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Zero Budget Natural Farming (ZBNF) is a form of agricultural system redesign being practiced at scale in India, particularly in the state of Andhra Pradesh. ZBNF 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-synthet...
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... fields hosted an average of 232 earthworms per square metre, compared with just 32 on non-ZBNF fields (RySS, 2018c unpublished data). ZBNF farmers also report a number of earthworms on ZBNF plots (Figure 7), as well as beneficial insects (pollinators and pest antagonists), including honeybees, lacewing bugs (an antagonist to aphids, leafhoppers, whiteflies and mealybugs) and ladybugs in various crop types and agro-climatic zones. ...
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... fields hosted an average of 232 earthworms per square metre, compared with just 32 on non-ZBNF fields (RySS, 2018c unpublished data). ZBNF farmers also report a number of earthworms on ZBNF plots (Figure 7), as well as beneficial insects (pollinators and pest antagonists), including honeybees, lacewing bugs (an antagonist to aphids, leafhoppers, whiteflies and mealybugs) and ladybugs in various crop types and agro-climatic zones. ...
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... This farming system, rooted in traditional practices and indigenous knowledge, has gained prominence in India as a sustainable alternative to conventional, input-intensive agriculture [2]. Natural farming aims to create resilient agroecosystems, enhance soil health, conserve biodiversity, and empower small and marginal farmers [3]. In India, where agriculture is the backbone of the economy, natural farming has the potential to address pressing challenges such as declining soil fertility, water scarcity, climate change, and rural poverty [4]. ...
Natural farming, a sustainable agricultural practice that eschews the use of synthetic inputs, has gained traction in recent years due to its potential to address environmental and socioeconomic challenges. This chapter explores the current state, challenges, and future prospects of natural farming in India. We examine the principles and practices of natural farming, its ecological and economic benefits, and the hurdles faced by farmers in adopting this approach. The chapter highlights the need for supportive policies, research, and extension services to scale up natural farming and realize its full potential. We discuss the role of traditional knowledge, farmer-led innovations, and scientific advancements in shaping the future of natural farming. The chapter emphasizes the importance of building resilient agroecosystems, enhancing soil health, conserving biodiversity, and empowering small and marginal farmers through natural farming. We conclude by outlining a roadmap for mainstreaming natural farming as a viable alternative to conventional agriculture, contributing to food security, environmental sustainability, and rural development in India.
... In Karnataka, out of 97 farmers surveyed in a study 85% reported improved income, 90% reported reduced production costs, 92% reported a reduced need for credit, 91% reported improved quality of produce, 78% reported improved yields (Khadse et al., 2018). By practising natural farming, crop yields increased by 78.70% and the increase in income was reported by 85.70% (Bharucha et al., 2020). Further, the multi-cropping, crop rotation and crop diversification, etc., guarantee an increased income, sustained livelihood, empowerment of women farmers, along with making small and marginal farmers less dependent on moneylenders (Korav et al., 2020). ...
Natural farming is now emerging as a major sustainable agricultural method as one of the alternative options to conventional farming. A field study undertaken in Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh Odisha and Sikkim, revealed multiple benefits for soil and agroecosystem health and also, to human health. Data such as farmer’s level adoption, use of natural farming inputs, benefits and challenges were collected from farmers. Majority of marginal and small farmers are adopting natural farming and is linked to multiple factors like capacity building, farmer-to-farmer extension, incentives by state and central governments, developing local institutional mechanisms, real-time experience sharing of successful farmers, etc., However, farmers face few challenges such as a lack of brand identity, certification, marketing, consumer awareness and premium prices. We made an attempt to compile learnings from farmers’ fields and upscaling strategies, though some of the practices adopted may not truly reflect Subhash Palekar Natural Farming (SPNF) concept.
... India has a long history of social and political movements to support (rural) livelihoods and the wellbeing of those living in poverty. The success of the two cases seems to also partly lay in these structures and clear policy directives, accompanied by adequate financing and institutional and public support (Bharucha et al., 2020). The cases in India show elements of de-economizing (rearranging economic activities) and de-accumulation (limiting profit-driven accumulation). ...
... Zero Budget Natural Farming (ZBNF) is a low-input, climate-resilient farming approach that has gained popularity in India and other parts of the world. Its goal is to increase farmers yields using locally available resources and reduce input costs by doing away with chemical fertilizers and enhancing soil fertility (Bharucha et al., 2020). Palekar's research revealed that the primary reason of farmer suicides and debt across the globe was the expense of external inputs like fertilisers and insecticides. ...
The Green revolution increased agricultural output immensely in India, but it additionally led to environmental degradation and socioeconomic issues owing to high input reliance. To mitigate these consequences, Subhash Palekar's Zero Budget Natural agricultural (ZBNF) method, established in the 1990s, provides a sustainable, low-cost agricultural technique that makes use of local resources. ZBNF removes external inputs such as chemical fertilizers, hence improving soil fertility, water conservation and biodiversity. This approach is gaining popularity as a climate-resilient solution, particularly in India. Its guiding principles, which include Jeevamrutha, Bijamrita, mulching and Whapasa, encourage self-sustaining agriculture. Despite certain implementation issues, ZBNF provides a realistic approach for decreasing farmer debt, increasing yields and promoting environmental sustainability.
... Noteworthy for involving local communities, the initiative advocates agroecological practices like organic farming and integrated pest management. The initiative enhances farmer livelihoods, soil fertility, and biodiversity, demonstrating the integration of agroecological principles for resilience, sustainability, and community empowerment (Bharucha et al., 2020;Prabhu et al., 2022). ...
Agroecology has emerged as a fundamental paradigm for developing innovative solutions to major global concerns such as food security, biodiversity loss, and climate change. The core subject of biodiversity conservation emphasizes agroecology’s role in the preservation of native species, pollinators, and beneficial creatures through practices such as agroforestry, cover crops, and decreased chemical inputs. Agroecological principles such as polyculture, crop diversity, and integrated pest control help to improve food security by increasing stability and nutrition. Agroecology encourages carbon sequestration, soil health, and greenhouse gas reductions, resulting in climate-resilient farming systems. The literature review revealed that no article thoroughly discusses all of the critical hitting global challenges, such as food security, biodiversity loss, and climate change, in a single study that can be addressed using agroecological principles. This review article attempts to make a connection between numerous challenges that may be solved using agroecological techniques in order to facilitate sustainable growth while protecting the environment. The study examines the benefits of incorporating agroecological methodologies into sustainable agriculture, with an emphasis on increasing agroecosystem resilience, improving socioeconomic circumstances for smallholder farmers, rural livelihoods, and local communities, and contributing to climate change mitigation. It provides a complete review of agroecological concepts and their numerous advantages, making it an excellent guide for policymakers, academics, and practitioners who is working to build a sustainable and resilient global food system. Agroecology emerges as a light of hope, boosting agricultural output while also protecting the environment, with the ultimate goal of achieving harmonious cohabitation between mankind and the natural world.
... Controlled field experiments across Andhra Pradesh have revealed that the use of ZBNF inputs will not have an initial yield penalty compared with organic or conventional inputs (Duddigan et al., 2022(Duddigan et al., , 2023. In addition, crop-cutting data with ZBNF and 'non-ZBNF' farmers (n = 1531) has reported a significant yield increase when using ZBNF practises and suggested that ZBNF can make a contribution to food security in the region (Bharucha et al., 2020). However, the ZBNF farms in these studies encompassed bijamrita, jiwamrita and achhadana amendments. ...
... However, the ZBNF farms in these studies encompassed bijamrita, jiwamrita and achhadana amendments. This is important to note as some farmers adopt only a subset of these amendments (Bharucha et al., 2020). Partial adoption allows the farmers to experiment and thereby reduce the perceived potential risks of adopting ZBNF which is still a relatively new practise to them (Rose et al., 2021), and adopt ZBNF progressively to suit their local context. ...
... It is therefore unknown what effect partial adoption (exclusion of a particular input) will have on soil physico-chemical properties, and subsequent yield. There is therefore a need to design 'evaluations that take into account diverging levels of adoption and types of adoption across different farms' (Bharucha et al., 2020). To our knowledge, this is the first assessment of the contribution of each of the individual inputs in ZBNF. ...
Zero Budget Natural Farming (ZBNF) in Andhra Pradesh promotes home-made, locally sourced, agrochemical-free inputs and regenerative land management techniques. Inputs consist of seed treatments (bijamrita), microbial inoculum applied either as a liquid foliar spray (liquid jiwamrita) or solid top dressing (solid jiwamrita) to the soil, and mulching (achhadana). However, some farmers do not use all the recommended inputs. There is a lack of evidence on the effects of partial adoption on the resulting yield and on the contributions of individual inputs to the performance of the overall approach. Controlled field experiments were established over two seasons across four agro-climatic zones. They consisted of five treatments. A Standard ZBNF treatment, which included application of all four ZBNF amendments (bijamirita, solid jiwamrita, liquid jiwamrita and dead mulch). The subsequent four treatments excluded one of the ZBNF inputs (Minus Bijamrita, Minus Soilid Jiwamrita, Minus Liquid Jiwamrita, and Minus Dead Mulch). Exclusion of each ZBNF input individually resulted in a significantly smaller yield than the treatment where all four inputs were used. However, exclusion of solid jiwamrita, liquid jiwamrita and mulching had a larger yield penalty than exclusion of bijamrita. Partial adoption could therfore impact the efficacy of the ZBNF system to deliver sustainable crop yields and satisfy food security. However, further research is needed to examine the effects of input exclusion in the long term, and possible interactions between different ZBNF inputs.
... Comprehensive studies examining the specific challenges and opportunities faced by organic farmers in the regions are limited. While various government initiatives have been implemented to promote organic farming [41], there are insufficient data assessing their impact, especially on smallholder farmers. Additionally, the organic formulations used across the regions vary widely [42], and many lack scientific validation, creating uncertainty for farmers regarding their effectiveness. ...
This study investigates the specific challenges and opportunities faced by organic farmers in Tamil Nadu, focusing on how region-specific practices influence the adoption and success of organic farming. It draws insights from a survey of 300 organic growers across five districts: Coimbatore, Dindigul, Erode, Tirupur, and Villupuram. This study is particularly relevant because there is a lack of comprehensive research on the specific challenges and opportunities faced by organic farmers in Tamil Nadu, with limited data on the long-term impact of government initiatives and region-specific management options, especially for smallholder farmers. Additionally, gaps exist in understanding the economic viability, market demand, and farmer perceptions of organic farming together with challenges like knowledge gaps, pest control, managing risks, and lower initial yields during the transition from conventional farming to organic farming. The research evaluated the factors affecting organic farming, including crop yield, the use of different organic formulations, the role of different information services, opportunities and challenges, and the impact on the perceived effectiveness of various agricultural outcomes. Various statistical analyses were performed, including K-means clustering, Poisson regression, and chi-square test. The results revealed significant variations in the adoption of various organic inputs and regionally practiced organic formulations. Crop residues (82.67%), Jeevamrith (78.33%), Amudhakaraisal (77.00%), and 3G-Extracts (74.00%) have high adoption rates, reflecting their perceived effectiveness and accessibility among farmers. However, the adoption of microbial bio-inputs such as Trichoderma viride (1.00%), Acetobacter spp. (19.00%), Azophos (consortium of phosphorus fixing microbes) (26.33%), and Azospirillum spp. (28.67%) was notably poor despite their known benefits for soil health and crop yield. The chi-square test also highlighted key challenges faced by farmers in adopting organic farming practices. The Poisson regression analysis showed significant positive impacts on crop growth and yield, disease resistance, insect control, overall plant health, and input efficiency due to organic farming. The study's insights are essential for developing targeted strategies to overcome barriers, supporting the growth and sustainability of organic farming. Addressing these challenges and promoting effective information channels will better equip stakeholders to support organic growers, contributing to more resilient and productive agricultural systems in the region.
... Numerous agroecological techniques, such as polycultures, crop rotations, livestock, aquatic species, integrating crops, agroforestry, protecting natural habitats, and using fewer pesticides, can increase the availability of both cultivated and wild species for human use. Additionally, these practices increase the availability and accessibility of nutritious, diverse food sources and diets, which enhances food security, nutrition, and dietary diversity [27,28,29]. ...
Global food security is one of the most ambitious goals. However, we are currently facing numerous challenges, including loss of biodiversity, climate change, increasing price volatility, environmental pollution, and resource degradation. Agroecology is one of the main approaches that can make it easy to reach food security by reducing reliance on chemical inputs, preserving biodiversity, emphasizing diverse cropping systems, improving soil health, and better water management. This review highlights the critical role of agroecology in achieving food security, particularly in regions where conventional farming methods have often exacerbated environmental degradation, depleted soils, and heightened vulnerability to climate change. Agroecological practices such as diversified cropping, organic inputs, and reduced dependence on chemical fertilizers contribute to healthier soils, increased biodiversity, and more sustainable food production. Additionally, it addresses key challenges and barriers to widespread adoption of agroecology. Finally, the study concludes that agroecology holds immense potential in reshaping global food systems and fostering long-term resilience by giving recommendations to smaller farmers and developing nations.
... This approach relies predominantly on inputs such as Beejamrita, GhanaJeewamrita, and Jeewamrita, emphasising lowcost, low-energy, and soil-biology-friendly practices (Duddigan et al., 2022). The term "zero-budget" does not signify no cost cultivation; however, it implies zero dependence over external financing or avoidance of external input application (Bharucha et al., 2020). The distinguishing feature of ZBNF system lies in its strict reliance on indigenous cow species for variable inputs and utilisation of on-farm resources to produce solid and liquid formulations (Sharma et al., 2023). ...
... The distinguishing feature of ZBNF system lies in its strict reliance on indigenous cow species for variable inputs and utilisation of on-farm resources to produce solid and liquid formulations (Sharma et al., 2023). The affordability and ecosystem-friendly nature of ZBNF-based inputs make them particularly suitable for marginalized farmers of drylands of India, where conventional inputs may be financially burdensome and less effective due to poor soil conditions (Bharucha et al., 2020;Sharma et al., 2023). ...
Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. [Walp.]) cultivation encounters a plethora of challenges such as suboptimal productivity levels, declined income levels, and poor soil health under conventional fertilization systems. Therefore, the present field investigation was undertaken at the Research Farm, Department of Agronomy, CSKHPKV, Palampur in the rainy season of 2019 to evaluate eight combinations of organic farming and Zero Budget Natural Farming (NF) based inputs, i.e., Beejamrita (100 ml kg−1 of seed) + Jeewamrita (187.5 L ha−1); Beejamrita (100 ml kg−1 of seed) +
GhanaJeewamrita (250 kg ha−1); Beejamrita (100 ml kg−1 of seed) + Jeewamrita (187.5 L ha−1) + GhanaJeewamrita (250 kg ha−1
); farm yard manure (FYM) 10 Mg ha−1; FYM (10 Mg ha−1
) + GhanaJeewamrita (250 kg ha−1); biofertilizers (PSBs and
Rhizobium at 10 g kg−1 of seed) + FYM (10 Mg ha−1) + vermiwash (1:10); biofertilizers (PSBs and Rhizobium at 10 g kg−1 of seed) + vermicompost (7.5 Mg ha−1) + vermiwash (1:10); absolute (untreated) control; in a randomized complete block design with three replications for their influence over cowpea productivity,
profitability, and energetics. The results of the investigation revealed that applying FYM (10 Mg ha−1) and GhanaJeewamrita (250 kg ha−1) in combination resulted in significantly higher grain yield(1,070.5 kg ha−1), economic net returns (766.61 USD
ha−1), net energy gains (78,230 MJ ha−1), and considerably improved soil microbial biomass carbon (133.92 mg g−1 of soil), nitrogen (27.40 mg g−1 of soil), urease (52.20 (mg g−1 urea of soil h−1), and dehydrogenase activity (5.21mg g−1 TPF of soil h−1
). Improved soil biological properties in the present study might have been responsible for considerable increment in cowpea yield and profitability. Therefore, in�combination application-based module of FYM (10 Mg ha−1) and GhanaJeewamrita (250 kg ha−1
) can be recommended for enhancing productivity and profitability of cowpea cultivation under North-Western Himalayan agro�ecological conditions. This study contributes valuable insights for organic input strategies in regions facing similar challenges.
... Numerous agroecological techniques, such as polycultures, crop rotations, livestock, aquatic species, integrating crops, agroforestry, protecting natural habitats, and using fewer pesticides, can increase the availability of both cultivated and wild species for human use. Additionally, these practices increase the availability and accessibility of nutritious, diverse food sources and diets, which enhances food security, nutrition, and dietary diversity [27,28,29]. ...
Global food security is one of the most ambitious goals. However, we are currently facing numerous challenges, including loss of biodiversity, climate change, increasing price volatility, environmental pollution, and resource degradation. Agroecology is one of the main approaches that can make it easy to reach food security by reducing reliance on chemical inputs, preserving biodiversity, emphasizing diverse cropping systems, improving soil health, and better water management. This review highlights the critical role of agroecology in achieving food security, particularly in regions where conventional farming methods have often exacerbated environmental degradation, depleted soils, and heightened vulnerability to climate change. Agroecological practices such as diversified cropping, organic inputs, and reduced dependence on chemical fertilizers contribute to healthier soils, increased biodiversity, and more sustainable food production. Additionally, it addresses key challenges and barriers to widespread
adoption of agroecology. Finally, the study concludes that agroecology holds immense potential in reshaping global food systems and fostering long-term resilience by giving recommendations to smaller farmers and developing nations.