Dr. Banarsi Lal
Natural farming is an approach to agriculture that emphasises working with nature’s processes to grow crops in a sustainable and holistic way. It follows local agro-ecological principles rooted in indigenous knowledge ,location specific technologies and adaptations to local agro-ecology. Green Revolution in India had a phenomenal impact on the Indian agriculture but it led to extensive water consumption and aggravated water loss. According to Central Water Commission the country’s agricultural sector consumes about 83 per cent of the available water. Recently a great emphasis on Zero-Budget Natural Farming has been given in India. Zero Budget Natural Farming is the adaptation of an ancient practice that reduces the direct cost of the farmers and encourages them for the use of natural inputs such as cow urine and cow dung. This technology requires less tilling and completely rejects the use of chemical fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides. It advocates mulching of crop residues to promote moisture retention in soil. It also involves waaphasa (soil aeration) to reduce water consumption. ZBNF has water saving potential and can address India’s food and security in the long-run. This technology needs time and strategy for its more adoption. In order to fully explore the potential of ZBNF, empirical research is needed to understand the social dynamics and scientific processes. It is unique model of farming that relies on agro-ecology. This method of farming aims to bring down the cost of production nearly zero and return to a pre-green revolution style of farming. This technology claims that there is no need of expensive inputs such as fertilizers, pesticides and intensive irrigation.Natural farming is a way of chemical free farming based on livestock and locally available resources.This type of farming is based on farm-made resources prepared by the farmer. Zero-Budget Natural Farming has attained a wide success in many states of India especially in the Southern states. Government is stressing on this farming calling for a back to the basics of the Indian agriculture. Presently many farmers have started the Zero Budget Natural Farming because of its benefits. This has been achieved without any formal movement organization, paid staff or even a bank account. Zero Budget Natural Farming (ZBNF) inspires a spirit of volunteerism among its peasant farmer members. This model of farming can be implicated in many states of India. This type of farming can really help to enhance the income of the farmers as there are almost no expenses in this farming as the farmer can manage his crop without any assistance from the outside. Many states are striving to shift towards this innovative farming. It was originally promoted by Maharashtrian agriculturist and Padma Shri award recipient Sh.Subash Palekar who developed this model of farming in mid 90s as an alternative to green revolution which is driven by the agro-chemicals and intensive irrigation.Basically increasing cost of cultivation is leading cause of indebtedness which is the major cause of suicide among the farmers. Also chemical pesticides and fertilizers cause the ill effects to the environment, soil and human beings. In order to break the debt cycle, reduce the cost of cultivation and produce the healthy food, Palekar introduced Zero Budget Natural Farming for many small and marginal farmers. According to him one cow is needed for 30 acres of land provided it should be the local Indian breed. His method promotes soil aeration, minimum watering, top soil mulching and discourages intensive irrigation and deep ploughing. He is against vermicomposting as it introduces common composting worm called as Eisenia fetida. He claims that these worms absorb toxic metals and poison groundwater and soil. This farming is very effective in addressing the uncertainties of climate change. Farming without chemicals is possible under this method. The method of this farming is very simple and easy to adopt.
J&K is a mountainous Union Territory in which about 30 per cent of the area is under cultivation. Agriculture is the backbone of J&K. This sector provides employment directly or indirectly to about 70 per cent of its inhabitants. The average size of landholding in India is 1.08 hectares where as in Jammu & Kashmir it is 0.54 hectare. Agriculture contributes significantly to the economy of J&K which signifies the overdependence of the J&K on agriculture.Agricultural development harbingers the overall growth and development of J&K. The use of fertilizers and other agrochemicals has started to increase in J&K which deteriorates the soil health. Natural farming is a method of chemical-free agriculture drawn from the traditional Indian practices. It is a unique method of farming which relies on agro-ecology and reduces the cost of cultivation nearly zero. There is no need of expensive agro-inputs such as pesticides, fertilizers and intensive irrigation for natural farming. It has attained a wide success in many states of India especially in the Southern states. Government is stressing on this farming calling for a back to the basics of the Indian agriculture. It is an effective system of farming which sustains the agro-ecosystem including biodiversity and soil biological activities. Natural farming can prove as a major tool for the second green revolution especially in the hilly regions of India.
The essential difference between natural and chemical farming is that in chemical farming farmer relies on the chemical interventions to manage pests and weeds and to provide plant nutrition.That means in chemical farming farmer depends on the synthetic pesticides,herbicides and fertilizers whereas natural farming relies on farm based natural formulations such as Beejamrit,Beejamrit,Ghanjeevamrit etc.Chemical farming increases greenhouse gas emmissions ,soil erosion,water pollution and threatens human health whereas natural farming conserves and builds soil health,improves natural ecosystems for clean water and air without any toxic pesticides residues.Natural farming is a promising means to reduce the dependence of farmers on external inputs, reduces the cost of cultivation and thus increases the income of the farmers. Natural farming is helpful to produce the safe and healthy food and farmers can more returns by producing the organic farm produce through natural farming.It has been observed that the fertilizer consumption (kg/ha) in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir is less than half that of entirecountry. J&Ks fertilizer consumption is 61.9 kg/ha of NPK as compared to nationalvalue of 133.1 kg/ha of NPK ( 2018-19). When we look at the pesticide consumption data of the UT as a whole it may seemcomparable with many other states. However, when we leave out the high pesticideconsumingorchardsofKashmirandnarrowirrigatedplainstripinJammu,theshareof the rest of the Jammu division falls even lower. The pesticide consumption inJammu division is only 146.59 metric tons (MT), with majority of the share beingoccupied by Jammu, Kathua and Samba districts amounting to approximately 74 % ofthe total.
Majority of farmers of Union Territory of J&K have small and marginal size of land holding which generate less income particularly in the hilly areas. Natural farming system is not new and it is being followed in J&K from ancient times. It is the tradition in J&K to add natural farming inputs in the soil which supplement nutrients and improve physical and biological properties of soils. Over the years, the farmers of the hilly Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir have adopted new agricultural technologies but still J&K is having low crop productivity of almost all the crops. There is need to develop systematic approach and plan for the development in natural farming in Jammu and Kashmir as J&K has immense potential for natural farming. Significant steps have been taken by the government in order to highlight the importance of natural farming in the growth of J&K economy.
Natural farming is a special form of agriculture that does not require any financial expenditure to purchase the essential inputs such as fertilizers,seed and chemicals from the market.Natural farming is showing increased positive results and is being adopted by the large number of farmers.In order to improve the socio-economic status of farmers of J&K, there is need to help them to get higher returns per unit area and overall improvement in the soil health. In order to break the debt cycle, reduce the cost of cultivation and produce the healthy food, Sh.Subash Palekar Padma Shri award recipient introduced Zero Budget Natural Farming for many small and marginal farmers. According to him one cow is needed for 30 acres of land provided it should be of the local Indian breed. His method promotes soil aeration, minimum watering, top soil mulching and discourages intensive irrigation and deep ploughing. This farming is very effective in addressing the uncertainties of climate change. Farming without chemicals is possible under the natural farming method. The method of this farming is very simple and easy to adopt. Under this method of farming plants consume only 10 per cent of water that crops consume in conventional methods.Jivamrita/jeevamruthais, Bijamrita/beejamrutha, Acchadana and Whapasa are the four pillars of natural farming and needs to be followed in natural farming.
By natural farming, the farmers of J&K can leave a better legacy for their future generations. Farmers can also generate additional income by selling the natural farming inputs. Appropriate policy framework and package of practices are needed to increase the adoption of natural farming in J&K. Institutional mechanism is also needed to promote the Natural Farming in J&K. The farmers of Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir can tap the opportunity of growing demand of natural farming products. Keeping the importance of organic products in view there is need to shift from chemical to natural farming. There is need to provide logistic support for natural farming to the farmers so that they can get maximum benefits from it. Currently the demand for organic products is more than supply. The market for organic crops is growing at a very high rate each year. The emerging challenge for food security and environment sustainability can be mitigated by the natural farming. Good market demand for natural farming products will have a positive impact on the socio-economic status of the farmers of Union Territory of J&K. Proper marketing mechanism needs to be strategized to sale the chemical free farm produce. It can play a significant role in enhancing the income and employment among the farmers of J&K.
(The writer is Chief Scientist & Head of KVK Reasi SKUAST-J)
