Context:

The Union Budget for 2024-25 includes significant funding for natural farming, an essential initiative toward promoting low-carbon agricultural practices.

What is Natural Farming?

Natural Farming is a chemical-free farming system based on Indian tradition but improved with modern knowledge of ecology, resource recycling, and on-farm resource optimization.

It mainly depends on on-farm biomass recycling, with a strong emphasis on biomass mulching, the use of on-farm cow dung-urine formulations, soil aeration, and the elimination of all synthetic chemical inputs.

It reduces the need for purchased inputs. It is regarded as a cost-effective farming practice with potential to boost employment and rural development.

Why Natural Farming?

According to the National Sample Survey Office's (NSSO) Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) for 2022-2023, agriculture and related sectors employ 45.76% of the Indian workforce, and account for 15% of Gross Value Added (GVA).

Traditional farming methods contributed to environmental damage, health risks, and financial difficulties for farmers. By moving to natural farming practices, the country can find a long-term solution that addresses the problems and also encourages ecological harmony and ensures food security.

Status of Natural Farming in India

Several states have adopted natural farming practices, including Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Himachal Pradesh, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, and Kerala.

Successful regional models include Andhra Pradesh's community-managed initiative, Gujarat's mechanization support, and Himachal Pradesh's livestock subsidies.

Himachal Pradesh

Himachal Pradesh's Prakritik Kheti Khushhal Kisan Yojana (PK3Y) program supports natural farming by offering farmers Rs 33,000 to purchase indigenous cows and Rs 8,000 to improve cowshed conditions.

This initiative promotes the use of bio-fertilizers such as 'Jeevamrit' and 'Beejamrit' made from cow dung and urine.

Gujarat

Gujarat supported natural farming through the 'Aapnu Dang Prakrutik Dang' initiative, which made Dang district completely natural farming, providing financial assistance and mechanization opportunities.

Farmers receive Rs 900 per month for keeping one indigenous cow and a 75% subsidy for purchasing natural farming kits.

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh's Community-Managed Natural Farming (APCNF) initiative has become a global model, with 1.03 million farmers practicing natural farming on 1.2 million acres.

The state encourages practices like Pre-Monsoon Dry Sowing (PMDS) to improve soil fertility and reduce water consumption. It plans to convert all six million farmers and eight million hectares to natural farming by 2027.

As per government data, as of March 2023, over 1 million hectares of land in India were dedicated to natural farming, with organic farming accounting for 4.2% of total cultivated land. Currently, only 3% of India's 146 million farmers practice organic farming.

Union Budget 2024-25 support to natural farming

The 2024-25 Union Budget promotes natural farming by reducing fertilizer subsidies and highlighting natural farming as the foundation of India's low-carbon agricultural transition.

One key initiative is the development of 10,000 bio-input resource centers (BRCs) to distribute bio-fertilizers such as 'Jeevamrit' and 'Beejamrit'. This initiative aims to engage one crore farmers in natural farming by 2025.

Challenges related to the 10,000 bio-input Resource Centers (BRCs)

The success of the BRCs is dependent on establishing dependable supply chains for bio-inputs, especially in areas with low livestock ownership.

The experience of Chhattisgarh's Godhan Nyay Yojana highlights the challenges of regularly sourcing cow dung and urine, which might hinder the effectiveness of BRCs, especially in areas like Andhra Pradesh where indigenous cows are in short supply.

What are the challenges in expanding natural farming?

Issues include inconsistencies in bio-input supply chains, the labour-intensive nature of natural farming, especially with the preparation and application of bio-fertilizers, and a lack of mechanization.

Natural farming's dependency on manual labor, especially for producing and applying bio-fertilizers such as 'Jeevamrit' and 'Beejamrit', makes it difficult for many farmers to transition without mechanization.

Smallholders may lack the resources to make the shift and face difficulty in utilizing top markets due to limited certification and branding.

Way Forward

India needs to strengthen bio-input supply chains, implement mechanization to reduce labor costs, and improve market access for natural farming products.

The success of large-scale natural farming will also depend on the development of distribution infrastructure and the provision of financial assistance and technological tools to farmers.

Natural farming has the potential to transform Indian agriculture, but its success will be dependent on addressing critical issues such as labor, supply chains, and market access.

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Source:

The Hindu