Zero-budget farming to tackle climate shift in Himachal Pradesh :

The district administration of Sirmaur has decided to use the much-touted zero budget farming technology introduced by the Governor to tackle climate change in three blocks of the district. The development follows clearance of a proposal sent by the Deputy Commissioner by a high level committee headed by the Additional Chief Secretary, Science and Technology.

• Sirmaur is the lone such district in the state which has been selected for the climate change adaptation project of NABARD by the Government of India. A survey for the same was undertaken in the year 2016-17 and the most vulnerable blocks to climate change were identified as Sangrah, Paonta Sahib and Pachaad.
• Under this project, the emphasis is on techniques that can help the farmers to mitigate the effects of climate change.
• The project envisages creation of micro irrigation systems as rain water harvesting tanks and last mile farm connectivity through micro irrigation channels. A sum of Rs. 6.61 lakhs is to be spent. Small ponds at community level will be constructed at an estimated cost of 25 lakhs.
• Besides, the district administration decided to initiate zero budget farming for farmers on a pilot basis under this project. The government would provide subsidy for buying indigenous variety of cow and also give intensive training on this traditional technique to the willing farmers. The government would also provide insurance cover to the farmers for any risk involved in such an experimentation.
• The administration, which is piloting this project, has also decided to start a micro tomato processing unit in the vulnerable blocks so that the produce is not wasted at the time of glut. The project has already hired a consultant who has started work in this area. “The core idea of all the initiatives is that farmers would run all the community projects created under this fund through farmer producer organisations. A total of 30,000 farmers are expected to be benefited by this project”.
• The three lift irrigation schemes under this project are being executed in these blocks. These involve an expenditure of 4.5 crores. These are expected to be commissioned by December.
• The whole project  would be concluded by December 2020.
• An independent evaluation of the project would be conducted thereafter by the Government of India to gauge its success.
• Under this project, the emphasis is on the techniques that can help farmers mitigate the effects of climate change. 
• The project envisages creation of micro irrigation systems as rain water harvesting tanks and last mile farm connectivity through micro irrigation channels. 
• Ponds at community level will be constructed.

Zero Budget Natural Farming (ZBNF) :

Zero Budget Natural Farming (ZBNF) is a farming practice that believes in natural growth of crops without adding any fertilizers and pesticides or any other foriegn elements. The word Zero Budget refers to the zero net cost of production of all crops (inter crops, border crops, multi crops). The inputs used for seed treatments and other inocluations are locally available in the form of cowdung and cow urine.

A ZBNF practicisng farmer has lower cost of inputs and thus has better capacity to increase the incomes. At the same time, ZBNF crops helps in retaining soil fertiliting and is climate change resilient.

Four wheels of Zero Budget Natural Farming :

Four important non-negotiable guidelines: Bijamrita (Seed Treatment using local cowdung and cow urine), Jiwamrita (applying inoculation made of local cowdung and cow urine without any fertilizers and pesticides), Mulching (activities to ensure favorable microclimate in the soil), and Waaphasa (soil aeration).

Advantages of ZBNF :

•  Besides reduced input cost, farmers practising ZBNF gets higher yields.
•  Elimination of chemical pesticides and promotion of good agronomic practices.
•  Promote regenerative agriculture, improve soil biodiversity and productivity.
•   Ensure decent livelihoods to smallholder farmers.
•  Restore ecosystem health through diverse, multi-layered cropping systems.
•   Anyone who is having half an acre of land can start ZBNF.
•  Using ZBNF techniques, one can convert even the most infertile land into a fertile one.