Organic Farming and Zero Budget Natural Farming

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Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana: click here to get the complete topic.

Zero Budget Natural Farming

1. Intro: Originally promoted by Subhash Palekar in the mid-1990s as an alternative to GR methods.
2. Rationale:
   1. According to NSSO data, ~ 70% of Agriculture households spend more than they earn and more than half of farmers are indebted because of the rising cost of external inputs. In Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, ~ 90% are indebted.
   2. The impact of chemicals on the Environment & long-term fertility is devastating.
3. Components?
   1. Application of Jeevamrutha (Biofertilizer) = a mix of fresh desi cow dung + aged desi cow urine, jaggery, pulse floor, water and soil. Fermented microbial culture. That adds nutrients to the soil. A catalyst to promote the activity of micro org & earthworms in the soil.
   2. Application of Bijamrita is used to treat seeds.
   3. Concotions of Neem leaves, Pulp, Tobacco and Green chillies are prep for insect & pest management.
   4. Promotes soil aeration, Replenishes local water bodies, minimal watering, intercropping, Contours, bunds and topsoil mulching and discourages intensive irri & deep ploughing.
4. Implementation
   1. According to Eco Survey,> 1.6 lakh farmers are practising ZBNF in ~ 1000 villages using some form of State support.
   2. Karnataka was the pioneer > AP planned to become India's 1st State to practice 100% NF by 2024 > HP, CG, KL, UK.
5. Limitations
   1. A 2017 study in AP claimed a sharp decline in input costs and improvement in yields. In fact many farmers in Maharashtra have reverted back to conventional farming after seeing ZBNF returns drop.
   2. No separate funding mechanism in the Budget to promote it. The revised funds for RKVY RAFTAAR & Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana are used by States to promote ZBNF, Vedic farming, natural farming etc.

Government is promoting and supporting organic farming and zero-budget natural farming under various schemes, detailed below:-

• DARE/ICAR through its Plan Scheme ‘Network Project on Organic Farming (NPOF)’ is undertaking research in 20 centres covering 16 states to develop a location-specific organic farming packages of practices for crops and cropping systems.
• Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY), a sub-component of Soil Health Management (SHM) scheme under National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA), promotes cluster-based organic farming with Participatory Guarantee System (PGS) certification. Cluster formation, training, certification and marketing are supported under the scheme. The assistance of Rs. 50,000 per ha for 3 years is provided, out of which 62% i.e., Rs. 31,000 is given as an incentive to a farmer towards the use of organic inputs.
• The Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North Eastern Region (MOVCDNER), promotes 3rd party certified organic farming of niche crops of the northeast region through Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) with a focus on exports. Farmers are given the assistance of Rs 25000/ha for 3 years for organic inputs including organic manure and bio-fertilisers etc. Support for the formation of FPOs, capacity building, and post-harvest infrastructure up to Rs 2 crores is also provided under the scheme.
• 100% assistance is provided to State Governments/ Government agencies through Capital Investment Subsidy Scheme (CISS) under Soil Health Management Scheme for setting up of mechanized fruit/ vegetable market place, waste/ agro-waste compost production unit to the extent of Rs.190.00 Lakh /Unit (capacity of 3000 t/annum of finished compost). Similarly, for individuals/ private agencies, assistance up to 33% of cost limit to Rs 63 lakh/unit as capital investment is provided for the purpose.
• Under the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF) of Aatmanirbhar Bharat, financing facility is provided to State agencies, Primary Agricultural Credit Societies, Farmer Producer Organisations, entrepreneurs etc. for setting up of organic input production units, community farming assets and post-harvest infrastructure for value addition to organic produce.
• The farmers are encouraged to use organic inputs by providing financial assistance through a number of other schemes. For example, under the National Mission on Oilseeds and Oil Palm (NMOOP) and National Food Security Mission (NFSM), financial assistance @ 50% subsidy to the tune of Rs. 300/- per ha is provided for use of organic inputs.

Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyay Unnat Krishi Shiksha Yojana (PDDUUKSY)

• Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyay Unnat Krishi Shiksha Yojana (PDDUUKSY) was launched to develop human resources in organic farming, natural farming and cow-based economy for environmental sustenance and soil health.
• It was started with the establishment of 100 centres. Under this scheme, 108 training programmes were organized for the awareness of the farmers during the period of operation.
• Training programmes were organized for the farmers under PDDUUKSY in the field of organic farming, natural farming and other related latest technologies.
• Agricultural Education Division, under its three-year action plan provided need-based support in critical areas to Agricultural Universities for strengthening and quality assurance of higher agricultural education in the country.
• As a part of the undergraduate curriculum in an agricultural university, each undergraduate student in agriculture has to opt for the Student READY (Rural Entrepreneurship Awareness Development Yojana) programme, which aims to provide rural entrepreneurship awareness to them during the final year of their study.
• The undergraduate students provide support for the livelihood improvement of small and marginal farmers in terms of providing information about facilities extended by the government, scientific and technical know-how, selection of crops, marketing of their produce etc.