​Zero Budget Natural Farming for Sustainable Agriculture: A Review

Abstract

Making and maintaining the agriculture into a profitable business in the context of increasing population, food security and depleting natural resources is a very complex problem. Providing contamination free food with rich nutrition is an immediate and future challenge besides maintaining soil and environmental health. Ecosystem based Zero Budget Natural Farming (ZBNF) recommends the use of organic crop rotation, compost and green manure, organic pest control etc. as well as mechanized farming operations. The present article discusses the importance and practicality of ZBNF on the basis of available literature. Its benefits and consequences are far-reaching. Hence an attempt has been made to describe the ZBNF system, its utility and sustainability for Indian agricultural conditions. The four major components of ZBNF; such as Jivamrit, Achchhadan, Bijamrit and Vapasa etc are reported to be very cost-effective. In addition to the description of these, discussions on natural insecticidal measures, major benefits and challenges of ZNBF have also been included. The need has been felt for the necessary policy interventions in the absence of detailed published scientific research literature and hence, a few salient points have been discussed. This discussion will be a contribution in taking Indian agriculture a step forward.