Zero Budget Natural Farming (ZBNF) is a type of chemical-free farming where the total cost of growing and harvesting plants comes out to be zero (taking into consideration the costs incurred by the farmers are recovered through inter-cropping).
Zero Budget Natural Farming
Zero Budget Natural Farming (ZNBF) is the practice of growing crops without the use of any external inputs, such as pesticides and fertilisers. The phrase “Zero Budget” refers to all crops with zero production costs. The farmers’ revenue is increased as a result of ZBNF’s guidance towards sustainable farming methods that help to maintain soil fertility, assure chemical-free agriculture, and ensure a cheap cost of production (zero cost). Simply said, ZBNF is a farming technique that emphasises cultivating crops in harmony with the environment. Under the specific programme known as Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY), the government has been encouraging organic farming. This programme supports all different types of chemical-free agricultural methods, including Zero Budget Natural Farming
Principles of Zero Budget Natural Farming
- Zero external inputs
- Crops to cover the soil for 365 days (Living Root)
- Soil disturbance at a minimum
- Biostimulants as essential catalysts
- Utilize native seed for mixed farming
- Mixed cropping
- The incorporation of trees onto the farm
- Conservation of moisture and water
- Bring animals into farming
- More organic debris in the soil
- Using plant extracts to control pests
- No artificial pesticides, herbicides, or fertilisers
Objective
- To promote environment-protected and climate-tolerant natural farming practices so that the fertility power of the land can be increased.
- To reduce the cost of cultivation by less irrigation, sustainable and integrated organic methods so that farmers can get more income per unit area.
- Production of chemical free and nutritious food for human health and wellness.
- Protecting biodiversity and environment.
- Empowering farmers for production, processing and progress by developing them in the form of clusters / groups.
- To make farmers entrepreneurs for marketing and by connecting directly with the national market.
Benefits of Zero Budget Natural Farming
- For all crops, ZBNF methods use between 50 and 60 per cent less water and electricity compared to non-ZBNF methods.
- Through multiple aerations, ZBNF greatly lowers methane emissions.
- By using mulching, it is also possible to prevent the burning of residue.
- In ZBNF, cultivation costs are lower.
- The primary reason for debt and suicide amongst farmers is the rising expense of external inputs (seeds, fertilisers, pesticides, and herbicides). Over half of all farmers are in indebtedness, and nearly 70% of households in the agricultural sector spend more than they make, according to data from the National Sample Survey Office (NSSO).
- The cost of production could be decreased and agriculture could be turned into a “zero budget” endeavour since under ZBNF there is no requirement of spending money or taking out loans for external inputs.
- This will enable many small farmers to escape the debt cycle and pave the way for the income of farmers to double.
- As ZBNF is a completely chemical-free technique, it is environmentally friendly and produces organic yields which fetch the farmers higher profits than from normal agricultural yields.
- Organic foods thus avoid diseases which used to be caused by non-organic foods, in a long run will not only make people healthy but also reduce the burden on the healthcare infrastructure in general.
- It suits all crops in all agro-climatic zones.
Eligibility
- Interested farmers should be selected for the scheme who have a special interest in natural farming. Every farmer must have a minimum of one-acre land ownership or family account holder.
- Interested farmers may be from the same village, neighboring villages, or different villages as far as possible.
- Interested farmers will be selected by the Regional Assistant Agriculture Officer / Agriculture Supervisor.
- Horticulture crops and animal husbandry should also be included in natural farming.
- For the selection of farmers, priority should be given to SC, ST, BPL, small and marginal farmers as much as possible. Youths up to 35 years should be included for natural farming so that their capacity can increase.
- Necessary material like drum, bucket, jug etc. will be given on grant to the concerned farmer for setting up the input unit for natural farming.
- Farmers selected under Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana should not be included in this scheme.
Documents Required
- Aadhar Card.
- Bank Passbook.
- Land Proof.
Application Process
- Applicant farmers have to go to the Agriculture Department office or Krishi Vigyan Kendra of your district to get the benefit of Mukhyamantri Swavalamban Yojana.
- Get the application form to apply under this scheme.
- Enter all the necessary information asked in the form carefully.
- Attach the required documents with the application form.
- Submit the application form to the same agriculture department.
FAQs
Who introduced Zero Budget Natural Farming in India?
It was originally promoted by Maharashtrian agriculturist and Padma Shri recipient Subhash Palekar, who developed it in the mid-1990s as an alternative to the Green Revolution’s methods driven by chemical fertilizers and pesticides and intensive irrigation. This evolved as a farming movement in Karnataka as a result of collaboration between agriculturist Subhash Palekar and state farmers association Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha (KRRS). As it attained considerable success in Karnataka, the model was replicated in many other states, particularly in South India.
Is zero budget farming possible?
Zero budget farming is a set of farming methods that involve zero credit for agriculture and no use of chemical fertilisers. This is technically known as Zero Budget Natural Farming (ZBNF), as the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations calls it. This is also an attempt to make small scale farming a viable vocation. Zero budget farming model promises to cut down farming expenditure drastically and ends dependence on loans. It also reduces dependence on purchased inputs as it encourages use of own seeds and locally available natural fertilizers. Farming is done in sync with nature not through chemical fertilisers.