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Resource centre on India's rural distress
 
 

Natural farming for fiscal prudence? -Arunabha Ghosh and Niti Gupta

-Business Standard

Natural farming is an alternative to chemical fertiliser-based and high input cost agriculture

After decades of intensive agriculture, farms and farmers are in a crisis, food markets remain distorted, and consumers do not have access to nutritious diets. India needs a shift towards sustainable food systems. Among many alternative farming techniques is natural farming, with the potential to improve sustainability and also meliorate government finances.

Natural farming is an alternative to chemical fertiliser-based and high input cost agriculture. It embodies principles of agroecology, activating microbial life in soil via bio-inoculums (prepared using cow dung, cow urine, jaggery, etc.), thereby improving both soil and plant health. The practice advocates complete elimination of synthetic chemical inputs and encourages natural inputs, mulching practices and symbiotic intercropping.

Andhra Pradesh has had a state-wide natural farming programme since 2016, now covering 580,000 farmers. Other states — Chhattisgarh, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, and Uttarakhand — have shown interest. The central government has held discussions. In her Budget speech of July 2019, the finance minister highlighted natural farming, its potential to contribute to the goal of doubling farmers’ incomes and allocated Rs 325 crore for its study and promotion. In September, at the meeting of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification, the prime minister also promoted “Indian natural farming practices”.

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