Natural Farming- a sustainable way of agriculture: status and initiatives in different states of India

Introduction
Natural farming (NF) is a chemical free farming method which protects the biodiversity and deal with nature. NF is reassessing the agriculture system into sustainable management practices that has the ability to conserve soil nutrients, moisture and sequester carbon in the soil. The main purpose of natural farming is to practise the pre-green revolution system with a cost of production to almost zero. Natural farming is based on five components or pillars, and these are: i) Beejamrit- used as a seed treatment, ii) Jivamrit- nutrient management, iii) Acchadana- mulching with crop residues iv) Whapasa- soil aeration creating both air and water molecules in the soil. It helps in reducing irrigation requirements and v) Plant protection through Neemastra, Brahmastra and Agniastra (Fig. 1). This natural farming is promoted as ‘Bharatiya Prakritik Krishi Paddhati’ (BPKP) under PKVY scheme to encourage farmers to practice natural farming in each block of the state. A total budget of Rs. 4645.69 crore for the period of six years (2019-2020) to (2024-2025) has been prepared for execution of the BPKP sub-mission and implemented on demand drive basis following Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) guidelines. The   scheme is submissive to PGS-India certification under PGS India programme. The main idea under the programme is planned to be on capacity development of farmers with the assistance of certification, input support, innovations and value addition. The scheme has been currently opted by eight states viz., Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Kerala, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Tamil Nadu and Jharkhand. The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has also initiated a research study on the assessment of NF on different crops. According to economic survey of 2022, it has been estimated that above 5,00,000 hectares of land in different states of India at present being cultivated under natural farming. Hence, this may get to increase to 14 million hectares by 2025 under the PKVY scheme.

Status of natural farming in different States
Andhra Pradesh: The Government of Andhra Pradesh has established “Rhythu Sadhikara Samstha” (RySS) which is an included institutional system to promote the Andhra Pradesh Community-Managed Natural Farming (APCNF) across the state. Two main improvements included in APCNF i) to overcome the lack of indigenous cows, and for the preparation of Beejamrutham, Ghana and Drava Jeevamrutham and Khashayams. RySS is motivated to use cow-dung and urine of any livestock, ii) To preserve the microorganisms during summer. RySS has included a new method of growing crops i.e. the Pre-Monsoon Dry Sowing (PMDS) with less soil moisture. PMDS is mainly practiced ahead of monsoon, during summer and prior to the starting of the Rabi season crops. The land should be covered with incessant green vegetation as it helps in increasing cropping intensity and improve the soil fertility. Farmers should not rely only on rainy season alone for plantation of any crops.

Rhythu Sadhikara Samstha principles of natural farming:
•    Soil should be covered with crops for 365 Days (living root)
•    Disturbance of soil should be minimal
•    Bio-stimulants as necessary Catalysts
•    Use indigenous seed for planting
•    Diverse crops, trees 15 -20 Crops
•    Integrate livestock into farming
•    Increase the use of organic residues on the soil
•    Botanical extracts like neemashtra, brahmastra should be use for controlling pest 
management 
•    Exclude the use of synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides.

RySS is implementing the Climate Resilient Zero Budget Natural Farming (CRZBNF) programme through community resource persons. The vision of Andhra Pradesh government by 2027 is to convert all the 6 million farmers and 8 million hectares in the state under the initiative of Climate Resilient Zero Budget Natural Farming (CRZBNF).

Chhattisgarh: The Baghel-led Chhattisgarh government introduced the Godhan Nyay Yojana scheme on 21st July 2020, with a purpose to exclude the use of synthetic fertilizer, encourage to make and use organic compost, hike up farmers income, increase cattle ranchers, expansion of farming area and enhance soil fertility. It has two scheme PKVY and Jaivik Kheti mission in order to promote the sustainable way of farming by using the philosophy and practices of natural farming, such as Beejamrit, Jivamrit and pest management by using botanical extracts.

Gujarat: The Gujarat government launched two new schemes under Gujarat Atma Nirbhar Packages in budget 2020-21. Scheme 1: For maintenance cost of one indigenous cow Rs. 900 per month is provided to a farmers doing natural farming. Scheme 2: For buying natural farming kit to prepare jivamrit subsidy of Rs.1248 or a provision of 75% is given to the farmers. Gujarat Natural Farming and Organic Agricultural University is established in the year 2017 by the Government of Gujarat to strengthen the research area for sustainable agriculture. A new initiative Network Research Program on Bharatiya Prakritik Krishi Paddhati (Natural Farming) through Biotechnology Interventions was launched under GSBTM, DST Research Support Scheme to deal with microbial studies of natural farming.

Himachal Pradesh: The government of Himachal Pradesh implement a new scheme of natural farming under Prakritik Kheti Khushhal Kissan (PK3) Yojana. The state government released a budget for the year 2019-2020 of Rs. 35 Crore. The main objective of the scheme is to increase and double farmers’ income, by given financial support of Rs 50,000/- to open a shop of natural resources and a subsidies of 75% for purchase of drums to prepared bio-formulation and encourage the production of cereals, pulses and horticulture crops without the use of chemical inputs in order to improved soil health. To increase the knowledge of ZBNF farmers many training programmes and scientist-farmers discussion called ‘Kisan Goshtis’ was conducted.

Kerala: The government of Kerala in 2019-2020 has released Rs. 15 lakhs for practising and promote ZBNF in the state. The present purpose is to unite more farmers towards natural farming and connect with the agriculture department regarding the schemes that are planned for farmers practicing natural farming.

Odisha: The ST and SC development department in collaboration with mission Shakti under the department of the Odisha government is set to promote natural farming in every tribal block of the state. The mission Shakti Women SHGs is taken up in cluster approach in five district viz., Sundargarh, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Rayagada and Koraput districts. The aim of the scheme is to trained the WSHGs for the preparation of bio inputs, crop diversification and pre-monsoon sowing. The project will covered 3.15 lakh hectares of cultivated land started from 2022-23 fiscal with an investment of around Rs. 312 crore over five years.

Rajasthan: The Rajasthan Natural Farming Coalition state team is working with state government on conversion towards natural farming. The Government of Rajasthan announced the Jaivik Kheti Mission in 2022 with a budgetary allowance of Rs. 600 crore for 3 years as an approach to reduce input cost and help the farmer towards sustainable farming. The three districts where the initiative was first launched viz., Tonk, Sirohi, and Banswada.

Uttar Pradesh: The Central government has sanctioned Rs.82.83 crore for Uttar Pradesh to encourage natural farming and regenerative agriculture practices in 35 districts of the state under the centrally funded Bhartiya Prakritik Krishi Paddhati scheme.

Karnataka: Karnataka implement zero budget natural farming (ZBNF) as an experiment basis in 2000 hectares in all 10 agro-climatic zones of the state.

Scenario for North east India
Since traditional farming has been practiced by the farming communities and farmers for ages in NE Region, therefore practicing ZBNF in this region provide wide scope for the small and marginal farmers. At present, the ICAR Research Complex for NEH region, various agricultural state departments and Agricultural universities have recently initiated different projects and studies related to Natural farming. Most of them have not come out with conclusive information for recommendation. Area and production survey is also not yet carried out for Natural Farming in Northeast, India. From 2023 majority of the campaigns and capacity building programmes have been started by various organizations to sensitized the farmers on NF. Under project “Out scaling of Natural Farming through KVKs” many trainings, demonstration and awareness programme has been given to the farmers regarding the benefits and adoption of Natural Farming. Recently, Dr. Himanshu Pathak, Secretary, DARE & Director General, ICAR, launched a B.Sc. (Hons.) Natural Farming degree programme in College of Agriculture, Central Agricultural University (Imphal), Meghalaya. The main focus is to highlight the utilization and practices of indigenous knowledge in agreement with agro-ecological principles.

Mission NF
•    To encourage alternative system of farming and excludes the purchased of external inputs thereby reduce cost production and increase farmers income.
•    To promote and practise integration of agriculture-animal husbandry models on  indigenous cow and local resources.
•    To collect, validate and document natural farming practices being practiced in various 
parts of the country and to encourage participatory research with farmers on further  up scaling.
•    To undertake activities for awareness creation, capacity building, promotion and  demonstration of natural farming
•    To create standards, certification procedure and branding for natural farming products for national and international markets.

Benefit of NF
•    By practising Whapasa, it enhances the water holding capacity, soil aeration and  improves soil structure.
•    Application of jivamrit increases the microbial activity in the soil and converts the  nutrients from non available form to available form.
•    Seed treatment with beejamrit gives early germination and also protects the seed and crop from seed and soil borne pathogens.
•    Mulching with crop residues helps to conserve adequate moisture in the soil.
•    Intercropping with legumes crop help to fixed atmospheric nitrogen in the soil.

Reference
NITI Aayog (2022) Compendium of success stories of natural farming (Eds: Patel N, Athira S, Sethi T and Meena S), ISBN 978-81-953811-4-2, Government of India.
http://www.palekarzerobudgetspiritualfarming.org
https://missionshakti.odisha.gov.in/sites/default/files/2022-11/
https://btm.gujarat.gov.in/Natural-Farming.htm

Article contributed by Christy BK Sangma, Deimonlang Nongtdu, B Blah, B Makdoh, Rahul Katiyar, Krishnappa R, Rumki H Ch Sangma, Ramesh T, and VK Mishra; ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Umiam, Umroi road, Meghalaya 793103



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