Zero Budget Natural Farming: An Agricultural Revolution, Prospects and Problems

Abstract

Traditional agricultural practice and progressive improved technical implementation made our food system not only self-sufficient but also a potential food surplus source. But continuous application of such latest techniques is damaging our ecosystem as well as become the reason for farmers’ debt. Excessive application of agro-chemicals has become the major reason behind soil and water pollution. In order to ameliorate such irreversible damage adaptation of a modern farming technique named Zero Budget Natural Farming (ZBNF) has been found to be effective. The word ‘budget’ represents as credit and expenditures and ‘Zero Budget’ refers to without any expenses or purchasing any input. ‘Natural farming’ means farming naturally by avoiding synthetic chemicals. This ZBNF is initiated by Indian agriculturist Subhash Palekar. ZBNF is based on soil mulching to conserve soil moisture, use of natural organic manures and pesticides, etc. Cultural practices like crop rotation, application of green manures and compost, biological and cultural pest management are the key ingredient in ZBNF. ZBNF found ecologically sustainable and an effective tool to achieve Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) as well as cost-effective as it made farmers debt free.