. A total of 30 mycoflora species were isolated and identified from the rhizosphere of the organic field and a total 24 species were studied from the inorganic field. The isolated mycoflora species belonged to genera Aspergillus, Penicillium, Trichoderma, Fusarium, Rhizopus and Cladosporium in both the organic and inorganic fields. The Acremonium sp., Tichoderma pseudokoniBii, Glomus sp., Cladosporium herbarum and Curvularia lunata are found in rhizosphere of organic field. Overall result showed that organic bio-boosters increased the mycoflora diversity, which increased soil fertility.

https://www.ijsr.net/archive/v4i10/SUB158726.pdf

Effect of Vermicompost, Jivamrit, Pamchagavya and Mulching on the Cost Benefit Ratio in French Bean (2015)

Authors: P Uma Amareswari and P Sujathamma

Abstract: An experiment was conducted with French bean (Phaseolus vulgaris. L.), var. Anupam, a bush type variety, in a randomized split block design with twelve treatments and a control of four replications each to evaluate the cost-benefit ratio with organic farming at Kothavaripalli village, near CTM, Madanapalle, Chittoor district, Andhra Pradesh, India. T 0 was kept as control -without any chemical or organic in puts, T 1 with chemical fertilizers NPK @ 60 : 75 : 75 kg/ha,T 2 – Vermicompost @ 8 t/ha, T 3 – Jivamrit @ 2100 lts /ha, T 4 – Panchagavya @ 3% as foliar spray, T 5 -Straw mulch @ 10 t/ha (15 cm above soil), T 6 – Chemical fertilizers NPK (100%) + Panchagavya, T 7 -Vermicompost + Panchagavya (T 2 + T 4 ), T 8 -Jivamrit + Panchagavya, T 9 – Straw mulch + Panchagavya, T 10 -Straw mulch + Chem. Ferti. NPK (100%) + Panchagavya, T 11 -Straw mulch + Vermicompost + Panchagavya and T12 -Straw mulch + Jivamrit + Panchagavya. Application of vermicompost (8 t/ha) + Panchagavya (3%) resulted the highest cost-benefit ratio of 3.25 followed by T 11 (3.22) and T 12 (3.06). The cost-ben e fit ratio was found to be min i mum for control (1.74). The net profit from T 11 was highest (` 1,92,416/-) followed by T 12 (` 1,79,716/-) and T 7 (`1,79,316/-). Both T 7 and T 11 , which showed a higher cost-benefit ratio, indicated that vermicompost utilization along with other organic practices increased cost-benefit ratio and increased the net profit to the farmer.

http://paper.researchbib.com/view/paper/61569

Cultivable Bacterial Diversity and Early Plant Growth Promotion by the Traditional Organic Formulations Prepared using Organic Waste Materials (2015)

Authors: Rangasamy Anandham, Nagaiah Premalatha, Hyeong Jin Jee, Hang Yeon Weon, Soon Wo Kwon, Ramasamy Krishnamoorthy, Pandiyan Indira Gandhi, Yong Ki Kim, Nellaiappan Olaganathan Gopal

Abstract: Traditional organic formulations are widely used as plant growth promoters; however, the knowledge on the microbial aspect of traditional organic formulations is still limited. The aim of this study was to illustrate the cultivable bacterial diversity of various traditional organic formulations and their potential for early plant growth promotion. The results of this study showed that bacterial diversity changes depend on the type and concentration of ingredients used in traditional organic formulations. A substantial increase in plant growth by the traditional organic formulations indicates the suitability of using these organic preparations in eco-friendly agriculture.

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40093-015-0107-1

Plant Growth Promoting Bacteria from Cow Dung-Based Biodynamic Preparations (2014)

Authors: T. K. Radha D. L. N. Rao

Abstract: Indigenous formulations based on cow dung fermentation are commonly used in organic farming. Three biodynamic preparations, viz., Panchagavya (PG), BD500 and ‘Cow pat pit’ (CPP), showed high counts of lactobacilli (109 ml-1) and yeasts (104 ml-1). Actinomycetes were present only in CPP (104 ml-1) and absent in the other two. Seven bacterial isolates from these ferments were identified by a polyphasic approach: Bacillus safensis (PG1), Bacillus cereus (PG2, PG4 PG5), Bacillus subtilis (BD2) Lysinibacillus xylanilyticus (BD3) and Bacillus licheniformis (CPP1). This is the first report of L. xylanilyticus and B. licheniformis in biodynamic preparations. Only three carbon sources—dextrose, sucrose and trehalose—out of 21 tested were utilized by all the bacteria. None could utilize arabinose, dulcitol, galactose, inositol, inulin, melibiose, raffinose, rhamnose and sorbitol. All the strains produced indole acetic acid (1.8–3.7 lg ml-1 culture filtrate) and ammonia. None could fix nitrogen; but all except B. safensis and B. licheniformis could solubilize phosphorous from insoluble tri-calcium phosphate. All the strains except L. xylaniliticus exhibited antagonism to the plant pathogen Rhizoctonia bataticola whereas none could inhibit Sclerotium rolfsi. In the greenhouse experiment in soil microcosms, bacterial inoculation significantly promoted the growth of maize; plant dry weight increased by *21 % due to inoculation with B. cereus (PG2). Results provide a basis for understanding the beneficial effects of biodynamic preparations and industrial deployment of the strains.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4186930/

Investigation on the Effect of Panchagavya on Sounthern Sunnhemp Mosaic Virus (SSMV) Infected Plant Systems (2012)

Authors: J Vallimayil and R Sekar

Abstract: Panchagavya is an organic product blended from five different cow products, commonly applied to crop plants in organic farming. It is used as foliar spray, in soil application and seed treatment. It can act as a growth promoter and immunity booster. Effects of the application of panchagavya in the form of seed treatment and foliar spray to Southern Sunnhemp Mosaic Virus infected sunnhemp plants were studied. Growth and biochemical parameters studied showed better growth in panchagavya-treated plants. Various concentrations from virus-infected plants were tested on cluster bean, a local lesion assay host for this virus. Panchagavya-treated plants showed lesser viral intensity than control. The effect of foliar spray of panchagavya on virus concentration in the local lesion host was also studied by inoculating the plants with the virus of different time intervals after foliar spray. A significant change in viral concentration was observed.

https://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.414.214&rep=rep1&type=pdf

A Critical Review on Panchagavya: A Boon Plant Growth (2011)

Authors: Tharmaraj K, Ganesh P, Suresh Kumar R, Anandan A and Kolanjinathan K

Abstract: Panchagavya, a Vedic formulation for increased productivity, disease resistance in plants and potential of utilizing Panchagavya as biofertilizer was tested on various pulses Vigna radiate, Vigna mungo, Arachis hypogea, Cyanopsis tetragonoloba. Lablab purpureus, Cicer arietinum and the cereal Oryza sativa var. ponni by growing in soil amended with dried traditional and seaweed based Panchagavya. Experimental seedling recorded higher rates of linear growth of both shoots and roots as compared to controls and that too maximum growth was observed in seedling grown in soil amended with seaweed based Panchagavya at low concentration (1:100; Panchagavya; soil). A similar observation was made on the number of leaves produced, leaf area, number of root nodules formed in the pulses by rhizobia and increased the levels of all the enzymes. From the foregoing review, it can be concluded that plant growth substances present in Panchagavya help in bringing rapid changes in phenotypes of plants and improve the growth and the productivity of crops.

ijpba.info/ijpba/index.php/ijpba/article/view/471

Beejamrit: A Source for Beneficial Bacteria (2009)

Authors: MN Sreenivasa, Nagaraj Naik and SN Bhat

Abstract: Use of Beejamrit, a mix of cow dung, cow urine, water, lime and a handful of soil, has been given importance in sustainable agriculture since olden days. It is also one such organic product helpful for plant growth. Beneficial microorganisms present in Beejamrit are known to protect the crop from harmful soil-borne and seed-borne pathogens. Bacteria were isolated from Beejamrit and tested for their beneficial traits. These isolates were capable of N2 fixation, Psolubilization and IAA, GA production in addition to suppression of Sclerotium. Among the free-living N2 -fixers, isolate Az B2 registered highest amount of N2 fixation (13.71 mg/g carbon source utilized) whereas BPS3 released maximum amount of Pi (8.15 per cent) among phosphate solubilizing bacteria isolated from Beejamrit . The isolate BJ5 was found to produce highest amount of IAA (11.36 µg/25ml) and GA (3.13µg/25ml). Inoculation of the bacterial isolates from Beejamrit also resulted in improvement in seed germination, seedling length and seed vigor in soybean. Among the treatments, seeds inoculated with BJ5 registered significantly higher seedling length and vigor index; these were markedly lowest in control. This study clearly brought out that Beejamrit contains not only general microflora, but also certain beneficial biochemical groups such as free-living N2-fixers, P- solubilizes and bacteria producing plant growth promoting substances as well as bacteria having biological deterrent activities. Presence of such beneficial microbial biomass and nutrient status might have resulted in improved seed Bermination, seedling length and seed vigor in soybean indicating Beejamrit as an efficient plant growth stimulant.

http://apzbnf.in/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Beejamrutha_A_source_for_beneficial_bacteria.pdf

Authors: Girima Nagda, Devendra Kumar Bhatt

Abstract: The study aimed to evaluate the effect of cow urine and combination of antioxidants against lindane-induced oxidative stress in Swiss mice. Male healthy mice, 8–10 weeks old, weighing 30 ± 5 g were randomly selected and divided into eight groups, namely, control (C); lindane (L); antioxidant (A), antioxidant+lindane (A+L), cow urine (U), cow urine+lindane (U+L), cow urine+antioxidants (U+A) and cow urine+antioxidants+lindane (U+A+L). Group C animals were administered only the vehicle (olive oil); doses selected for other treatments were: lindane: 40 mg/kg b.w.; antioxidants: 125 mg/kg b.w. (vitamin C: 50 mg/kg b.w., vitamin E: 50 mg/kg b.w., α-lipoic acid: 25 mg/kg b.w.) and cow urine: 0.25 ml/kg b.w. In group A+L and U+L antioxidants and cow urine were administered 1 h prior to lindane administration and in group U+A and U+A+L cow urine was administered 10 min before antioxidants. All treatments were administered orally continuously for 60 days. Lindane treated group showed increased lipid peroxidation, whereas glutathione, glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, catalase, protein and endogenous levels of vitamin C and E were significantly decreased compared to control. Administration of cow urine and antioxidants alleviated the levels of these biochemical parameters.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24430296/

Authors: Rahul Kumar, Kuldip Kumar, Vaishnavee Gupta, Amit Kumar, Triveni Shrivas, Kishu Tripathi

Abstract: Panchagavya is an incredible source for many medicinal substances. It has been reported for synergistic action but scientific data is not available. Sixty mice were randomly divided into ten groups. The first, second, third, fourth , fifth , sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth & tenth groups received PG 1, PG1+ EEAB 10%, PG1+ EEAB 50%, PG1+ EEAB 75%, PG2, PG2+ EEAB 10%, PG2+ EEAB 50%, PG2+ EEAB 75%, Standard Alprazolam, Control Urine every day administered at the dose 4ml/kg body weight regularly at 9:00 am for 21 days & investigated the role of different composition of Panchagavya and its ethanolic extract of Aloe barbedansis Mill (EEAB) (Xanthorrhoeceae) for synergistic anti-stress activity by using Tail Suspension Method in Swiss albino mice. On the 1st, 6th, 11th , 16th & 21th day after drug administration, effect of PG 1 , PG 2 , PG 1 + EEAB and PG 2 + EEAB were found to be significant at the level p

http://whitesscience.com/wp-content/uploads/woocommerce_uploads/2013/12/IJIBCS_2013_4_17-19.pdf

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Natural Farming

• 02 Dec 2021
• GS Paper - 1
• Agricultural Resources
• GS Paper - 2
• Government Policies & Interventions
• GS Paper - 3
• E-Technology in the Aid of Farmers

Why in News

Recently, NITI Aayog has conducted a national workshop on Natural Farming.

• There are many working models of natural farming all over the world, the Zero Budget Natural Farming (ZBNF) is the most popular model in India. This comprehensive, natural, and spiritual farming system was developed by Padma Shri Subhash Palekar .
• It can be defined as a “chemical- free farming and livestock based ”. Soundly grounded in agro-ecology, it is a diversified farming system that integrates crops, trees and livestock, allowing the optimum use of functional biodiversity.
• This farming approach was introduced by Masanobu Fukuoka , a Japanese farmer and philosopher, in his 1975 book The One-Straw Revolution.
• It builds on natural or ecological processes that exist in or around farms. Internationally, Natural Farming is considered a form of regenerative agriculture—a prominent strategy to save the planet.
• It has the potential to manage land practices and sequester carbon from the atmosphere in soils and plants, where it is actually useful instead of being detrimental.
• BPKP is aimed at promoting traditional indigenous practices which reduce externally purchased inputs.
• Natural Farming, as the name suggests, is the art, practice and, increasingly, the science of working with nature to achieve much more with less.

• To make farming viable and aspirational by increasing net incomes of farmers on account of cost reduction, reduced risks, similar yields, incomes from intercropping.
• To drastically cut down production costs by encouraging farmers to prepare essential biological inputs using on-farm, natural and home-grown resources.
• It is considered as a cost- effective farming practice with scope for raising employment and rural development.
• As Natural Farming does not use any synthetic chemicals, health risks and hazards are eliminated. The food has higher nutrition density and therefore offers better health benefits.
• It generates employment on account of natural farming input enterprises, value addition, marketing in local areas, etc. The surplus from natural farming is invested in the village itself.
• As it has the potential to generate employment , thereby stemming the migration of rural youth.
• It ensures better soil biology, improved agrobiodiversity and a more judicious usage of water with much smaller carbon and nitrogen footprints.
• By working with diverse crops that help each other and cover the soil to prevent unnecessary water loss through evaporation, Natural Farming optimizes the amount of ‘crop per drop’.
• The most immediate impact of Natural Farming is on the biology of soil—on microbes and other living organisms such as earthworms. Soil health depends entirely on the living organisms in it.
• The integration of livestock in the farming system plays an important role in Natural farming and helps in restoring the ecosystem. Eco Friendly bio-inputs, such as Jivamrit and Beejamrit, are prepared from cow dung and urine, and other natural products.
• The changes in soil structure with the help of organic carbon, no/low tillage and plant diversity are supporting plant growth even under extreme situations like severe droughts and withstanding severe flood and wind damage during cyclones .
• NF impacts many farmers positively by imparting resilience to the crops against weather extremities.
• Rainfed Area Development (RAD): It focuses on Integrated Farming System (IFS) for enhancing productivity and minimizing risks associated with climatic variabilities.
• Sub-mission on Agro Forestry (SMAF): It aims to encourage farmers to plant multi-purpose trees together with the agriculture crops for climate resilience and an additional source of income to the farmers, as well as enhanced feedstock to inter alia wood-based and herbal industry.
• National Mission on Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA), to develop, demonstrate and disseminate the techniques to make agriculture resilient to adverse impacts of climate change.
• Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North Eastern Region (MOVCDNER): It is a Central Sector Scheme , a sub-mission under NMSA, aims to develop certified organic production in a value chain mode.
• Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY): It was launched in 2015 to address the issues of water resources and provide a permanent solution that envisages Per Drop More Crop.
• Green India Mission: It was launched in 2014 under the umbrella of National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) with the primary objective of protecting, restoring and enhancing India’s diminishing forest cover.

Differences between Natural Farming and Organic Farming

Way Forward

• The world’s population is predicted to expand to approximately 10 billion by 2050. It is expected that agricultural demand will increase up to 50%, in comparison to 2013, in such a situation a transformational process towards ‘holistic’ approaches such as agro-ecology, agroforestry, climate-smart agriculture, and conservation agriculture is a necessity.
• There is a need to Strengthen agricultural market infrastructure and extend the procurement mechanism to all foodgrain and non-foodgrain crops to all States.
• Implementation of price deficiency payment system for selected crops. There is a need to enact legislation on ‘right to sell at MSP’ needs immediate attention.
• MGNREGS ((Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act) must also be linked with farm work in order to reduce the cost of cultivation which has escalated at a faster pace over the past few years.

Source: PIB

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ORIGINAL RESEARCH article

Impact of natural farming cropping system on rural households—evidence from solan district of himachal pradesh, india.

• 1 Department of Social Sciences, Dr. YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Solan, India
• 2 Department of Seed Science and Technology, Dr. YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Solan, India
• 3 Department of Basic Sciences, Dr. YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Solan, India
• 4 Directorate of Research, Dr. YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, India
• 5 State Project Implementation Unit (SPIU), Shimla, India
• 6 Department of Biotechnology, Amity University, Noida, India

Natural farming, popularly known as zero budget natural farming, is an innovative farming approach. It is low input based, climate resilient, and low cost farming system because all the inputs (insect repellents, fungicides, and pesticides) are made up of natural herbs and locally available inputs, thereby reducing the use of artificial fertilizers and industrial pesticides. It is becoming increasingly popular among the smallholder farmers of Himachal Pradesh. Under the natural farming system, 3 to 12 crops are cultivated together on the same area, along with leguminous crops as intercrop in order to ensure that no piece of land is wasted and utilized properly. This article focuses mainly on the different cropping systems of natural farming and comparing the economics of natural farming (NF) with conventional farming (CF) systems. Study shows that farmers adopted five major crop combinations under natural farming system, i.e., vegetables-based cropping system (e.g., tomato + beans + cucumber and cauliflower + pea + radish), vegetables-cereals-based cropping system, and other three more cropping systems discussed in this article. The results indicated that a vegetable-based cropping system has 19.68% more net return in Kharif season and 24.64% more net return in Rabi season as compared to conventional farming vegetable-based monocropping system. NF maximizes land use and reduces the chance of crop yield loss. NF has resulted in increased returns especially in the vegetable cropping system where reduction in cost was 30.73 per cent (kharif) and 11.88 per cent (rabi) across all crop combinations in comparison to CF. It is found in study that NF was cost savings from not using chemical fertilizers and pesticides, as well as higher benefit from intercrops.

Introduction

For around 58% of India's population, agriculture is their major source of income. Agriculture, forestry, and fishery had a gross value added of Rs 19.48 lac crore (US$ 276.37 billion) in fiscal year 2020. In fiscal year (FY) 2020, agricultural and allied industries accounted for 17.8% of India's gross value added (GVA) at current prices. Consumer expenditure in India would increase by as much as 6.6% in 2021. India's share in world agricultural exports increased to 2.1% in 2019 from 1.71% in 2010 ( Ministry of Commerce, 2021 ).

The country achieved its remarkable agricultural growth in the 1960s, after the emergence of the Green Revolution. India marked a new era in Indian agricultural history. The Green Revolution technology aimed to increase agricultural production mainly by substituting typically hardy plant varieties with high-response varieties and hybrids, the use of fertilizers and plant protection chemicals, irrigating more cultivated land by investing heavily on large irrigation systems, and consolidation of agricultural holdings ( Sebby, 2010 ). India has gained its outstanding position in food production, but it is also facing a poor ranking in the hunger index ( Menon et al., 2008 ). The Green Revolution left its harmful footprints on Indian agriculture. The monocropping system, increased and frequent use of fertilizers and pesticides caused considerable damage to the soil's biological operation, crop diversity, increased cost of cultivation, deterioration of groundwater, loss of flora-fauna, increased human diseases, malnutrition, and decreased soil fertility, which have almost left it barren in large areas. As a consequence, farmers with small farms invest in these costly inputs, which are exposed to high monetary risks and push them in the debt cycle ( Eliazer et al., 2019 ). With pesticides' obvious environmental and ecological effects, it is no surprise that government laws have been strengthened ( Carrington, 2019 ). Furthermore, the possible health implications of pesticide residue have terrified many of us into choosing pesticide-free items. Even though rules exist to assure legal maximum residual levels that have been considered scientifically acceptable for food, the campaign to eliminate pesticides has gained traction. Restoring soil health by reverting to non-chemical agriculture has assumed great importance in achieving sustainability in production.

In India, a chemical-free and climate-resilient method of farming given by a scientist Subhash Palekar, during 2006 in Maharashtra to end the problems arising after the Green Revolution by introducing natural farming. His methods popularized when farmers started adopting his methods. After that, many researchers and scientists claimed that natural farming is a good alternative to chemical farming that directly or indirectly impacts sustainable development positively ( Tripathi and Tauseef, 2018 ). The aim of natural farming is to reduce the cost of production to almost zero and to come back to the “pre-Green Revolution” style of agriculture ( Khadse et al., 2017 ). This would seem to lead growers out of loans by putting a stop to agricultural chemicals practices. The central government has implemented a policy to encourage farming methods throughout India. The state governments of Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Kerala, and Karnataka asked Subhash Palekar to educate their farmers for natural farming ( Khadse and Rosset, 2019a , b ).

In order to promote natural farming in Himachal Pradesh, a scheme “Prakritik Kheti Khushhal Kisan” was initiated with a budget allocation of Rs 35 crore (2019–2020). Under this scheme, peasants will be supported with training, the required machinery, to achieve the objective of sustainable farming doubling farmers' incomes, improved soil fertility, and low input costs ( Vashishat et al., 2021 ). Though the search for a better alternative shall always remain, right now natural farming is a credible alternative itself ( Mishra, 2018 ).

Natural farming is a special form of agriculture that does not requires any financial expenditure to purchase the essential inputs such as seeds, fertilizers, and plant protection chemicals from the market. Natural farming, though in its preliminary stages, is showing increased positive results and is being adopted by farmers in good faith. It is even cited by farmers that labor and production costs have drastically reduced 14–45% ( Chandel et al., 2021 ).

The cropping system of natural farming focuses mainly on traditional Indian practices based on agroecology; natural farming absolutely requires no monetary investment for purchase of key inputs at all ( Palekar, 2005 ). Due to its simplicity, adaptiveness, and huge reduction in cost of cultivation to know the impact of the cropping system of natural farming on the small and marginal farmers, this study was conducted.

The objectives of this study will be:

i) To study the socioeconomic status of the farmers.

ii) To study the comparative economics of natural farming vis-à-vis conventional farming.

iii) To identify the constraints of natural farming.

Methodology

Selection of the study area and respondents.

Solan district of Himachal Pradesh was purposely selected for this study. The district comprises five development blocks, i.e., Dharampur, Kandaghat, Nalagarh, Solan, and Kunihar. Out of these, three blocks were selected randomly and a list of farmers practicing both the Subhash Palekar Natural Farming (SPNF) and conventional farming were procured from the Project Director ATMA, Solan. From the list, 20 farmers each from the three selected blocks were selected randomly. Thus, total samples of 60 farmers were selected for this study. The primary data were collected from the farmers practicing both the natural farming and conventional farming systems by survey method using a well-structured and pre-tested schedule (questionnaire).

Distribution of Sampled Farmers Practicing Natural Farming According to Their Size of Landholding

For the analysis of data, the total respondents were divided according to the size of their landholdings into three classes, viz., marginal (<1 ha), small (1–2 ha), and medium (2–4 ha). The distribution of the sampled farmers is given in Table 1 .

Table 1 . Distribution of sampled households according to their landholdings.

Analytical Framework

To fulfill the above specified objectives of this study, based on the nature and extent of availability of data, the following analytical tools and techniques have been employed for the analysis of the data.

Tabular Analysis

Simple tabular analysis was used to examine socioeconomic status, resource structure, income and expenditure pattern, and farmers' opinions about the production and marketing problems under natural farming. Simple statistical tools such as averages and percentages were used to compare, contrast, and interpret the results. The sex ratio, literacy rate, and index were calculated using the following formulae:

W i = Weights (0, 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5) for illiterate, primary, middle, metric, secondary, and graduate and above, respectively.

X i = Number of persons in respective category.

Costs and Returns Analysis

Commission for agricultural costs and prices cost concepts.

Cost A 1 includes:

i) Cost of planting material cost

ii) Cost of manures, fertilizers, and plant protections

iii) Cost of hired human labor

iv) Cost of owned and hired machinery

v) Irrigation charges

vi) Depreciation on implements, farm buildings, and irrigation structures

vii) Land revenue

viii) Interest on owned working capital

ix) Other miscellaneous charges.

• Cost A 2 : Cost A 1 + rent paid for leased-in land

• Cost B 1 : Cost A 1 + interest on the fixed capital assets excluding land

• Cost B 2 : Cost B 1 + rental value of owned land

• Cost C 1 : Cost B 1 + imputed value of family labor

• Cost C 2 : Cost B 2 + imputed value of family labor

• Cost C 3 : Cost C 2 + 10% of cost C 2 on account of managerial function performed by the farmer.

Crop Equivalent Yield

In natural farming system, many types of crops were cultivated in a multiple or mixed cropping. So, it was very difficult to compare the economics of multiple crops with a single crop. Francis (1986) described crop equivalent yield (CEY) to the sum of equivalent principal and intercrop yields. The differing yield intercrops were transformed into the equivalent yield of any crop depending on the commodity price. So, a comparison was made based on economic returns and crop equivalent yield (CEY) of multiple cropping sequences was calculated by converting the yield of different intercrops/crops into equivalent yield of any one crop based on price of the produce. Mathematically, the CEY is represented as:

C Y = Yields of the main crop

P 0 = Price of the main crop

(C y1 , C y2 , C y3….. C yn ) = Yields of intercrop, which are to be converted to equivalent of main crop yield

(P 1 , P 2 , P 3 … P n ) = Price of the respective intercrops.

Relative Economic Efficiency

Farrell (1957) distinguished three types of efficiency, namely, technical efficiency, price or allocative efficiency, and economic efficiency (which is a combination of the first two). Economic efficiency is distinct from the other two efficiencies, even though it is the product of technical and allocative efficiencies. Relative economic efficiency, which is a comparative measure of economic gains, can be calculated by:

Statistical Analysis

The comparative economics was statistically analyzed as per the procedure given by Gomez and Gomez (1984) . The ANOVA was carried out based on the model in Table 2 .

Table 2 . ANOVA (two-rowed without replication) layout.

Production and Marketing Problems

To study the various problems associated with the production and marketing of natural farming, it was assumed that the extent of a particular problem varies from place to place and farmer to farmer. The multiple responses of producers reporting various problems were taken into consideration for analysis.

Garrett's Ranking Technique

The Garrett's ranking technique ( Garrett and Woodworth, 1969 ) was used for examination of constraints. It is important to note here that these constraints were focused on the response of all the sample farmers. The respondents were asked to rank the problems in turmeric and cotton production, processing, and marketing. In the Garrett's ranking technique, these ranks were converted into percent position by using the formula:

R ij = Ranking given to the ith attribute by the jth individual

N j = Number of attributes ranked by the jth individual.

By referring to the Garrett's table, the percentage positions estimated were converted into scores. Thus, for each factor, the scores of the various respondents were added and the mean values were estimated. The mean values, thus, obtained for each of the attributes were arranged in descending order. The attributes with the highest mean value were considered as the most important one and the others followed in that order.

Chi-Squared Test

To test whether there was any significant difference among marginal, small and medium farms of Solan for the problems faced by them, chi-square test ( Pearson, 1900 ) in (m × n) contingency table was applied where m and n are the number of marketing problems faced by the farmers of natural farming in Solan district. The detail of approximate chi-squared test is given as under:

O = Observed values

E = Expected values

K = Number of problems

L = Number of the farm size groups.

Results and Discussion: Socio-Economic Characteristics of Sampled Households

Size and structure of the sampled households in the study area.

The size and structure of the family play an important part in influencing crop production. The size and structure of the sampled households in the study area are given in Table 3 . At an overall level, the average family size was 5.28 out of which 51.64% were males, 39.66% were females, and 8.70% were children. The average family size ranged from 5.21 to 5.35 and was observed highest in the small farmers (5.35) followed by medium farmers (5.30) and marginal farmers (5.21). The results indicated that the dominant family structure in the area under study was the nuclear family (66.67%). It was highest in small farms (47.06%) followed by marginal (30.30%) and medium farm categories (20%).

Table 3 . Demographic profile of sampled households in the study area (No.).

Literacy Status of the Sampled Households

Literacy is an indicator of an individual's educational status and level of education enabling him/her to engage and participate in enhancing and improving the social and economic well-being of the surroundings. Good literacy skills open up doors for education and jobs, so people can avoid poverty and underemployment. The rate of literacy is a reflection of good human capital. Higher literacy leads to a higher level of awareness, interaction with new inventions and technologies, etc. The literacy status of the sampled households is given in Table 4 . It is revealed from Table 4 that the overall literacy rate was 89.70% in males and 77.52% in females and the highest literacy rate was observed in the small farm category with 91.30% in males and 78.05% in females. Table 4 shows that 23.55% males and 7.35% females had education level upto graduation and above. The literacy index varied from 1.58 to 2.30 in males among different farm categories, while the literacy index varied from 1.73 to 2.26 in females among different farm categories, which clearly show the poor quality of education. As the level of education increases, nowadays people understand the importance of better healthcare and due to that many farmers have started to focus more on natural farming and have no adverse impact on human health.

Table 4 . Farm category-wise literacy status of sampled households (%).

Occupational Distribution of the Sampled Households

The occupational patterns play a very significant role in ascertaining the economic status of the family. In this way, we know about the households engaged in various activities such as agriculture, business, and government or private services. In developing countries, the majority of the population are still engaged in agricultural activities and other primary activities. When the area is more developed, the employment patterns will be more diversified and household incomes will also increase. Development and progress of employment are very much linked to economic development. The occupational structure, allocation of workers, and number of dependents are shown in Table 5 .

Table 5 . Farm category-wise occupational distribution of the sampled households (No.).

The workforce reflects the distribution of members of the household making a contribution to the household economy. A family with more working people will be much more precise in terms of their livelihood strategies. Table 5 concludes that 81.33% of the households are engaged in agriculture, which means that agriculture being the main occupation in the study area. With the growing importance of natural farming, farmers have become more aware of the importance of health benefits and, hence, the percentage of farmers engaged in this sector is coming out highest as compared to business and services. On an average, 2.90 per worker were engaged in business and public/private sector (15.77%), respectively.

The largest proportion of productive agricultural workers was observed in the medium farm category with 83.33% followed by the marginal (81.75%) and small farm categories (70.10%). So, as far as the average number of dependents is concerned, the highest percentage was observed in the marginal farm (26.74%) followed by the small farm (26.37%) and lowest in the medium farm category (24.53%). At the overall level, productive workers were 3.88 and varied from 3.82 to 4.00 in the marginal to medium farm categories. The overall dependency ratio with respect to workers was (1:0.35) and among the different categories, the highest was observed in marginal category (1:0.37), followed by small (1:0.36) and medium farm categories (1:0.33). Dependency result illustrates that on average, one worker has to support less than one member of the family in the sampled household.

Table 6 reveals that the majority of the workforce were the males (53.81 %), while the female workers constituted 46.19%. The percentage of the male workers was the highest in medium farm category (62.50%) followed by marginal (52.94%) and small farm categories (49.09%). The proportion of female workers was considered to be the highest (50.91%) in the small farm category followed closely by the marginal (47.06%) and medium-farm categories (37.50%).

Table 6 . Gender-wise distribution of the farm workers in the sampled households (No.).

Season-Wise Major Crop Combinations Under Natural Farming System

Under natural farming system, three to four crops are cultivated or grown together on the same area, along with leguminous crops as intercrop in order to ensure that no piece of land is wasted and utilized properly. These combinations during the growing season were established to encourage interaction between them and are based on the idea that complementarities exist between the plants. Intercropping with leguminous crops is considered as one of the most important components of natural farming as it increases crop productivity and soil fertility through the atmospheric nitrogen fixation. These complementarities between crops increase soil and its nutrients. It also involves diversification and improves profits by growing and selling various types of cereals, vegetables, legumes, fruit, and even medicinal plants. The multiple cropping systems substantially enhance income. This system maximizes land use and reduces the chance of crop yield loss. This study found that farmers grow different crops under different crop combinations in the study area. The major crop combinations adopted by the selected farmers were categorized as: (i) vegetables, (ii) vegetables-cereals, (iii) vegetables-pulses, (iv) cereals-pulses, and (v) vegetables-oilseeds crops. From Table 7 , it was observed that in Kharif season, the major vegetable being grown in the study area was tomato and the other crops included were capsicum, cucumber, bottle gourd, chili, okra, brinjal, etc. The main intercrops (leguminous) in the study area include French bean and soybean. The major cereals and pulses include maize, beans, soybean, etc. While in Rabi season, cauliflower is the major vegetable followed by wheat, pea, and chickpea as the major cereals and pulses grown in the study area. The other crop includes radish, fenugreek, coriander, spinach, potato, onion, garlic, etc. Mustard was being grouped under as major oilseeds crops. The main leguminous crops (intercrops) in Rabi season were pea, chickpea, and kidney beans.

Table 7 . Season-wise major crop combinations under natural farming (NF) system.

Now, in conventional farming, as opposed to natural farming, solo cropping is practiced. From Table 8 , it was observed that the main crops grown by the farmers were tomato and maize in the Kharif season and in Rabi season, the main crops grown were cauliflower, wheat, chickpea, and mustard.

Table 8 . Season-wise major crop combinations under conventional farming (CF) system.

So, in order to compare within these two systems, one main crop is kept common between the two systems. For example, from Table 1 , in the Kharif season, in natural farming, in vegetables crop combination, it was observed that tomato is the main crop and it was being planted along with several crops. Similarly, in Table 8 , under conventional farming, it was seen under the vegetables section (Kharif season) that the main crop is tomato. So, in order to compare these two systems, a comparison was made based on economic returns and, henceforth, crop equivalent yield (CEY) of multiple cropping sequences was calculated by converting the differing yields of intercrops into the equivalent yield of the main crop, i.e., tomato (in case of vegetables crop combination for both the systems) depending on price of the produce. Similarly, CEY of other crop combinations was also calculated by using this same method mentioned above.

Comparative Analysis of Natural Farming System and Conventional Farming System

Under natural farming system, two or three crops are cultivated on the same farmland. Because different crop types were grown in a multiple or mixed crop system, it was hard to equate NFs economic produce with CF. So, to compare the yield, the crop equivalent yield (CEY) concept was used for a mixed cropping system. In the statistical analysis shown in Tables 9 , 10 , we can observe that, along the rows, all the crop combinations have significantly higher yields under NF as compared to CF in both the seasons. Now, from Table 11 , it was observed that, for all the crop combinations, the yield in the NF system was found to be higher than the CF system and it varied from 49.20 to 208.45 q/ha. The maximum yield was observed in vegetables 208.45 q/ha for the Kharif season. In the case of the Rabi season, it ranged from 48.33 to 58.12 q/ha. Same results were found like Kharif season, i.e., yield in all the crop combinations under NF was more than of CF. The maximum yield was observed in vegetables crop combination (58.12 q/ha). From Table 11 , it was observed that CEY of the NF system was found to be greater than that of those of the CF system. All the NF crop combinations show an average increase in yield over the CF system. In the Kharif season, the increase in the yield under NF system over CF system varied from 3.08 to 5.10%, while in Rabi season, it ranged from 2.83 to 7.98% in all the crop combinations. In Kharif season, the maximum increase in yield under NF was observed in vegetables and cereals-pulses in Rabi season. The above results were supported by Tripathi and Tauseef (2018) , which stated that the average of zero budget natural farming (ZBNF) groundnut farmers was 23% higher than their counterparts outside the ZBNF. On average ZBNF, paddy farmers had a 6% higher yield. These increments are the result of sustainable farming practices, which also improve farmers' capacity to adapt to climate change. Also, another study observed an increase in CEY under cereals-pulses combination (17.22%). This higher increase can be attributed to the comparative remunerative prices of pulses and symbiotic effect of pulses on cereal crop yield ( Chandel et al., 2021 ).

Table 9 . Statistical analysis of Kharif season from Table 11 .

Table 10 . Statistical analysis of Rabi season from Table 11 .

Table 11 . Crop equivalent yield (CEY) of various crop combinations under NF and conventional farming (CF) systems.

Cost of Cultivation

One of the key cost components for the production of cash crops such as fruits and vegetables under the CF system in the state is chemical inputs. This continuous farming activity has contributed to higher costs and eventually reduced incomes for farmers. A substantial decrease in the cost of growing these crops has occurred with the use of NF technology. Tables 12 , 13 indicate the statistical analysis of the cost of cultivation where we can observe that, along the rows, all the crop combinations have significantly lower costs under NF as compared to CF in both the seasons. Table 14 presents a comparison of cost of cultivation between NF and CF systems. It has been observed that the total cost of all the crop combinations in NF systems during the cultivation process was substantially reduced. In the Kharif season, the percentage reduction in NF cultivation costs over the CF system ranged from 12.56 to 30.73%, while in the Rabi season it ranged from 6.86 to 12.34%. In Kharif season, maximum reduction in cost was observed in vegetables crop combination, whereas in case of Rabi season, the maximum reduction was observed in cereal-pulses crop combination. This indicates that the NF method lowers the costs of farmers as it uses non-synthetic inputs locally in contrast to CF capital intensive inputs. Similar findings have been published, which revealed that, after converting into ZBNF, farmers had a decreased cost of cultivation for all the crops and, most significantly, farmers were able to increase their income from natural agricultural practices by increasing the number of crops ( Mishra, 2018 ). In another study, it was observed that the total cost of cultivation was reduced across all the crop combinations. The total expenditure in fruit-based cropping sequences showed a marked decline from Rs. 2,40,638 to Rs. 1,31,023 per ha., which indicate that the SPNF system reduces farmers' direct costs, boosting yields, and promotes the use of locally sourced non-synthetic inputs, compared to capital intensive CF ( Chandel et al., 2021 ).

Table 12 . Statistical analysis of Kharif season from Table 14 .

Table 13 . Statistical analysis of Rabi season from Table 14 .

Table 14 . Cost of cultivation of various crop combinations under NF and CF systems.

Conventional farming currently faces numerous challenges such as decreasing factor productivity, inappropriate and imbalanced use of nutrients, poor water and nutrient quality, depletion of natural resources, and increased input costs. Different crop combinations have clearly demonstrated that chemical-based farming technologies are highly capital intensive.

Net Returns

The profits and losses of a farm are reflected through its net income. It constitutes gross returns from the business after deduction of total cost incurred. In NF, input costs are highly diminished due to the abstinence from pesticides, insecticides, and adoption of natural inputs such as jivamrit, bijamrit, ghanjivamrit , and neemastra . NF inputs and other natural preparations have a major impact due to reduced expenditure on chemical fertilizers and pesticides. The statistical analysis for net returns under NF and CF is shown in Tables 15 , 16 . Here, it is very apparent that, along the rows, all the crop combinations have significantly higher net returns under NF as compared to CF in both the seasons. Furthermore, Table 17 reveals that net returns in NF were higher than CF across all the crop combinations. The relative economic efficiency (REE), the comparative measure of economic gain in NF over the CF in all the crop combinations in the Kharif season, was 13.20 to 23.05% higher, while in the Rabi season, it was 24.16 to 31.30% higher in all the crop combinations. Maximum relative economic efficiency was observed in the cereals-pulses crop combination in the Kharif season and in Rabi season, the maximum relative economic efficiency was observed in the vegetables-pulses crop combination. Increased NF returns can be attributed to expenditure savings due to local inputs and additional revenue from intercrops. Mixed cropping helped to make more efficient use of the farm area than solo crop cultivation to further increase the net profit, in addition to increasing the variety of available crops at different times during the growing season. The results were supported by the same study undertaken by Chandel et al. (2021) which stated that the REE was 11.80 to 21.55% higher in all the crop combination under the SPNF as compared to the CF system.

Table 15 . Statistical analysis of Kharif season from Table 17 .

Table 16 . Statistical analysis of Rabi season from Table 17 .

Table 17 . Crop combination-wise net returns under NF and CF systems.

Problems Faced by the Natural Farmers

There are constraints when it comes to any development process. Likewise, there are several constraints regarding natural farming, which were faced by the concerned natural farmers of Solan district. Some of the main constraints include unfair price in the market, irrigation facilities, lack of specialized markets for the produce, high wage rates, lack of training facilities, etc. For examination of constraints, the Garrett's ranking technique was used. It must also be noted that these limitations have been aimed at the response of all the sample farmers. Table 18 shows the constraints faced by various farm categories.

Table 18 . Farm category-wise problem faced by natural farming producer in study area (Multiple response, %).

An effort was made to examine the problems between different farm categories in the field of production and marketing. The chi-squared tests have been performed to check if the problems are specified by farm category or are independent of the farm category. As prices differ greatly, producers have had problems with production and marketing due to high wage levels, lack of technical awareness, lack of safe plant material, and lack of irrigation and storage facilities. These concerns were categorized in two subgroups: production issues and marketing issues.

It was observed from Table 18 that among the production problems, shortage of skilled labor, higher wage rate, non-availability at peak operation time, and inadequate training facilities were found statistically significant. It showed significant differences between the different farm categories. In case of marketing problems, non-availability of specialized markets, lack of transport facility, and fair price in the market were found statistically significant. It showed that these problems were faced by all the farm categories.

The various problems faced by the farmers are shown in Table 19 .

Table 19 . Farmers' perceptions and problems faced by NF growers in the study area.

The Garrett's ranking system was used in this analysis, using the ranks attained by each problem to assess the most serious and the least serious problems. The major problems faced by the farmers were labor intensive (I) followed by higher wage rate (II), non-availability of specialized market (III), shortage of skilled labor (IV), knowledge of package of practices (V), consumer awareness about NF produce (VI), lack of extension facilities (VII), unfair price for produce in the market (VIII), etc. Other common problems include lack of transport facilities, lack of irrigation facilities, etc.

Intercropping with leguminous crops is considered as one of the most important components of natural farming as it increases crop productivity and soil fertility through the atmospheric nitrogen fixation. The results revealed that farmers witnessed a drop in per hectare cost of production and profitable yield for their crops as well. The farmers were pleased that natural farming is both environmentally friendly and extremely cost-effective. The crop equivalent yield (CEY) under natural farming was highest in all the crop combinations as compared to conventional farming and ranged from 3.08 to 5.10% in Kharif season and 2.83 to 7.98% in all the crop combinations in Rabi season. In Kharif season, the percentage reduction in cost of cultivation under NF over the CF system ranged from 12.56 to 30.73, while in Rabi season, it ranged from 6.86 to 12.34. The gross returns under NF systems were highest in all the crop combinations as compared to CF systems. The maximum increase in gross returns was in vegetables crop combination in both the seasons. The relative economic efficiency (REE) was highest in all the crop combinations under NF over CF system. Among the problems studied, shortage of skilled labor, higher wage rate, non-availability at peak operation time, inadequate training facilities, non-availability of specialized markets, lack of transport facility, and fair price in the market were found statistically significant. It showed significant differences between the different farm categories. The analysis showed that the natural farming system provides relatively higher returns per hectare than the conventional farming system. Also, it was observed that the major problems faced by the farmers were labor intensive (I) followed by higher wage rate (II), non-availability of specialized market (III), shortage of skilled labor (IV), knowledge of package of practices (V), consumer awareness about NF produce (VI), lack of extension facilities (VII), unfair price for produce in the market (VIII), etc. Other common problems include lack of transport facilities, lack of irrigation facilities, etc. So, there is a need for the Department of Agriculture to take up effective measures to encourage natural farming through campaigns by educating the farmers about its importance. The government should also encourage higher premium prices and channels of green marketing for the boosting of natural crops. The farmers should focus more on the full application of the NF model on their farm fields and should know the best way to use these products, i.e., proper mulching techniques (acchadan), application of jivamrit, ghanjivamrit, bijamrit, astras , etc., in order to enhance productivity.

Data Availability Statement

The original contributions presented in the study are included in the article/supplementary material, further inquiries can be directed to the corresponding author/s.

Author Contributions

All authors listed have made a substantial, direct, and intellectual contribution to the work and approved it for publication.

Conflict of Interest

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Publisher's Note

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PubMed Abstract | Google Scholar

Vashishat, R. K., Laishram, C., and Sharma, S. (2021). Problems and factors affecting adoption of natural farming in Sirmaur District of Himachal Pradesh. Indian J. Ecol. 48, 944–949.

Keywords: natural farming, sustainability, crop combinations, intercropping, Himachal Pradesh

Citation: Laishram C, Vashishat RK, Sharma S, Rajkumari B, Mishra N, Barwal P, Vaidya MK, Sharma R, Chandel RS, Chandel A, Gupta RK and Sharma N (2022) Impact of Natural Farming Cropping System on Rural Households—Evidence From Solan District of Himachal Pradesh, India. Front. Sustain. Food Syst. 6:878015. doi: 10.3389/fsufs.2022.878015

Received: 17 February 2022; Accepted: 08 April 2022; Published: 31 May 2022.

Reviewed by:

Copyright © 2022 Laishram, Vashishat, Sharma, Rajkumari, Mishra, Barwal, Vaidya, Sharma, Chandel, Chandel, Gupta and Sharma. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY) . The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

*Correspondence: Chinglembi Laishram, chinglaish@gmail.com

Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.

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Short Essay on Natural Farming

Concept of natural farming:.

Natural farming requires no machines, no chemicals and very little weeding. In other words natural farming is an attempt to develop a method of farming which could help to reverse the degenerative momentum of modem agriculture.

Image Source: organicfarmingblog.com

Principles of Natural Farming:

The following steps are important to make farming in natural way.

1. No cultivation-stirring of the soil by plough

2. No chemical fertilizers-addition of crop residues and organic manures

3. No tillage-mulching with plant materials

4. No dependence on chemicals-plant extracts can be used for plant protection

The main purpose of farming is to add eco­logical sustainability and agricultural development. According to Dr. M.S. Swaminathan, the basic principles of sustainability include, land, water energy, nutrient supply, pest management, post harvest systems and systems approach. These factors are closely linked together for sustainability.

Another important aspect in natural farming is preventive crop protection. The farmers should know agricultural ecosystems, like mixed farming and diversification, crop rotation, optimum planting season for all crops, manuring and plant health, choice of varieties and field hygiene. Since insects very often attack crops and other pests, the knowledge of above items is important. Use of pesticides had led to disturbances in the natural eco-system and poisonous chemicals up in ground water eventually having harmful environmental consequences. Hence, preventive crop protection principles are vital for natural farming.

Some ecologically friendly plants, e.g., Neem, Pungam, Jatropha etc., help to promote ecological balance. The integrated farming systems can help in ensuring self-sufficiency in farm holding, increase and help in ecological balance by recycling of farm residue and wastes.

Natural farming is a traditional form of agricultural practice popularly associated with a back-to-nature movement. Hence, it is to make maximum possible use of natural resources, thereby avoiding the use of chemicals liable to kill or reduce the activity of beneficial soil organisms and avoiding direct feeding of land with soluble minerals.

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Is Organic Produce Worth the Higher Price?

You need to weigh your budget, but it does have benefits. Including some that are not obvious.

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By Susan Shain

• July 1, 2024

In 2022, organics accounted for 15 percent of all fruit and vegetable sales in the United States despite being far pricier than conventional produce .

But with today’s high grocery bills , even some committed organic shoppers are agonizing over which blueberries to buy and wondering: Is organic really worth the cost?

Here are some facts to help you figure out what’s right for you and your budget.

First, what does ‘certified organic’ mean?

Unlike the terms “natural” or “sustainable,” the Department of Agriculture’s organic seal is highly regulated (though not entirely fraud-proof ).

When you see the USDA Organic sticker on a banana, you can generally assume it has been grown without the use of synthetic fertilizers, genetically modified organisms and most synthetic pesticides. Its production may have involved organic farming techniques , such as rotating crops and planting cover crops, too.

It’s worth noting that not all organic farmers have the time, money or desire to pursue official certification. You can always ask at a farmers market how the food was grown.

Is organic produce better for the climate?

At first glance, organic farming seems like a clear climate win because it doesn’t use synthetic fertilizers, which require lots of energy , and thus lots of fossil fuels, to produce. (Both synthetic and natural fertilizers also release nitrous oxide , a powerful greenhouse gas, after application.)

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The Catastrophic Causes and Consequences of the Dust Bowl

This essay about the Dust Bowl examines the causes and consequences of this environmental disaster that struck the Great Plains of the United States during the 1930s. It highlights how aggressive agricultural practices such as over-plowing and monoculture farming disrupted the natural grasses that held the soil in place. The prolonged drought and strong winds of the 1930s then turned the exposed soil into dust leading to severe dust storms known as “black blizzards.” The essay also discusses the socio-economic impact on farmers many of whom were displaced and forced to migrate. The government’s response through the New Deal’s conservation efforts is also explored emphasizing the need for sustainable agricultural practices.

How it works

In the 1930s the United States’ Great Plains were ravaged by the Dust Bowl an immense environmental calamity. This era characterized by intense dust storms and the collapse of agriculture will always be remembered in American history. The Dust Bowl was caused by a variety of natural and human forces that resulted in the conversion of large areas of arable land into desolate deserts. Investigating the interactions between historical agricultural practices economic constraints and environmental factors is essential to understanding how this tragedy occurred.

The roots of the Dust Bowl can be traced back to the early 20th century when a series of events set the stage for the impending catastrophe. The Great Plains stretching from the Texas Panhandle to South Dakota were initially covered with native grasses that held the soil in place and maintained the land’s ecological balance. However the allure of fertile soil and the promise of prosperity led to a massive influx of settlers and farmers. Encouraged by high crop prices during World War I these new farmers implemented aggressive agricultural practices plowing millions of acres of virgin land. This extensive cultivation disrupted the natural grasses exposing the soil to the elements.

Compounding the issue was the adoption of monoculture farming where single crops like wheat were grown repeatedly without crop rotation. This practice depleted the soil of essential nutrients rendering it less resilient to environmental stresses. Additionally the mechanization of farming introduced powerful tractors and plows that could till the land more deeply and extensively than ever before. While these technological advancements initially boosted crop yields they also exacerbated soil erosion as the protective vegetation cover was stripped away.

The environmental context during this period played a crucial role in transforming these vulnerabilities into a full-blown disaster. The 1930s were marked by a prolonged drought that gripped the Great Plains turning the already fragile soil into fine dust. Without the native grasses to anchor it the topsoil was easily lifted by the strong winds that swept across the plains. The result was a series of severe dust storms known as “black blizzards” that blotted out the sun and buried entire towns under layers of dust.

The socio-economic landscape of the time further aggravated the situation. The Great Depression which began in 1929 had already plunged the nation into economic turmoil. Farmers desperate to make a living continued to over-plow and over-plant their fields in an attempt to maximize their yields. This desperation-driven overproduction not only failed to alleviate their financial woes but also intensified soil degradation. As crop prices plummeted and debts mounted many farmers abandoned their land leaving it to erode further.

The human toll of the Dust Bowl was immense. Thousands of families were displaced forced to migrate in search of better living conditions. The iconic image of “Okies” as the migrants from Oklahoma were called with their belongings packed into dilapidated cars became a symbol of this mass exodus. These displaced families faced harsh conditions often finding themselves in overcrowded and unsanitary migrant camps in California and other states. The Dust Bowl not only shattered the livelihoods of these farmers but also exposed the deep-seated socio-economic inequalities in American society.

Under President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal the federal government responded to the catastrophe by putting in place a number of policies meant to lessen the Dust Bowl’s consequences and keep it from happening again. Founded in 1935 the Soil Conservation Service advocated soil-protecting techniques like crop rotation contour plowing and windbreak planting. Eventually regular rainfall patterns returned and these conservation measures assisted in restoring part of the devastated land. Nonetheless the Dust Bowl taught us the value of sustainable farming methods and the necessity of a harmonious coexistence of human activity and the environment.

The Dust Bowl is a sobering reminder of how carefully nature and human endeavor must coexist. It draws attention to how imprudent farming methods motivated by financial strains and scientific breakthroughs can have disastrous effects on the environment. The 1930s catastrophe was a reflection of human impact on the land as well as a result of natural forces. The legacy of the Dust Bowl compels us to embrace more sustainable and conscientious methods of resource management as we confront new environmental issues.

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