THE SEEDS OF SUSTAINABILITY
Why has this issue cropped up?
Recently, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister announced that the State would fully embrace Zero Budget Natural Farming (ZBNF), a chemical-free method that would cover all farmers by 2024. Andhra Pradesh has become the first State to implement a ZBNF policy.
What is meant by Natural Farming?
Natural farming broadly involves the following methods:
- 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; and
- soil aeration for favourable soil conditions.
These methods are combined with natural insect management methods when required.
Advantages of ZNBF
- 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.
- ZBNF farms were able to withstand drought and flooding, which are big concerns with regard to climate change.
- 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.
- 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.
- Resilient food systems are the need of the day given the variability of the monsoons due to global warming and declining groundwater in large parts of India.
- It 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.
Model for 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.
- The approach taken by APPI 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.
Way forward
- The changes taking place in Andhra Pradesh are a systematic scaling up of farming practices based on agro-ecological principles in opposition to the dominant chemical agriculture.
- Changes at this scale require many different elements to come together, but open-minded enlightened political leaders and administrators are fundamental.
- The scaling up relies primarily on farmers and local groups — all in all, very much a bottom-up process.
- As ZBNF is applied in India’s various agro-ecological zones, making farmers the innovators is essential.
- Farmer’s collectives such as Farmer Producer Organisations need to be established and these would be critical to sustaining the programme.
- The Government of India provides funding through the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana and Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana. Additional resources can be made available through various philanthropic organisations.
Conclusion
Agricultural scientists in India have to rework their entire strategy so that farming is in consonance with nature. The dominant paradigm of chemical-based agriculture has failed and regenerative agriculture is the emerging new science. 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.
