Natural Farming: Anchoring a Sustainable Way of Farming

Syllabus: GS3/Agriculture

Context

  • The rise of natural farming among Shimla’s apple growers marks a transformative shift toward sustainable agriculture.
Do you know?
Cash Crop: Apple is the dominant fruit crop in Himachal Pradesh and has become the leading cash crop among fruits. 
1. It contributes 76% to the region’s total fruit production.
Decrease in Productivity: Poor management practices, over-reliance on chemical fertilisers and pesticides as well as adverse effects of climate change pose serious challenges for Himachal Pradesh’s once-thriving apple industry. 
Solution: A promising solution to these challenges lies in natural farming, which focuses on utilising local resources, enhancing soil health and promoting sustainable production practices.

Natural Farming

  • Natural farming is an approach to agriculture that emphasizes working with nature’s processes to grow crops in a sustainable and holistic way.
  • It follows local agro-ecological principles rooted in indigenous knowledge, location-specific technologies, and adaptations to local agro-ecology.
  • One of the central ideas of natural farming is to minimize reliance on external inputs and create a system that can sustain itself over the long term.
Components-of-Natural-Farming
  • Key practices of natural farming include:
    • Minimal Soil Disturbance;
    • Use of Organic Inputs;
    • Biodiversity and Polyculture;
    • Water Conservation;
    • Natural methods to manage pests;
    • Synthetic fertilizers, herbicides, and pesticides are avoided.

Natural Vs. Organic Farming

  • Natural farming emphasizes minimal intervention with nature, avoiding tilling, fertilizers, and even weeding.
    • It focuses on creating self-sustaining ecosystems with little to no external inputs, trusting nature to maintain soil health and manage pests.
  • Organic farming follows specific certification standards that prohibit synthetic chemicals and genetically modified organisms (GMOs).
    • It allows the use of organic fertilizers, pesticides, and tilling. 
    • It tends to be more structured and regulated than natural farming.

Natural Farming in Practice

  • There are several states practicing Natural Farming. Prominent among them are Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Kerala, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.
Natural-Farming-in-Practice

Benefits of Natural Farming

  • Environmental Sustainability: It helps protect soil health, reduces pollution, and supports biodiversity.
  • Resilience to Climate Change: Natural farming promotes agricultural practices that can adapt to changing climates, such as drought-tolerant crops and sustainable water use.
  • Healthier Food: Food produced without chemical fertilizers and pesticides is considered safer and more nutritious.
  • Economic Benefits: Over time, natural farming can reduce costs related to chemical inputs and increase the resilience of farms, potentially leading to higher yields.

Challenges

  • Learning Local Ecosystem: It requires a deep understanding of local ecosystems, which can take time to learn and apply effectively.
  • Labor-Intensive: In the transition period, natural farming is more labor-intensive and initially produces lower yields compared to conventional farming.
  • Market Demand: Although organic products are gaining popularity, natural farming does not always meet mainstream market expectations or certification standards.

Government Initiatives

  • Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY): The promotion of drip and sprinkler irrigation systems under this program can be adapted to natural farming practices.
  • National Mission on Natural Farming (NMNF): The Union Cabinet announced the NMNF as a standalone Centre-sponsored scheme under the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare.
    • It aims to promote natural farming among one-crore farmers across the country.
    • It will be implemented in 15,000 clusters in Gram Panchayats, covering approximately 1 crore willing farmers. 
  • Soil Health Card Scheme: Launched in 2015, this initiative provides farmers with soil health cards that offer detailed information about the nutrient content and pH levels of their soil. 
  • National Mission on Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA):  Launched in 2014, encourages the adoption of sustainable farming techniques, including natural farming, to improve soil health, conserve water, and enhance productivity.
  • National Organic Farming Research Institute (NOFRI):  It focuses on improving soil health, developing organic farming technologies, and promoting sustainable agricultural practices.
  • States Practicing: There are several states practicing Natural Farming.
    • Prominent among them are Andhra Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Gujarat, Kerala, Jharkhand, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.

Way Ahead

  • The Government is increasingly recognizing the importance of natural farming in addressing environmental challenges, improving farmer incomes, and ensuring food security. 
  • These efforts, when combined with local farmer participation and state-level innovation, hold great promise for the future of sustainable agriculture in India.

Source: DTE

 

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