Zero Budget Natural Farming - GS-III Notes for UPSC

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).

The topic, ‘Zero Budget Natural Farming,’ gained prominence when Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman mentioned it in her 2019 budget speech, speaking of it as a source of doubling farmers’ income. This article will mention the important facts about Zero Budget Natural Farming to help IAS Exam aspirants for GS-III preparation.

Who introduced Zero Budget Natural Farming?

Subash Palekar (Indian Agriculturist and Padma Shri Recipient) is the father of Zero Budget Natural Farming. He developed it in the mid-1990s as an alternative to the Green Revolution methods.

The points put-forward by Subash Palekar in support of Zero Budget Natural Farming are:

1. Lakhs of farmers are using the technique of Zero Budget Natural Farming in different agro-climatic zones and soil types.
2. To grow a plant, whatever is needed is present in nature. No chemicals are required to grow a plant. An example – Earthworm excreta has seven times more nitrogen than the soil.
3. Large number of small farmers are using this technique as they see Zero Budget Natural Farming as a tool that can free them from debts and defaults.
4. It makes farming both profitable and sustainable.

Important terms related to ZBNF – Jeevamrutha, Bijamrita, Acchadana and Whapasa

Facts about Zero Budget Natural Farming (ZBNF)

A few important details about the Zero Budget Natural Farming are given in the table below:

Zero Budget Natural Farming and Farmers’ Income

• The major characteristic of the Zero Budget Natural Farming is that the cost of production is zero and farmers do not have to buy any inputs to initiate this method of farming.
• Against the conventional methods, the Zero Budget Natural Farming used only 10 percent of the water that is used in the former method.
• As it promotes use of Indian local breed of cow for 30 acres of land, it makes it possible for farmer to earn profits earlier than expected
• Palekar suggested that with Zero Budget Farming One can make an income of ₹6 lakh an acre in irrigated areas and ₹1.5 lakh in non-irrigated areas.
• As the Zero Budget Natural Farming covers all kings of agro climatic areas, it is mentioned to be suitable for all kinds of crops
• Farmers can get more yields in the first year only giving them a benefit
• The Zero Budget Farming is also seen to ease out the debt pressure on the farmers as they don’t have to take loans to buy any inputs for their farming
• Farmers are expected to earn more money per acre and the chances of migration from villages to cities can also lessen.

Zero Budget Natural Farming – Criticism

• The concept of Zero Budget Natural Farming is not well-accepted by the scientific community. National Academy of Agricultural Sciences scientists mentioned that India cannot rely on Zero Budget Natural Farming as there is no scientific validation of the techniques used in Zero Budget Farming.
• As against the name suggests, the farming method does bear a minimum input cost
• The maintenance of the local cow breed is difficult as against those that are used currently
• Organic certification of the crops planted by the Zero Budget Natural Farming will face another hurdle and it might lead to a difficulty in selling the products to the organic brands.

Zero Budget Farming – Conclusion

It is a farming method that Prime Minister Narendra Modi mentioned in the United Nations Conference on Desertification (COP-14) while stating that India is focusing on this method. The farming method offers resilient food systems. Through two of their initiatives:

• Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY)
• Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY)

The Government of India has been promoting organic farming in the country.

Zero Budget Natural Farming (ZBNF) – UPSC Notes:-Download PDF Here

Candidates reading the topic, ‘Zero Budget Natural Farming’ are suggested to also read similar topics linked in the table below:

Interesting Facts on Intercropping

What is intercropping give example?

Intercropping is growing two or more crops next to each other at the same time. It is very important not to have crops competing with each other for space, nutrients, water, or sunlight. An example of an intercropping strategy is planting one crop that has deep roots with another that has shallow roots.

What is the difference between mixed cropping and intercropping?

Under Intercropping: There is a considerable difference in the life cycle and the duration of maturity in different crops. Under mixed cropping: All crops have a similar life cycle and duration of maturity

What are the advantages of intercropping?

1. Diversity and stability of fields. 
2. Reduction in chemical/fertilizer application. 
3. A complementary sharing of plant resources, such as Nitrogen from N fixing plants.

Where is intercropping used?

Intercropping is widely practiced by cassava growers in Africa, but is less frequent in the more commercially oriented production systems of Latin America and Asia. Several experimental studies have investigated the potential beneficial effect of intercropping on cassava virus control in Africa.

What are the 3 types of cropping patterns?

1. Mixed Cropping: Growing two or more crops simultaneously on the same piece of land. Minimizes the risk of crop failure
2. Inter-cropping: Growing two or more crops simultaneously in the same field in a definite pattern
3. Crop Rotation

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