A sort of chemical-free farming known as Zero Budget Natural Farming (ZBNF) results in a total cost of zero for planting and harvesting plants (after the farmers’ expenses are covered by intercropping).
Thus, the agricultural model known as Zero Budget Natural Farming (ZBNF) seeks to advance organic and sustainable farming methods. It is a comprehensive strategy that emphasises the use of natural resources and the decrease of outside inputs like pesticides and fertilisers. We’ll discuss about ZBNF’s tenets and its significance in India.
What is a Zero Budget Natural Farming?
The technique known as “Zero Budget Natural Farming” (ZNBF) involves cultivating crops without the use of fertilisers or pesticides from outside sources. The term “Zero Budget” describes any crop whose production costs are zero. ZBNF’s guidance towards sustainable farming practices that support soil fertility maintenance, chemical-free agriculture, and low production costs (zero cost) increases farmers’ income. So, ZBNF is a farming method that places a focus on raising crops in balance with the environment. The government has been promoting organic farming through the Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY) initiative. This programme supports chemical-free farming practices of all kinds, including Zero Budget Natural Farming.
Guiding Concepts of ZBNF
No Spending Cap The revolutionary agricultural model known as “natural farming” is based on the ideas of ecological balance, self-sufficiency, and sustainability. ZBNF provides a competitive alternative to conventional farming methods that significantly rely on outside inputs and exacerbate environmental degradation by upholding its core values. The tenets of ZBNF and their importance in influencing farming’s future by manure, milk, and other products useful for domestic and agricultural use are obtained from cows, goats, and other animals. For transportation, you can consider any Swaraj tractor and can enquire about Swaraj Tractor Price for better and more sustainable work.
The Zero Budget Natural Farming Principles
Key ideas of Zero Budget Natural Farming are listed below:
- No outside inputs
- Plants that can cover the ground for a full year (Living Root)
- minimal disturbance of the soil
- Biostimulants: vital catalytic agents
- Use indigenous seed in mixed agriculture
- Cropping in combination with planting trees on the farm
- preservation of water and moisture
- Also, it includes animals in farming. Increase the amount of organic waste in the soil. Use plant extracts to manage pests.
- No synthetic fertilisers, herbicides, or pesticides
Farmer’s Income With ZBNF
- The primary feature of Zero-Budget Natural Farming is that there is no production cost, and farmers do not need to purchase any inputs to begin using this farming technique.
- In contrast to traditional methods, Zero Budget Natural Farming utilised only 10% of the water required by the former technique.
- Farmers are able to realise profits ahead of schedule because it encourages the use of the local Indian breed of cow on 30 acres of land.
- Additionally, according to Palekar, one can earn ₹6 lakh per acre in irrigated areas and ₹1.5 lakh in non-irrigated areas by using Zero Budget Farming.
Support from the Indian Government
The country has been planning to restructure its agricultural production system, including research and development, in order to meet the formidable challenges it faces. However, the 2018–19 Economic Survey made a strong case for the adoption of “Zero Budget Natural Farming” (ZBNF), which would double farmers’ income. The Hon. The Finance Minister later endorsed ZBNF during her budget speech in parliament. According to the definition of ZBNF, which stands for “Zero Cost or Zero Input Natural Farming,” the farmer keeps all harvest proceeds as net profit.
The Zero Budget Natural Farming Cropping Model
The strategy centered on growing polycultures, or combined short—and long-term (main crop) crops, with the goal of “zero” spending on the main crop by using the revenue from the short-term crops to offset the cost of growing the main crops. As such, this farming model is referred to as “Zero-Budget Natural Farming.”
Techniques to satisfy the upcoming food demand must concentrate on ZBNF
The nation must implement a variety of measures to ensure that the expanding population’s future food and nutrition needs are met. This involves closing the yield gaps in major crops between the yield levels attained on the farm and the yield potential. In addition, raising total factor productivity, managing natural resources like soil and water effectively, and wisely using nutrients, particularly chemical pesticides and fertilisers, are all important.
So, to address the pervasive micronutrient deficiency in the soil, the application of compost and a balanced dosage of chemical fertilisers was made mandatory.
Zero Budget Agriculture: Final Thoughts
Prime Minister Narendra Modi mentioned this farming technique at the UN Conference on Desertification (COP-14), saying that India is concentrating on it. The farming approach provides robust food systems by means of two of their initiatives: Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY) and Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY).
So, these are all about Zero Budget Natural Farming in India. Stay connected with us for more information about any agricultural topic or a tractor like Mahindra Tractor.