Agriculture Review
by aditya abhishek
Zero Budget Natural Farming is a farming technique in which addition of any external chemical inputs are prohibited. In this farming technique farmers use natural available resources for farming.
The man behind ZBNF is Mr. Subhash Palekar (Padma Shri Recipient) from Maharashtra, India. However, the concept of ZBNF used to be practiced by farmers of ancient India.
Due to industrialized agriculture, production increased but it led to soil, air, and water pollution. Organic content is soil decreased gradually due to which soil became less fertile.
So the need of a farming system that is sustainable and cost effective is rising. And Zero Budget Natural Farming System has potential to solve this problem.
Zero Budget Natural Farming is mainly based on four pillars, that are, Jiva-amrut, Beejamrut, Acchandana, and Whapasa.
Jiva-amrut is a bio-fertilizer as well as bio-pesticide that is made from cow dung, urine, jaggery, pulse flour, water, and soil. It converts farm waste into manure rapidly.
Beejamrut is used for treating seeds to protect them from fungal, and bacterial diseases. It is prepared with the help of cow dung, urine, limestone, soil, and water.
Acchandana is mulching in English. Crop residues of the farm are used for mulching. This practice help in reducing irrigation need because moisture is retained inside mulch layer.
Whapasa is the presence of water and air molecules in the soil. Irrigation is advised to be practiced during late afternoon and in alternate furrows.
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