Zero Budget Natural Farming: A Sustainable Future for Indian Farmers
Zero Budget Natural Farming: A Sustainable Future for Indian Farmers
Learn about ZBNF, its core practices, and how it helps farmers achieve sustainable growth.
Zero Budget Natural Farming (ZBNF) is revolutionizing Indian agriculture by promoting chemical-free and cost-effective farming methods. Championed by Padma Shri Subhash Palekar, ZBNF is increasingly popular among farmers striving for sustainable growth.
What is Zero Budget Natural Farming?
ZBNF encourages organic farming using natural inputs like cow dung, urine, and homemade bio-fertilizers. It drastically reduces the cost of farming, allowing farmers to grow crops without relying on expensive chemical fertilizers and pesticides.
Core Practices of ZBNF
- Jeevamrutha: A fermented microbial solution made with cow dung and urine.
- Bijamrita: A seed treatment mixture to protect against soil-borne diseases.
- Acchadana (Mulching): Using crop residues or biomass to retain soil moisture.
- Waaphasa (Soil Aeration): Maintaining appropriate soil aeration for better growth.
Benefits of ZBNF
- Environmental: Reduces carbon footprint by eliminating chemical use.
- Economic: Lowers input costs significantly.
- Health: Produces chemical-free, nutritious food.
Success Stories
- Andhra Pradesh: Over 500,000 farmers have adopted ZBNF with support from the state government.
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