Emergence of Zero Budget Natural Farming in Himachal Pradesh: Prospects and Challenges
Abstract
Zero Budget Natural Farming (ZBNF) is an agricultural method that does not require external inputs. This study, based on secondary data, analyses the number of farmers practicing natural farming and the land area under cultivation, as well as the prospects and challenges of ZBNF in Himachal Pradesh. The study reveals that Kangra district had the highest farmer adoption rate (22.33 per cent) under ZBNF, while Lahaul-Spiti had the lowest (0.46 per cent). Mandi had the largest area under ZBNF (24.61 per cent), and Lahaul-Spiti the smallest (0.71 per cent) from 2018-19 to 2022-23. The percentage growth rate of area under ZBNF was observed to be 156.20 per cent, and for the number of farmers, it was 1069.58 percent from 2018-19 to 2022-23, indicating overall increases in both farmers’ adoption and area expansion for ZBNF practices. A high positive correlation of 0.9681 has been found between the number of farmers and the area under ZBNF. The study underscores the need to target more farmers and expand the cultivation area under ZBNF, as it is crucial for protecting soil fertility, providing healthy and chemical-free food. Therefore, the government and stakeholders should promote ZBNF and offer technical knowledge on best practices.
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Introduction
In India, Himachal Pradesh is the only state where 89.96 percent of the population residing in rural areas where agriculture and horticulture directly employ approximately 70 percent of the state’stotal workforce (GoHP, 2021). In the context of food insecurity, global warming, climate change, natural resource depletion, migration, and farmer suicides, Zero Budget Natural Farming (ZBNF) may be the world'smost successful agrarian movement in terms of reach (Biswas, 2020). Most farmers depend heavily on inorganic chemical inputs like fertilizers and pesticides, which contribute to groundwater pollution and harm water-dependent ecosystem. This practice also causes a gradual decline in soil fertility and poses significant health risks to farmers across India due to the continuous use of chemicals and pesticides. Inline with the central government’starget to double the farmers’ income by 2022, natural farming method promoted by Padma Shri awardee Shri Subhash Palekar, are seen as essential strategies for achieving this objective (Mahajan and Dev, 2022).
Zero Budget Natural Farming is an agricultural approach that involves no initial financial outlay or spending on external inputs. If cost is incurred by chance, it is offset by profitable production. ZBNF is gaining momentum for its ability to enhance soil health over the long term, fostering diversified crops, encouraging microbial activities, and facilitating nutrient recycling, and promoting beneficial biological interactions. Particularly in rain-fed areas where the impact of the green revolution is less important, ZBNF emerges as a promising alternative in the face of unpredictable weather conditions. It represents an extreme form of low external input sustainable agriculture (LEISA), wherein all inputs are locally sourced (on the farm), and the output of one farming system serves as the primary input for another farming system (Biswas, 2020).
The government of Himachal Pradesh introduced the ‘Prakritik-Kheti-Khushhal-Kisan-Yojna’ (PK3Y) through adoption of 'Subhash Palekar Natural Farming’ to boost ZBNF across various cereal crops such as paddy, wheat and wheat. Efforts have also been made to produce vegetables and fruits in the state (GoHP, 2020, 2023). In the financial year 2023-24, a budget provision of ₹13.00 crore has been made to the Prakritik-Kheti-Khushhal-Kisan-Yojna under ZBNF (GoHP, 2024). Several factors, including soil protection techniques, mulching, natural pesticides and fertilizers, less number of inputs, chemical-free produce, organic manures, limited irrigation needs, and cost-effectiveness, plays a crucial role in influencing the adoption of natural farming. In the era of modernization, information dissemination through mass media channels such as the internet, newspapers, and word of mouth from friends and family has become the primary source of information (Gamoh et al., 2022; Kumar and Kumari, 2020).
Under ‘Prakartik-Kheti-Khushhal-Kisan-Yojna’, workshops and trainings are being organized to inform farmers about natural farming. ZBNF promises to drastically cut production costs. It eliminates the need for loans for farming activities by relying entirely on internal inputs. Therefore, the government and concerned stakeholders should prioritize providing effective technical knowledge on best natural farming practices (Kumar and Kumari, 2020; Biswas, 2020; Mahajan and Dev, 2022). With the deepening of the theoretical exploration of Zero Budget Natural farming in academia, scholars have begun to pay attention to the area and farmers’ adoption level of this farming. For example, the study analysed by Choudhary et al (2012) assessed that the development, dissemination, and adoption of low-cost integrated farming system models would greatly encourage hill farmers to diversify their farming to increase productivity and profitability. Choudhary (2013) has suggested, the improved farming technology offers significant potential to boost pulse productivity, profitability, and water use efficiency through a frontline demonstration program in Himachal Pradesh. Choudhary and Suri (2014) showed that the demonstrated farm technology has great potential to increase oilseed productivity, profitability, and water-use efficiency, allowing resource-limited hill farmers in Himachal Pradesh to earn better livings. Yadav et al (2015) found that there is a need to educate and aware farmers about better technology through trainings and demonstrations, as well as ensure the availability of critical inputs on time, in order to close production gaps in maize in Himachal Pradesh.
Further, Bishnoi and Bhati (2017); Kumar et al (2019); Korav et al (2020); Ranjan and Sow (2021) defined the meaning as well as four pillars (Jivamrita, Bijamrita, Acchadana and Whapasa) and principle method of ZBNF which incorporates crop rotation, green manures and compost, biological pest control, and mechanical cultivation. Bharucha et al (2020) found that the statistically significant differences in yield and farmers’ income between ZBNF and Non-ZBNF practices across various locations and crops. As per the available literature, natural farming is a new technology or practice that has been adopted by farmers in recent years and known as the ‘Prakartik-Kheti-Khushhal-Kisan-Yojna’ in the state. The studies mentioned above pertain to different time periods and employ various methodologies. Most of the studies focus on theoretical aspects, while very few are based on analysing the trends of natural farming in Himachal Pradesh.
The present study focuses and attempt to analyse the trends of area and farmers under ZBNF from 2018-19 to 2022-23 in Himachal Pradesh. The specific objectives are: to analyse the trends and percentage growth rate in area and number of farmers under ZBNF in HP; to identify the correlation between area and number of farmers under ZBNF in HP.
Conclusion
AND POLICY IMPLICATION Zero Budget Natural Farming is an agricultural method that requires no initial investment and eliminates the need for purchased inputs. It enhances sustainability by reducing water and electricity usage, protecting farmer health, preserving local ecosystems, and preventing toxic residues. There is a positive and high correlation (0.9681) between the area under cultivation and the number of farmers. This represents the number of farmers, and the area under consideration also tends to increase. In the face of challenges such as food insecurity, climate change, resource depletion, migration, and farmer suicides, ZBNF has emerged as a highly effective global agricultural movement. So that the government and other stakeholders should prioritize the promotion of the ZBNF in the state.
To promote ZBNF, it is essential to allocate a larger share of the union budget (10-15 per cent) should go towards agriculture. To realize the potential of natural farming, farmers, government organizations, academic institutions, and consumers must work together. Investments in infrastructural developments, capacity building, and research and development may help natural farming practices spread across the nation.
