Background

• In early June, Andhra Pradesh government has recently announced that the State would fully embrace Zero Budget Natural Farming (ZBNF), a chemical-free method that would cover all farmers by 2024.
• With successful pilot programmes that were initiated in 2015 and partners who brought experience in different aspects needed to carry out such a transformation, Andhra Pradesh has become the first State to implement a ZBNF policy.

Zero-budget natural farming (ZBNF) is a set of traditional and sustainable natural farming methods where the cost of growing and harvesting crops is almost zero. The phrase 'Zero Budget' means without using any credit, and without spending any money on purchased inputs. 'Natural farming' means farming with Nature and without chemicals.

Natural farming:

Subhash Palekar, an Indian agriculturist who practiced and wrote many books about Zero Budget Natural Farming, developed the ZBNF after his own efforts at chemical farming failed.
He identified four aspects that are now integral to his process:

• Seeds treated with cow dung and urine.
• Soil rejuvenated with cow dung.
• Cow urine and other local materials to increase microbes.
• Cover crops, straw and other organic matter to retain soil moisture and build humus.
• Soil aeration for favourable soil conditions.

These methods are combined with natural insect management methods when required.

How is ZBNF beneficial?

• In ZBNF, yields of various cash and food crops have been found to be significantly higher when compared with chemical farming.
• Input costs are near zero as no fertilizers and pesticides are used.
• Profits in most areas under ZBNF were from higher yield and lower inputs.
• Model ZBNF farms were able to withstand drought and flooding, which are big concerns with regard to climate change.
• The planting of multiple crops and border crops on the same field has provided varied income and nutrient sources.
• As a result of these changes, there is reduced use of water and electricity, improved health of farmers, flourishing of local ecosystems and biodiversity and no toxic chemical residues in the environment.
• The programme can have a positive effect on many of the sustainable development goals through improvements in soil, biodiversity, livelihoods, water, reduction in chemicals, climate resilience, health, women’s empowerment and nutrition.

Different from organic farming:

• In early 2016, Sikkim was declared India’s first fully organic State. But organic agriculture often involves addition of large amounts of manure, vermicompost and other materials that are required in bulk and need to be purchased. These turn out to be expensive for most small farm holders.
• Organic Farming largely excludes the use of synthetic inputs (such as fertilizers, pesticides, hormones, feed additives etc.) and rely upon crop rotation, crop residues, animal manures, off-farm organic waste, mineral grade rock additives and biological system of nutrient mobilization and plant protection.

Model for other States:

• Over the years, Andhra Pradesh has supported and learned from its many effective civil society organisations such as the Watershed Support Services and Activities Network, Centre for Sustainable Agriculture and the Deccan Development Society.
• Farmer-to-farmer connections as vital to its success. Farmer’s collectives such as Farmer Producer Organisations need to be established and these would be critical to sustaining the programme.
• A step-by-step increase in the area covered. The scaling up relies primarily on farmers and local groups — all in all, very much a bottom-up process.
• The approach taken to monitor the improvements is vital to understanding the outcomes of large-scale changes that are under way; this is critical to expanding the ZBNF to other States.
• With its combination of delta regions, arid and hilly tribal areas, districts in Andhra Pradesh are similar to those in other parts of the country and could therefore serve as a model for replication.

Examples of ZBNF in India:

• Andhra Pradesh has become the first State to implement a ZBNF policy, and has witnessed good results. The drought-prone Rayalaseema region (Andhra Pradesh) is reportedly seeing promising changes in farms with the ZBNF. Himachal Pradesh Government has launched ZBNF project which aims to increase agriculture produce and the income of farmers by the year 2022. NITI Ayog is pursuing more states to adopt this technique.
• The Government of India provides funding through the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana and Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana.
• To save the Indian farmers from the vicious cycle of debt, high production costs, high interest rates for credit, volatile market prices of crops etc. the ZBNF is the need of the hour. The dominant paradigm of chemical-based agriculture has failed and regenerative agriculture is the emerging new science. Transition to this method is now required if we want to move “from Green Revolution to Evergreen Revolution”

Conclusion:

The world is at critical junctures on many planetary boundaries and establishing a system that shows promise in improving them while supporting people sustainably is surely one worth pursuing.