QUE : What is Zero Budget Natural Farming? Discuss its potential benefits.

 Zero Budget Natural Farming (ZBNF) is a type of chemical-free farming, where the total cost of growing and harvesting plants is zero. Subhash Palekar is the father of Zero Budget Nature Farming. He developed it in the mid-1990s as an alternative to green revolution methods.

•  Four primary components of this type of farming system
  

• Bijamrut: Seeds are treated with a formulation made using cow dung and urine of the species of cow suitable for our region’s climate. Along with this, pest control can be done using neem leaves, pulp, tobacco, green chilli extract.
  
•  Jivamrut: Applying a mixture of cow dung, cow urine, jaggery, gram flour, water and soil to agricultural land enriches the soil by encouraging the activity of earthworms and microorganisms.
  
•  Mulching: Involves adding cover crops, organic waste or agricultural residues to the top soil.
  
•  Vapsa: Arrangements are made to maintain adequate air-water mixture in the soil for proper plant growth.
  
•  Benefits of Zero Budget Natural Farming
  

•  Adopting such ZBNF methods for all crops makes it possible to use 50-60% less water and electricity. (Compared to non-ZBNF methods)
  
•  Since mulching is used, positive use of agricultural residues becomes possible. Thus, the problem of air pollution can be solved to some extent.
  
•  ZBNF through multiple aeration; reduces methane emissions to a great extent. Thus, a proper solution is found towards climate change.

• Agricultural expenditure is greatly reduced in the ZBNF method.
  
• According to the National Sample Survey (NSSO) data, about 50% of all farmers are indebted. The main reason for debt and suicide among farmers is the increasing cost of external inputs (seeds, fertilizers, pesticides). Such a discrepancy can be resolved through ZBNF.
  
•  About 70% of households in the agricultural sector spend more than their income, their expenditure can be reduced and income can be increased.
  
•  Under ZBNF, there is no need to spend money or take loans for external inputs. Thus, many small farmers will be able to escape the cycle of debt and the way will be paved to double the income of farmers.
  
•  At the same time, subsidies and assistance provided by the state can be rationalized properly.
  
•  ZBNF is completely chemical free, so it produces organically grown crops, so that marketable facilities can be obtained. (Farmers get more profit than normal agricultural produce)
  
•  In this way, organic food will provide people with a healthy lifestyle in the long run and the burden on the health infrastructure will be reduced.
  
•  ZBNF is suitable for all crops in all agro-climatic zones.
  
• There are some challenges in ZBNF, such as,
  

•  More budget allocation for Green Revolution, while very less budget for conventional agricultural development scheme.
  
•  Some decrease in yield after Sikkim switched to organic farming
  
• Absence of proper scientific confirmation of the effectiveness of ZBNF

                        Thus, by ensuring sustainable development through ZBNF, the nation can bring about an unprecedented revolution in the agricultural sector, but at the same time, some way should be recognized so that the long-term impact, productivity and sustainability of ZBNF can be advanced throughout the country.