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Natural Farming

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Natural Farming

  • Natural Farming may be defined as farming without chemicals and relies on varied farming system based on agro-ecology that integrates crops, trees and livestock.
  • It promotes traditional indigenous practices which are largely based on on-farm biomass recycling with a stress on biomass mulching, use of on-farm cow dung-urine formulation; managing pests through diversity, on-farm botanical concoctions and exclusion of all synthetic chemical inputs directly or indirectly.
  • The emphasis is on improving natural nutrient cycling and increasing organic matter in the soil. Grounded in agro-ecology, it is a diversified farming system that integrates crops, trees and livestock, allowing the optimum use of functional biodiversity.

Additional Information

  • Sikkim holds the distinction of being India’s first “Organic State.” 
  • The government is promoting natural farming from 2019-2020 through a sub-scheme namely Bharatiya Prakritik Krishi Paddhati (BPKP) under Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY). 
    • The scheme mainly emphasizes on exclusion of all synthetic chemical inputs and promotes on-farm biomass recycling with major stress on biomass mulching, use of cow dung-urine formulations and other plant based preparations.
  • To encourage more farmers engaged in natural farming and enhance the reach of natural farming on larger scale, Government has formulated the National Mission on Natural Farming (NMNF) by up-scaling the Bharatiya Prakritik Krishi Paddhati (BPKP) to promote natural farming across the country.

Benefits

  • Ensures Better Health
    • As Natural Farming does not use any synthetic chemicals, health risks and hazards are eliminated. The food has higher nutrition density and therefore offers better health benefits.
  • Environment Conservation
    • Natural Farming ensures better soil biology, improved agrobiodiversity and a more judicious usage of water with much smaller carbon and nitrogen footprints.
  • Increased Farmers’ Income
    • Natural Farming aims to make farming viable and aspirational by increasing net incomes of farmers on account of cost reduction, reduced risks, similar yields, incomes from intercropping.
  • Employment Generation
    • Natural farming generates employment on account of natural farming input enterprises, value addition, marketing in local areas, etc. The surplus from natural farming is invested in the village itself.
  • Reduced Water Consumption
    • By working with diverse crops that help each other and cover the soil to prevent unnecessary water loss through evaporation, Natural Farming optimizes the amount of ‘crop per drop’.
  • Minimized Cost Of Production
    • Natural Farming aims to drastically cut down production costs by encouraging farmers to prepare essential biological inputs using on-farm, natural and home-grown resources.
  • Eliminates Application Of Synthetic Chemical Inputs
    • The overuse of synthetic fertilizers, especially urea, pesticides, herbicides, weedicides etc. alters soil biology and soil structure, with subsequent loss of soil organic carbon and fertility.
  • Rejuvenates Soil Health
    • The most immediate impact of Natural Farming is on the biology of soil—on microbes and other living organisms such as earthworms. Soil health depends entirely on the living organisms in it.
  • Livestock Sustainability
    • The integration of livestock in the farming system plays a important role in Natural farming and helps in restoring the ecosystem. Eco Friendly bio-inputs, such as Jeevamrit and Beejamrit, are prepared from cow dung and urine, and other natural products.

FAQs 

1. What is Natural Farming?

Natural Farming is a chemical-free farming method that relies on traditional agro-ecological practices such as on-farm biomass recycling, use of cow dung-urine formulations, and crop-livestock integration, eliminating the use of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides.

2. What are the key benefits of Natural Farming?

It improves soil health, reduces input costs, ensures better nutrition, increases biodiversity, conserves water, and boosts farmers’ income through cost reduction and ecological sustainability.

3. Which state in India is known as the first organic state?

Sikkim became India’s first organic state in 2016 by shifting completely to organic methods of farming.

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