DIRECT ANSWER: Zero Budget Natural Farming (ZBNF) is a regenerative agriculture practice advocating for zero net expenditure on external inputs, relying on local resources and biological interactions to maintain soil health. Based on four pillarsâJeevamrutha, Bijamrutha, Mulching, and WaaphasaâZBNF is strategically positioned as a cost-effective alternative for realizing sustainable agriculture goals, notably reducing farmer debt and promoting ecological balance.
Why in News?
The Government of India has been actively promoting ZBNF/Natural Farming through initiatives like the Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY) and specific allocations in the Union Budget, recognizing its potential to double farmers' income, enhance climate resilience, and reduce the massive subsidy burden on chemical fertilizers.
What is the Concept / Issue?
ZBNF, developed by Padma Shri awardee Subhash Palekar, is a set of farming practices designed to dramatically reduce the cost of production by eliminating the need for synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, and hybrid seeds. The concept emphasizes that 98% of the plantâs nutrient requirements (Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potash) are drawn from the atmosphere and sunlight (photosynthesis), while the remaining 2% are sourced from decomposed organic matter in the soil, facilitated by microbial activity stimulated by natural inputs.
Why is this Issue Important?
- Strategic: Provides a robust, climate-resilient farming model that minimizes dependence on external industrial supply chains and minimizes the environmental footprint of agricultural activities.
- Economic: Drastically reduces cultivation costs, thereby increasing the net income for small and marginal farmers, directly addressing the core issues of agrarian distress and indebtedness.
- Geopolitical/Social: Enhances food safety and nutritional security by eliminating harmful chemical residues, improving public health outcomes, and promoting indigenous seed preservation and biodiversity.
Key Sectors / Dimensions Involved
- Dimension 1: Bijamrutha: A microbial coating applied to seeds using cow dung, cow urine, lime, and soil before sowing, protecting the seeds from soil-borne pathogens.
- Dimension 2: Jeevamrutha: A microbial inoculum mixture made of cow dung, cow urine, jaggery, pulse flour, water, and soil, applied frequently to the field to enrich the soil structure and microorganism population.
- Dimension 3: Mulching (Acchadana) and Waaphasa: Mulching involves covering the soil with crop residue to conserve moisture and suppress weeds; Waaphasa ensures adequate air circulation (aeration) in the soil, crucial for microbial life.
What are the Challenges?
- Concerns regarding the initial transition period, where yield reduction may occur, and challenges in maintaining consistently high productivity compared to input-intensive conventional methods.
- Lack of standardized scientific validation and sufficient long-term, peer-reviewed data to definitively prove its superior impact on soil organic carbon and nutrient cycling across all diverse agro-climatic zones.
- Implementation challenges related to effective large-scale training of farmers and the necessity of maintaining native cow breeds, which are essential for input preparation but declining in number.
UPSC Relevance
Prelims Focus:
- The core components (Bijamrutha, Jeevamrutha) and the underlying principles of ZBNF.
- Difference between Organic Farming, Natural Farming, and Chemical Farming.
- Government schemes promoting natural farming (e.g., Bharatiya Prakritik Krishi Paddhati).
Mains Angle:
GS Paper III â Technology Missions; Indian Economy (Poverty, Inclusive Growth); Agriculture (Cropping Patterns, Farm Subsidies, Food Security, Climate Resilience).
How UPSC May Ask This Topic:
Critically analyze the role of Zero Budget Natural Farming (ZBNF) as a paradigm shift towards environmental sustainability and economic viability in Indian agriculture. What are the key technological and policy challenges hindering its pan-India adoption?
What is the Way Forward?
- Establish dedicated national centers for research and standardization of ZBNF practices, providing scientific validation and addressing crop-specific nutrient requirements under various soil conditions.
- Integrate ZBNF into agricultural extension systems (KVKs) and university curricula, coupled with rigorous certification mechanisms to ensure premium market access and better price realization for farmers.
- Phased reduction of harmful chemical fertilizer subsidies, redirecting the financial savings towards training, input manufacturing clusters, and incentivizing the conversion to natural farming methods across key states.