Introduction
Zero Budget Natural Farming (ZBNF) is an agricultural practice that advocates chemical-free farming and was introduced by Subhash Palekar in the 1990s as an alternative to the Green Revolution methods. In 2016, the Andhra Pradesh government implemented ZBNF as a sustainable farming technique through the Rythu Sadhikara Samstha (RySS) agency. ZBNF focuses on reducing the cost of farming by using locally available inputs and aims to make farming more affordable and eco-friendly.
Body
- Key Features of ZBNF
- Zero budget concept: ZBNF aims to bring down production costs to zero, reducing the dependency on loans and capital investments.
- Four pillars of ZBNF:
- Jeevamrit:A fermented microbial mixture made from cow dung, cow urine, jaggery, and pulse flour to enrich the soil.
- Beejamrit:Microbial treatment of seeds with cow dung, urine, and lime for better germination.
- Acchadana (Mulching):Covering the soil with crop residues to preserve soil moisture and improve fertility.
- Waaphasa:Improving soil aeration by controlling moisture content.
- Significance of ZBNF Over Traditional Farming
- Chemical-free inputs: ZBNF promotes natural inputs like cow dung and plant-based extracts, whereas traditional farming relies on chemical fertilizers and pesticides.
- Reducing farmer debt: ZBNF helps in lowering the financial burden by eliminating the need for expensive inputs, reducing the dependency on loans. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) supports this view.
- Environmentally sustainable: ZBNF uses 50%–60% less water and energy compared to traditional farming, making it eco-friendlier.
- Improving soil health: Practices like mulching and minimal watering preserve soil fertility, preventing degradation caused by deep ploughing and excessive irrigation common in conventional methods.
- Challenges of ZBNF Compared to Traditional Farming
- Food security concerns: The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) warns that ZBNF may reduce agricultural productivity, threatening food security.
- Example: Sri Lanka’s shift to organic farming led to a 20% reduction in rice production, forcing the country to import rice despite being previously self-sufficient.
- Not entirely ‘zero budget’: ZBNF still incurs costs related to labor, land rent, cow maintenance, and electricity, which may offset the benefits in comparison to traditional farming.
- Soil quality issues: In areas with prolonged chemical farming, soil takes time to respond to ZBNF, affecting initial yields.
- Example: In Andhra Pradesh, fields that had undergone chemical farming showed slower adaptation to ZBNF methods, particularly in crops like paddy where standing water affects soil microbes.
Conclusion
While ZBNF holds promise as a sustainable and cost-effective farming technique, its widespread adoption must be approached cautiously. It is essential to gather scientific evidence on ZBNF’s impact on crop yields and soil quality, especially under varied climatic conditions. Balancing environmental sustainability with food security and farmer livelihoods is crucial for India’s agricultural future.