Zero budget natural farming in India | Advantages and challenges of zero budget natural farming
Zero
budget natural farming in India
 |
| Zero budget natural farming in India |
News:
During
two separate functions held recently, the Prime Minister in his speech talked
about zero budget natural farming and appealed to farmers to adopt it more and
more in their farming habits.
The
first function was organized in Varanasi on December 14, where the Prime
Minister, considering the benefits of zero-budget natural farming, urged the
farmers to make it a mass movement.
For
the second time, the discussion of Zero Budget Natural Farming took place on 16
December at the National Summit on Agriculture and Food Appreciation in Anand,
Gujarat, which the Prime Minister attended through video conferencing. At the
time of its closing ceremony, the Prime Minister, while addressing about 5000
farmers, emphasized promoting zero budget natural farming, due to these reasons
the aspects related to zero budget again came into the discussion.
What is Zero Budget Natural
Farming (ZBNF)?
ZBNF
is a natural way of farming, in which farming is done without any chemical
inputs. In return, natural things like cow dung, cow urine, and plant residues
are used. Due to this, the cost of cultivation is almost negligible.
Zero-budget natural farming was introduced by Subhash Palekar in the mid-1990s
as an alternative to the Green Revolution.
The
motive behind bringing this was to reduce the cost of farming to almost zero
and free the farmers from the burden of debt and increase their income; on the
other hand, it was to save the environment by eliminating the pollution of soil
and water.
Pillars of Zero Budget Natural Farming:
There
are four pillars of zero budget natural farming in India, names are as under:
Jeevamrit
Beejamrit
Acchadan
Waaphasa
Jeevamrit:
Jeevamrut
is a type of catalytic agent, which along with adding nutrients to the soil,
also increases the activity of micro-organisms and earthworms present in it. It
is prepared by mixing fresh cow dung, cow urine, jaggery, lentil flour, water,
and soil.
Beejamrit:
Beejamrit
is prepared from the formulation of indigenous cow dung and cow urine, the
seeds are treated with this and the seeds are also saved from diseases.
Acchadan:
Acchadan
means to grow a mixed crop to maintain moisture in the soil, it does not
increase the weeds on the soil layer.
Waaphasa:
Waaphasa
refers to maintaining the required amount of air and water vapor in the soil,
thereby reducing the need for irrigation, which not only saves water but also
benefits the soil.
Advantages of Zero Budget Natural Farming:
By
reducing the cost of cultivation, farmers can get rid of the debt trap.
It
is less labor-intensive, with one estimate using only 10% of the labor force in
ZBNF compared to normal farming.
On
the one hand, farmers do not have to take loans for farming, on the other hand,
profits also increase, which can break the debt cycle of small farmers.
Zero
budget natural farming also has the advantage of the exchequer, it will reduce
the pressure on the exchequer by reducing the burden of fertilizer subsidy.
It
provides clean and healthy food to society because ZBNF is cultivated
naturally, due to which the amount of harmful chemical substances in the food
is negligible.
Zero
Budget Natural Farming is also eco-friendly as it is natural, it will not only
prevent desertification by maintaining soil fertility but will also almost zero
the water and soil pollution caused by agriculture.
Zero Budget Natural Farming in India:
ZBNF
is not a new concept for India, but it is already present on the agenda of the
Central Government. A step in this direction was taken by the Government of
India in 2015-16 when "PKVY" was launched. The objective of
"PKVY" is to promote organic farming by integrating ZBNF. Under this
scheme, funds are provided to the schemes and programs of state governments and
NGOs promoting organic farming and ZBNF.
Although
ZBNF received less importance under this scheme than organic farming, it gained
importance when Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman mentioned ZBNF as a source
of doubling farmers' income by 2022 in her 2019 budget speech. NITI Aayog is also
taking initiative for states to adopt ZBNF.
However,
later on in 2020-21, a sub-scheme was brought under "PKVY", named
"BPKP" whose full name is "Bharatiya Prakrutik Krushi
Paddhati". . Under this scheme, the use of traditional and indigenous
methods by small and marginal farmers will be promoted. The objective of this
scheme is to eliminate chemical inputs from farming practices and recycle crop
residues in the field and convert them into natural manure.
Challenges of Zero Budget Natural Farming:
It
is still not a scientifically proven technology; data related to its
productivity, economics, impact on soil health, etc. is not sufficient.
Lack
of faith the farmers still did not have that much faith in this process, that
is why this method is not becoming as popular.
There
is a shortage of trained farmers for ZBNF, most of the farmers of India are
suffering from a lack of education and awareness, due to which it is easy for
those farmers to adopt new technology.
The
market is either too far away or not at all to get a good and necessary price
for the natural grains produced under ZBNF.
The
productivity in the crop from ZBNF is less than the presently prevalent modern
farming, due to chemical farming in the present time, the production comes
more, that is why farmers are hesitant to adopt ZBNF.
Efforts to make ZBNF a
success:
ICAR
has started research on ZBNF at different places.
The
efforts of the government are included in the efforts of the government to make
farmers aware of zero-budget natural farming and provide them training
regarding the process.
Apart
from this, fertilizers and other agricultural subsidies should be gradually
shifted towards low ZBNF so that farmers' tendency towards ZBNF should
increase.
Small
farmers should be qualitatively linked to MSP along with providing mandi for
natural grains grown from ZBNF.
Adopting
zero-budget natural farming is not necessary because it is a part of the
government's agenda, but it is the demand of today's time in terms of economic,
social, and environmental needs.
Thank You!
Million-$-Knowledge
