Natural farming is an agroecology-based diversified farming system that integrates crops, bushes, and livestock with practical biodiversity. This mannequin eliminates the utilization of pricey chemical inputs corresponding to fertilizers, pesticides, hormones, and so on., and propagates the utilization of domestically out there pure assets. As part of this apply, pure substances like cow dung, urine, jaggery, pulses, compost, and water are used that assist enhance the natural matter within the soil.
Also Read: 6 Natural Kitchen Ingredients to Preserve Food Without Using Food Additives
Significance Of Natural Farming
There are many significance of pure farming. Photo Credit: istock
Natural farming is a sustainable agricultural method that goals to decrease manufacturing prices and return to pre-green revolution farming practices. Working with the ideas of eliminating the utilization of chemical fertilizers and herbicides and lowering the necessity for weeding by tillage in addition to the dependence on chemical substances, the approach goals to guard the atmosphere, public well being, and communities.
The apply has the potential to allow meals manufacturing, guarantee meals safety, and resolve the bottlenecks within the business with out compromising the wants of future generations. It gives a plethora of advantages for the farmers, crops, and the agricultural business, corresponding to:
Ensuring Better Health
Since pure farming eliminates the utilization of chemical substances, well being hazards and dangers are mitigated. As a outcome, the meals has increased vitamin density and gives larger well being advantages.
Increasing Farmers’ Income
The approach goals at making farming viable and aspirational by rising the web revenue of the farmers on account of value discount, decreased dangers, related yields, and incomes from intercropping.
Eating native produce generates revenue for famers.
Improving Soil Health
Working with an agroecological method, the apply renders a constructive affect on the biology of soil – on microbes and different dwelling organisms corresponding to earthworms. It boosts soil well being and, in flip, will increase productiveness.
Minimising Production Posts
Natural farming considerably reduces manufacturing prices by encouraging farmers to provide crops utilizing on-farm, pure, and home-grown assets.
Also Read: Natural Blood Purifiers: 8 Foods You Must Add To Your Daily Diet To Purify Blood
Natural Farming As A Healing Source
The Indian agricultural business closely depends on chemical substances that always hurt the produce and cut back the dietary worth of the meals. It additionally results in increased pest assaults on crops for which farmers must depend on pesticides. And finally, due to soil injury, an increasing number of chemical substances are used to regain soil well being. In this course of, crop yield is considerably affected, and the farmer will get trapped within the vicious circle of poverty. The excessive climatic modifications and international warming additional add to the woes.
Today, the demand for meals and the price of meals grain manufacturing are rising considerably. To meet this surging requirement and handle the gaps within the demand-supply chain, we want modern options. Natural farming is one such revolutionary apply that may improve present agricultural productiveness. Various sub-techniques of this apply, corresponding to natural farming, diversification, and agroecological farming, could be tailored to cater to the necessities of the evolving agricultural market.
India is a food-surplus nation; therefore, pure farming as a substitute for chemical farming could be simply promoted and practised. Even NITI Aayog has highlighted the necessity to make sure the instant transition to this modern mannequin as it could assist rework the Indian agricultural panorama.
The Government’s Efforts To Promote Natural Farming
Recognising the significance of pure farming, the federal government is making concerted efforts to encourage its adoption and utility within the agricultural sector. In reality, pure farming will quickly be a full-fledged topic within the agricultural training curriculum as effectively. Additionally, the federal government has introduced its plan to help one crore farmers in transitioning to pure farming over the subsequent three years. Initiatives just like the PM Program for Restoration, Awareness, Nourishment, and Amelioration of Mother Earth (PM PRANAM) can be launched to incentivise states and union territories to advertise different fertilizers and the balanced use of chemical fertilizers. The authorities has additionally formulated the National Mission on Natural Farming (NMNF) as a separate and unbiased scheme from 2023-2024 by upscaling the Bhartiya Prakritik Krishi Paddati (BPKP). But for all these initiatives to succeed, it’s crucial that farmers facilitate the swift transition from chemical-based inputs to cow-based, locally-produced inputs.
The Bottom Line
Slash and burn technique of agriculture additionally results in soil erosion.
Given the present situation, with soil degradation being a critical difficulty, solely 30 years of the harvest will stay for consumption. With the challenges that the sector is dealing with, corresponding to rising inhabitants and rising demand for wholesome produce by shoppers, pure farming is actually needed. It is a revolutionary method that may assist enhance crop yield and enhance farmers’ revenue. The apply has the potential to scale back the chance of crop failure, assist preserve soil and water assets, cut back greenhouse fuel emissions and air pollution, and even promote biodiversity. However, the suitable time to facilitate this transition is now, and therefore, it is necessary that we act promptly.
About Author: Dr. Deepak Birewar is Chairman & MD of Inventys Research Company.
Source: meals.ndtv.com