Economics of alternative models of organic farming: empirical evidences from zero budget natural farming and scientific organic farming in West Bengal, India

Abstract

ABSTRACT This paper envisages the economic viability of two alternative models of organic farming i.e. Zero Budget Natural Farming (ZBNF) and Scientific Organic Farming. In the empirical survey the study considers two clusters based on the two alternative organic models (i.e. a ZBNF model in Purulia district and a scientific organic farming model in Burdwan district) in West Bengal, India. Performance of these models is evaluated by considering three important parameters i.e. cost of cultivation, yield and income. Evidences reveal that the organic farmers under both models have experienced a reduction in per hectare production cost and yield for their crops in the post-conversion period. Evidences also suggest that farmers adopting ZBNF model in Purulia were able to enhance their income, whereas the income reduced significantly for the farmers practicing scientific organic farming in Burdwan. Moreover, a comparative in–depth analysis of performance is carried out between these two alternative models in order to identify the factors that can influence their long-term sustainability. Results indicate that long term sustainability of the organic model is conditioned upon the interplay of agro-climatic conditions and various other socio-economic factors.