A Review - Cowpathy and Vedic Krishi to improve Soil Health

Cowpathy and vedic krishi techniques require low input costs and adapt well to the ecological and socioeconomic conditions of small and marginal farmers. They have been found to be quite effective in increasing agricultural productivity. By producing antibacterial and antifungal compounds, hormones and siderophores, cowpathy and vedic krishi inputs were shown to be highly effective in enhancing the productivity of different crops and suppressing the growth of various plant pathogens.

In Vedic farming, the cow and farm life were deeply connected. The ―original organic fertilizer‖ was called ―Panchakavya‖ (Panchagavya) meaning five substances [cow manure, cow urine, milk, yogurt and ghee]. These same ingredients when mixed with water, the product is called ―Amrit-pani‖. This nutritious nectar is then used to water the plantings, yielding bountiful, healthy crops. The Rishis taught that seeds should first be coated in ghee an dhoney before sowing to help them germinate, making them strong and resistant to disease for their lifetime. Additionally cow urine and bitter neem are bottled, kept in the sunlight, and sprayed overcrops for an effective, natural pesticide against insects. 1.1 Cowpathy In Cowpathy, cow products are used for healing purposes. It has emerged as a modern offshoot of traditional Ayurveda. It largely utilizes the top five products derived from cows. Milk, urine, dung, ghee, and curd are the five components of cow origin used in cowpathy healing system. Panchagavya Therapy and Cow Urine Therapy are the two variants of Cowpathy that are currently used. 1.2 Vedic krishi During the Vedic period, the Vedic people used leaf litter, cow dung, and other trash to add fertility to their land by decomposing it. This made the soil more fertile and allowed them to plant good crops.

Historically, Maharshi Vasishtha served the divine cow Kamdhenu, and Maharshi Dhanvantari offered a wonder medicine, Panchgavya, to mankind as a wonder medicine. In Sanskrit, these five products are individually called "Gavyas" and collectively, "Panchgavyas". Cowpathy has many beneficial effects on the body. By utilizing bio-fertilizers derived from cow urine and dung, it is possible to restore soil fertility and prevent food from being contaminated with certain chemicals, which can pose health risks. There is no other fertilizer as cheap and as harmless as dung fertilizer. Traditionally, Vedic people grew wheat, barley, and other eatable nut which were the primary food items Vedic people’sanother achievement was Manuring. During the Vedic period, people used waste items like leaves, cow dung, and other materials to aid in the decomposition of the agriculture land. The process increased the fertility of good crops on the land. Some vedic inputs are-Panchgavya, Vermiwash, Compost Tea, Matka khad, Beejamrit and Jeevamrit.  Vermiwash give high yield.  A study found that Panchgavya was most effective in controlling cauliflower stalk rot.  For seed treatment, beejamrit was found to be the most effective.  Compost Tea, Matka khad, Jeevamrit is used as foliar sprays to control plant pathogens.

The dung is excellent farmyard manure, and if processed into vermicompost, avery small amount is sufficient for a large field. Even though there are many claims made, they need to be validated scientifically. For cowpathy products to be accepted and popular worldwide in terms of agricultural, energy resource, and nutritional applications, scientific validation of the products is required in order to maximize the power that cowpathy can offer to humanity. Although it hasn'tbeen scientifically validated, people are using it and getting benefits from it. There are multiple threats to food security including undernourishment and overconsumption, rising food prices, population growth, rapid diet transitions, threats to agricultural production, inefficient production practices and supply chains, and declining investment in food system research. Food insecurity causes widespread human suffering along with degradation of natural resources, migration to urban areas and across borders, and political and economic instability. As the global population grows to 9 billion people by 2050, the food system is under additional pressure. Agricultural practices such as land clearing and inefficient fertilizer and organic residue use contribute significantly to greenhouse gas emissions. Further, refrigeration and other supply-chain activities contribute to greenhouse gas emissions from the farm gate to consumers. Many agricultural systems are depleting soil fertility, biodiversity, and water resources as the global demand for food, feed, and bio-energy crops increases. The gap between potential and actual crop yields is wide in many regions. It is estimated that 12 million hectares of agricultural land a year are lost to land degradation, which could produce 20 million tonnes of grain. In the global food system, one third of food produced for human consumption is lost or wasted.

The heavy use of chemicals in agriculture has weakened the ecological base, as well as degrading soil, water, and food quality. A growing awareness has exposed the benefits of implementing "organic farming" as a remedy to modern chemical agriculture. Panthagavya (cowpathy), Jeevamruth, and Beejamruth are eco-friendly, cheaper preparations made from cow dung, urine, milk, curd, ghee and milk. Plant growth stimulants such as Panchagavya are efficient at enhancing agricultural efficiency. Fruits and vegetables are increased in nutritional value when using it because it protects them against diseases and activates soil.