51.
Zero Budget Farming
All You Need Is One Cow
Zero Budget Natural Farming (ZBNF) or holistic agriculture is a method of agriculture that counters the commercial expenditure and market dependency of farmers for the inputs like fertilisers and pesticides.
The method involves locally obtainable natural bio-degradable materials like cow dung and urine and combine scientific knowledge of ecology and modern technology with traditional farming practices based on naturally occurring biological processes.
Zero budget farming methods are promoted by agri-scientists like Subash Palekar and Masanobu Fukuoka.
It requires absolutely no monetary investment for purchase of key inputs like seeds, fertilizers and plant protection chemicals from the market. The farmer can grow hardy local varieties of crops without application of fertilizers and pesticides. Since it is a zero budget farming, no institutional credit would be required and dependence on hired labour is also reduced to bare minimum.
The whole philosophy behind this system is to make the farmer self-reliant so that he is not subjected to volatile market forces.
All that the system requires is a native breed of cow which in any case forms an integral part of farming in India’s rural areas. It is claimed that one cow is sufficient to take up this method of farming on thirty acres of land.
The method involves locally obtainable natural bio-degradable materials like cow dung and urine and combine scientific knowledge of ecology and modern technology with traditional farming practices based on naturally occurring biological processes.
Zero budget farming methods are promoted by agri-scientists like Subash Palekar and Masanobu Fukuoka.
It requires absolutely no monetary investment for purchase of key inputs like seeds, fertilizers and plant protection chemicals from the market. The farmer can grow hardy local varieties of crops without application of fertilizers and pesticides. Since it is a zero budget farming, no institutional credit would be required and dependence on hired labour is also reduced to bare minimum.
The whole philosophy behind this system is to make the farmer self-reliant so that he is not subjected to volatile market forces.
All that the system requires is a native breed of cow which in any case forms an integral part of farming in India’s rural areas. It is claimed that one cow is sufficient to take up this method of farming on thirty acres of land.
Soil Is A Prefect And Complete System
Zero Budget Farming works on the premise that soil is a complete system in itself, independent and self-sustaining. Soil is perfectly capable of supporting life without any need for artificial inputs or technologies.
How much nutrients the crops takes from the soil? Only 1.5 to 2.0 % Remaining 98 to 98.5% nutrients are taken from air, water and Sun. Every green leaf is a food producing factory. It takes carbon dioxide & nitrogen from the air, water from the clouds and light from the Sun. Every green leaf produces 4.5 gram carbohydrates per square feet surface, from which we get 1.5 gram grains or 2.25 gram fruits. Neither air, nor cloud or Sun send us any bill for their contribution. All these inputs are available free of cost.
Green leaves do not use the technology of the Agriculture Universities or multinational food companies. Neither do the Sun, Moon, cloud and air depend on our technological inventions.
All these natural elements that go in our food production are available for free. Earth, water, air and light are freely available in all parts of the world. Where is the question of farming becoming a colossal industry, requiring billions of dollars in investment.
If this is all true, then what is the role of agricultural universities and multi-trillion dollar agribusinesses? What is the role of government subsidies and international trade agreements. Why people have to starve when they can grow their own food with simple efforts in any part of the world.
How much nutrients the crops takes from the soil? Only 1.5 to 2.0 % Remaining 98 to 98.5% nutrients are taken from air, water and Sun. Every green leaf is a food producing factory. It takes carbon dioxide & nitrogen from the air, water from the clouds and light from the Sun. Every green leaf produces 4.5 gram carbohydrates per square feet surface, from which we get 1.5 gram grains or 2.25 gram fruits. Neither air, nor cloud or Sun send us any bill for their contribution. All these inputs are available free of cost.
Green leaves do not use the technology of the Agriculture Universities or multinational food companies. Neither do the Sun, Moon, cloud and air depend on our technological inventions.
All these natural elements that go in our food production are available for free. Earth, water, air and light are freely available in all parts of the world. Where is the question of farming becoming a colossal industry, requiring billions of dollars in investment.
If this is all true, then what is the role of agricultural universities and multi-trillion dollar agribusinesses? What is the role of government subsidies and international trade agreements. Why people have to starve when they can grow their own food with simple efforts in any part of the world.
om purnam adah purnam idam
purnat purnam udacyate
purnasya purnam adaya
purnam evavasisyate
"The Personality of Godhead is perfect and complete, and because He is completely perfect, all emanations from Him, such as this phenomenal world, are perfectly equipped as complete wholes. Whatever is produced of the complete whole is also complete in itself. Because He is the complete whole, even though so many complete units emanate from Him, He remains the complete balance."
~ Sri Isopanisad
A Forest is a proof of nature’s prefect and complete system. Since time immemorial, forest eco-systems have existed, producing fruits, flowers, herbs and honey. No agricultural scientist was ever required to maintain these delicate system. Neither there was any need for chemical or organic fertilizers, insecticides, cultivation by tractor, irrigation or GMO seeds. Nature, when left to itself, takes care of everything. Even trees in our countryside produce fruits year after year without any attention on our part.
Experts admit that natural soils are rich in nutrients but they emphasize chemical fertilizers because these nutrients in their natural form can not be utilized by the plant roots. The plant roots can not make use of them in spite of their abundant availability. The soil testing report may say that there is enough Potash in the soil but it is in an unavailable form. So we have to add it from outside.
That is where micro-organisms and friendly creatures like earthworms come into picture. They convert soil nutrients from their non-available form to available form. Just like we can not eat wheat unless it is converted into a bread.
In a forest system, soil is teeming with micro-organisms and therefore their is no necessity of any external input.
However, in our modern farms these nutrients (in acceptable format) are not available because the micro-organisms who convert these non-available nutrients are destroyed by poisonous chemical fertilizers, insecticides, fungicides, herbicides etc. It’s like if you don’t cook at home, you have to get your dinner from a restaurant. When soil’s innate capacity to generate nutrients is impaired, we have to add artificial nutrients from outside.
If we want to avoid unhealthy restaurant food, we have to establish home cooking. Same way if we have to facilitate generation of nutrients within farm soil, then there will be no necessity of adding fertilizers externally.
How can we re-establish these micro-organisms in the soil? This is done by applying the cow dung of local cow. The cow dung of the local cow is a miraculous culture. As we add a spoonful of curd (culture) to a pot of milk , likewise the local cow dung is a culture for the whole field. One gram of cow dung contains about 3000 to 5000 million beneficial microbes.
Experts admit that natural soils are rich in nutrients but they emphasize chemical fertilizers because these nutrients in their natural form can not be utilized by the plant roots. The plant roots can not make use of them in spite of their abundant availability. The soil testing report may say that there is enough Potash in the soil but it is in an unavailable form. So we have to add it from outside.
That is where micro-organisms and friendly creatures like earthworms come into picture. They convert soil nutrients from their non-available form to available form. Just like we can not eat wheat unless it is converted into a bread.
In a forest system, soil is teeming with micro-organisms and therefore their is no necessity of any external input.
However, in our modern farms these nutrients (in acceptable format) are not available because the micro-organisms who convert these non-available nutrients are destroyed by poisonous chemical fertilizers, insecticides, fungicides, herbicides etc. It’s like if you don’t cook at home, you have to get your dinner from a restaurant. When soil’s innate capacity to generate nutrients is impaired, we have to add artificial nutrients from outside.
If we want to avoid unhealthy restaurant food, we have to establish home cooking. Same way if we have to facilitate generation of nutrients within farm soil, then there will be no necessity of adding fertilizers externally.
How can we re-establish these micro-organisms in the soil? This is done by applying the cow dung of local cow. The cow dung of the local cow is a miraculous culture. As we add a spoonful of curd (culture) to a pot of milk , likewise the local cow dung is a culture for the whole field. One gram of cow dung contains about 3000 to 5000 million beneficial microbes.
How much cow dung is needed for one acre of land? Subash Palekar researched this subject for six years. He studied all Indian cow breeds like Gaulao, Lal Kandhari, Khilar, Deoni, Dangi, Nimari from Maharashtra; Gir, Tharparkar, Sahiwal, Redsindhi from West India; Amrutmahal, Krishna kathi from South India and Hariyana from North India. He tested the dung and urine of all these breeds on every crop, in each moon phase and constellation.
His first conclusion was that only dung from traditional local cows is effective, not from Holstein-Friesian breeds. We can mix half cow dung and half the dung of bullock or buffalo, but not of Jersey or Holstein at any cost.
Secondly, the cow dung and urine of black colored Kapila cow is most effective. Thirdly, the cow dung should be used as fresh as possible and the urine as old as possible. Fourthly, only one cow is needed for thirty acres of land. Farmer need not use any compost, vermi-compost for farmyard manure.
For one acre land, only ten kilogram of local cow dung is sufficient per month. One local cow gives on an average about 11 Kg of cow dung, one bullock about 13 Kg of dung and one buffalo about 15 Kg dung per day. For one acre one day’s cow dung is enough. That means thirty days cow dung for thirty acres.
You can not imagine a forest without its fauna. To continually regenerate itself, a forest needs the excreta of the animals, birds, earthworms and insects. These inputs are necessary in any self-developing, self-nourishing system. That means the use of cow dung and urine is very natural and hence scientific.
Similar principal applies to this system of farming. Micro-organisms present in cow dung decompose the dried biomass in the soil and make the nutrients available to the plants. There is complete symbiosis in the nature. Jaggery is added in the mix to facilitate biological reaction.
The cow that gives more milk, its dung and urine are less effective and the cow that gives less milk, its dung and urine are more effective. (Subash Palekar)
His first conclusion was that only dung from traditional local cows is effective, not from Holstein-Friesian breeds. We can mix half cow dung and half the dung of bullock or buffalo, but not of Jersey or Holstein at any cost.
Secondly, the cow dung and urine of black colored Kapila cow is most effective. Thirdly, the cow dung should be used as fresh as possible and the urine as old as possible. Fourthly, only one cow is needed for thirty acres of land. Farmer need not use any compost, vermi-compost for farmyard manure.
For one acre land, only ten kilogram of local cow dung is sufficient per month. One local cow gives on an average about 11 Kg of cow dung, one bullock about 13 Kg of dung and one buffalo about 15 Kg dung per day. For one acre one day’s cow dung is enough. That means thirty days cow dung for thirty acres.
You can not imagine a forest without its fauna. To continually regenerate itself, a forest needs the excreta of the animals, birds, earthworms and insects. These inputs are necessary in any self-developing, self-nourishing system. That means the use of cow dung and urine is very natural and hence scientific.
Similar principal applies to this system of farming. Micro-organisms present in cow dung decompose the dried biomass in the soil and make the nutrients available to the plants. There is complete symbiosis in the nature. Jaggery is added in the mix to facilitate biological reaction.
The cow that gives more milk, its dung and urine are less effective and the cow that gives less milk, its dung and urine are more effective. (Subash Palekar)
Zero Budget Farming Preparations
Seed Treatment with Beejamrita
Composition:
a) Water 20 litres
b) Desi cow dung 5 kg
c) Desi cow urine 5 Litres
d) One handful of soil from the surface of field
e) Lime 50 grams
The above mixture termed as ‘Beejamrita’ can be used to treat seeds, seedlings or any planting material. The planting material has to be simply dipped in ‘Beejamrita, taken out and planted. Beejamrita protects the crop from harmful soil borne and seed borne pathogens during the initial stages of germination and establishment.
Jeevamritam
Composition:
1) Water 200 litres
2) Desi cow dung 10 kg
3) Desi cow urine 5 to 10 litres
4) Jaggery 2 kg
5) Flour of any pulse 2 kg
6) Handful of soil from farm or forest -
The above mixture will suffice for one time application on one acre crop. ‘Jeevamritam’ is to be provided once in a fortnight or at least once in a month. It promotes immense biological activity in the soil and makes the nutrients available to the crop. Jeevamritam is not to be considered as nutrient for the crop but only a catalytic agent to promote biological activity in the soil.
Mulching
Mulching with organic residues or live mulching reduces tillage and consequently labour requirements, suppresses weeds, promotes humus formation and enhances the water holding capacity of the soil. Mulching enhances the biological activity and replenishes the nutrient base of the soil. Adequate mulching keeps the top and sub soil moist and enhances the water holding capacity of the soil and also reduces water loss due to evaporation so that the crop will be better equipped to tide over drought conditions.
Plant Protection
In the event of outbreak of insects and diseases the farmer can himself prepare home made pesticides and use it on the crops.
Fungicide-I
a) Butter milk fermented for five days 5 litres
b) Water 50 litres
Fungicide –II
a) Desi cow milk 5 litres
b) Black Pepper Powder 200 grams
c) Water 200 litres Insecticide- I
a) Powder of neem seed or Neem leaves 20 kg
b) Water 200 litres
Insecticide- II
a) Cow dung 5 kg
b) Cow urine 10 litres
c) Neem leaves 10 kg
d) Water 200 litres
This mixture is particularly effective against aphids, jassids, mealy bugs and white flies.
Insecticide – III
a) Neem leaves 10 kg
b) Tobacco powder 3 kg
c) Garlic paste 3 kg
d) Green chillies paste 4 kg
The above ingredients should be soaked in cow urine for ten days. About 3 litres of this mixture can be mixed with 100 litres of water and sprayed on crops.
The above mentioned fungicides and insecticides can be prepared by the farmer himself and used either as prophylactic or as curative measure for control of crop pests. If the economic injury to crops due to pests is less than five percent, it should be deemed to be ‘return to nature’ and no plant protection measures should be taken.
Mixed Cropping and Crop Rotation
Zero Budget Natural Farming advocates cultivation of diverse species of crops depending on site specific agro climatic conditions. Mixed cropping provides buffer against total failure of single crop and also widens the income source of farmers. There is stress on inclusion of leguminous crops to ensure replenishment of soil fertility. Crop rotation is also emphasized to discourage build up of endemic pests. In the scheme of mixed cropping, cereals, millets, leguminous crops, horticulture crops particularly vegetables and even medicinal plants can be included to make farming more lucrative.
The system also advocates wider spacing of crops to facilitate inter cropping. Palekar has repeatedly stressed that just as diversity is the rule of nature, the farm should also have diverse species.
Composition:
a) Water 20 litres
b) Desi cow dung 5 kg
c) Desi cow urine 5 Litres
d) One handful of soil from the surface of field
e) Lime 50 grams
The above mixture termed as ‘Beejamrita’ can be used to treat seeds, seedlings or any planting material. The planting material has to be simply dipped in ‘Beejamrita, taken out and planted. Beejamrita protects the crop from harmful soil borne and seed borne pathogens during the initial stages of germination and establishment.
Jeevamritam
Composition:
1) Water 200 litres
2) Desi cow dung 10 kg
3) Desi cow urine 5 to 10 litres
4) Jaggery 2 kg
5) Flour of any pulse 2 kg
6) Handful of soil from farm or forest -
The above mixture will suffice for one time application on one acre crop. ‘Jeevamritam’ is to be provided once in a fortnight or at least once in a month. It promotes immense biological activity in the soil and makes the nutrients available to the crop. Jeevamritam is not to be considered as nutrient for the crop but only a catalytic agent to promote biological activity in the soil.
Mulching
Mulching with organic residues or live mulching reduces tillage and consequently labour requirements, suppresses weeds, promotes humus formation and enhances the water holding capacity of the soil. Mulching enhances the biological activity and replenishes the nutrient base of the soil. Adequate mulching keeps the top and sub soil moist and enhances the water holding capacity of the soil and also reduces water loss due to evaporation so that the crop will be better equipped to tide over drought conditions.
Plant Protection
In the event of outbreak of insects and diseases the farmer can himself prepare home made pesticides and use it on the crops.
Fungicide-I
a) Butter milk fermented for five days 5 litres
b) Water 50 litres
Fungicide –II
a) Desi cow milk 5 litres
b) Black Pepper Powder 200 grams
c) Water 200 litres Insecticide- I
a) Powder of neem seed or Neem leaves 20 kg
b) Water 200 litres
Insecticide- II
a) Cow dung 5 kg
b) Cow urine 10 litres
c) Neem leaves 10 kg
d) Water 200 litres
This mixture is particularly effective against aphids, jassids, mealy bugs and white flies.
Insecticide – III
a) Neem leaves 10 kg
b) Tobacco powder 3 kg
c) Garlic paste 3 kg
d) Green chillies paste 4 kg
The above ingredients should be soaked in cow urine for ten days. About 3 litres of this mixture can be mixed with 100 litres of water and sprayed on crops.
The above mentioned fungicides and insecticides can be prepared by the farmer himself and used either as prophylactic or as curative measure for control of crop pests. If the economic injury to crops due to pests is less than five percent, it should be deemed to be ‘return to nature’ and no plant protection measures should be taken.
Mixed Cropping and Crop Rotation
Zero Budget Natural Farming advocates cultivation of diverse species of crops depending on site specific agro climatic conditions. Mixed cropping provides buffer against total failure of single crop and also widens the income source of farmers. There is stress on inclusion of leguminous crops to ensure replenishment of soil fertility. Crop rotation is also emphasized to discourage build up of endemic pests. In the scheme of mixed cropping, cereals, millets, leguminous crops, horticulture crops particularly vegetables and even medicinal plants can be included to make farming more lucrative.
The system also advocates wider spacing of crops to facilitate inter cropping. Palekar has repeatedly stressed that just as diversity is the rule of nature, the farm should also have diverse species.
Observations And Inferences
By R.Yogananda Babu
Visit to fields where Palekar’s Zero Budget Natural Farming has been adopted and interaction with farmers whose profiles have been collected, revealed that all of them were raising crops using modern technology of improved seeds, fertilizers and plant protection chemicals before adopting this new method. They found the old method to be very cost intensive and by their own estimates the cost of cultivation of one acre of paddy was Rs.5000/- to Rs. 6000/- and that of sugarcane Rs. 15000/- to Rs. 20000/-.
Similarly the cost of cultivation of one acre of banana was Rs. 25,000/- to 30,000/-. This often compelled them to raise loan from conventional and institutional sources. However, the returns were not commensurate with the investments made for raising crops. The produce from field crops generally met the requirements of the family and the marketable surplus was not sufficient to repay the loan. Market forces were also some times detrimental to the interests of the farmers resulting in low price realization. It was evident from interaction with the selected farmers that they practiced a form of subsistence farming.
In this bleak scenario all the farmers selected for study attended orientation courses conducted by Subhash Palekar at different places of Karnataka. They were convinced that zero budget natural farming is farmer friendly, eco-friendly and above all extremely cost effective. These reasons were cogent enough for them to give this method a fair trial and hence they switched over to this new method. The experience of the practicing farmers and field observations over a period of time lends credence to the following conclusions.
a) The system of zero budget natural farming is eminently suited to the farmers, particularly small and marginal farmers because of its simplicity, adoptability and drastic cut in cost of cultivation of crops. The appeal to the farming community lies in the fact that maintaining optimum levels of production and keeping the cost of cultivation to the bare minimum will substantially enlarge the profit margin.
All the sample farmers acknowledged it as farmer friendly and financially viable. However during the initial period of transition to new system, the results may not be encouraging because of the lingering effects of chemical farming. The results will become evident only after adequate mulching and restoration of biological activity in the soil. Hence, patience and perseverance are required on the part of farmers.
b) Treatment with Beejamrita and Jeevamrita has given extremely encouraging results for successful cultivation of crops. Beejamrita does provide adequate protection to crops from insects and diseases during the initial stages of germination and establishment. Mortality in case of treated crop is reported to be almost negligible.
The experience of the farmers bears ample testimony to the fact that Jeevamrita promotes rapid and enormous biological activity in the soil. However, it should be coupled with adequate mulching so that the soil is transformed into humus rich reservoir of nutrients. It is also observed that providing Jeevamrita once in a fortnight is better than providing it once in a month. It has been the experience of farmers that dispensing with the use of fertilizers has not adversely affected crop yields. The use of home made pesticides has also been found to be effective in managing the crop pests without economic injury to crops.
c) Experience with this method of farming corroborates the fact that adequate mulching promotes humus formation, suppresses weeds and greatly reduces the water requirement of the crops. Live mulching particularly with leguminous crops has been found to be not only a subsidiary source of income but also a safeguard against depletion of nutrients by crops.
d) Mixed cropping particularly with short duration legumes, vegetables and even medicinal plants has certainly expanded the income source of farmers.
Vegetables rich in vitamins and minerals are generally marketed after adequately providing for home consumption and this certainly augurs well for overcoming malnutrition which is widespread in rural areas. Mr. Bannur Krishnappa obtained an additional income of more than Rs. 15,000/- by planting Ashwagandha and Coleus in one acre as intercrop with sugarcane.
e) All the farmers selected for study have expressed satisfaction that switching over to the new method from chemical agriculture has paid them good dividends.
Savings on cost of seeds, fertilizers and plant protection chemicals has been substantial. Almost all the farmers have stopped borrowing crop loan. They are also not depending on hired labour as the family labour is sufficient to carry out all the farming operations. The yields have been optimal with possibly no decline in future, because of continuous incorporation of organic residues and replenishment of soil fertility. The new system of farming has freed the farmers from the debt trap and it has instilled in them a renewed sense of confidence to make farming an economically viable venture. This is a noteworthy feature in an era marked with farmers committing suicide across the country.
Following reports on the success of zero budget farming were published in India’s national newspapers.
Similarly the cost of cultivation of one acre of banana was Rs. 25,000/- to 30,000/-. This often compelled them to raise loan from conventional and institutional sources. However, the returns were not commensurate with the investments made for raising crops. The produce from field crops generally met the requirements of the family and the marketable surplus was not sufficient to repay the loan. Market forces were also some times detrimental to the interests of the farmers resulting in low price realization. It was evident from interaction with the selected farmers that they practiced a form of subsistence farming.
In this bleak scenario all the farmers selected for study attended orientation courses conducted by Subhash Palekar at different places of Karnataka. They were convinced that zero budget natural farming is farmer friendly, eco-friendly and above all extremely cost effective. These reasons were cogent enough for them to give this method a fair trial and hence they switched over to this new method. The experience of the practicing farmers and field observations over a period of time lends credence to the following conclusions.
a) The system of zero budget natural farming is eminently suited to the farmers, particularly small and marginal farmers because of its simplicity, adoptability and drastic cut in cost of cultivation of crops. The appeal to the farming community lies in the fact that maintaining optimum levels of production and keeping the cost of cultivation to the bare minimum will substantially enlarge the profit margin.
All the sample farmers acknowledged it as farmer friendly and financially viable. However during the initial period of transition to new system, the results may not be encouraging because of the lingering effects of chemical farming. The results will become evident only after adequate mulching and restoration of biological activity in the soil. Hence, patience and perseverance are required on the part of farmers.
b) Treatment with Beejamrita and Jeevamrita has given extremely encouraging results for successful cultivation of crops. Beejamrita does provide adequate protection to crops from insects and diseases during the initial stages of germination and establishment. Mortality in case of treated crop is reported to be almost negligible.
The experience of the farmers bears ample testimony to the fact that Jeevamrita promotes rapid and enormous biological activity in the soil. However, it should be coupled with adequate mulching so that the soil is transformed into humus rich reservoir of nutrients. It is also observed that providing Jeevamrita once in a fortnight is better than providing it once in a month. It has been the experience of farmers that dispensing with the use of fertilizers has not adversely affected crop yields. The use of home made pesticides has also been found to be effective in managing the crop pests without economic injury to crops.
c) Experience with this method of farming corroborates the fact that adequate mulching promotes humus formation, suppresses weeds and greatly reduces the water requirement of the crops. Live mulching particularly with leguminous crops has been found to be not only a subsidiary source of income but also a safeguard against depletion of nutrients by crops.
d) Mixed cropping particularly with short duration legumes, vegetables and even medicinal plants has certainly expanded the income source of farmers.
Vegetables rich in vitamins and minerals are generally marketed after adequately providing for home consumption and this certainly augurs well for overcoming malnutrition which is widespread in rural areas. Mr. Bannur Krishnappa obtained an additional income of more than Rs. 15,000/- by planting Ashwagandha and Coleus in one acre as intercrop with sugarcane.
e) All the farmers selected for study have expressed satisfaction that switching over to the new method from chemical agriculture has paid them good dividends.
Savings on cost of seeds, fertilizers and plant protection chemicals has been substantial. Almost all the farmers have stopped borrowing crop loan. They are also not depending on hired labour as the family labour is sufficient to carry out all the farming operations. The yields have been optimal with possibly no decline in future, because of continuous incorporation of organic residues and replenishment of soil fertility. The new system of farming has freed the farmers from the debt trap and it has instilled in them a renewed sense of confidence to make farming an economically viable venture. This is a noteworthy feature in an era marked with farmers committing suicide across the country.
Following reports on the success of zero budget farming were published in India’s national newspapers.
Zero Budget Farming A Success
The Hindu, April 30, 2010
For A.C. Joshykumar of Muttukad in Bison Valley grama panchayat employing zero budget natural farming methods in his seven-acre multi-crops land has proved successful with considerable increase in yield.
Joshykumar is one of around 45 farmers in the district who have already shifted to zero budget farming, devised by Subhash Palekar of Amaravathy in Maharashtra.
Mr. Joshykumar said he could easily shift to zero budget farming since he had always practised organic farming methods. He said that full dedication and keen efforts were needed to shift to zero budget farming .
Joshykumar is one of around 45 farmers in the district who have already shifted to zero budget farming, devised by Subhash Palekar of Amaravathy in Maharashtra.
Mr. Joshykumar said he could easily shift to zero budget farming since he had always practised organic farming methods. He said that full dedication and keen efforts were needed to shift to zero budget farming .
“Modern agriculture is the use of land to convert petroleum into food. Without Petroleum we will not be able to feed the global population.”
-Professor Albert Bartlett
Zero budget farming proposes that only a single cow is needed to cultivate 30 acres of land. It employs scientific methods to rejuvenate the micro organisms in the soil with the help of earthworms. Fertilizers or pesticides are not used in the method. The focus of the cultivation is through the activation of micro organisms in the soil.
Mr. Joshyjkumar said that his main cultivation, pepper, is completely resisting pest attack even though he was not using any pesticides and production has increased considerably. He bought an indigenous variety of cow- Jaboo - from Kasargod when he shifted to this farming method.
Cow dung is the main component used for revitalising soil with the help of dried plants, which is used to cover the ground around the cultivated plants.
Besides pepper, he also cultivates vegetables, nutmeg and clove. “An exporting agent from Marayur who markets organic produce bought clove from me at Rs.400 a kg when the market price was Rs.310,'' he said.
Another farmer, Sunny Kudankavil of Panamkutty said he got an yield of 400 kg from 5 kg of ginger rizhome since he shifted to zero budget farming. “If you follow the guidelines suggested by Mr. Palekar, you will get the result,'' Mr. Kudankavil, who had attended a three-day workshop organised by Mr. Palekar said.
Though the Kerala Agriculture Development Society procures organic produce at 10 to 30 percent higher price, lack of a regular procurement scheme for organic produce is one problem faced by farmers, he said.
Jose Ammencheri, a cardamom farmer in Vandanmedu, said yield had not fallen when he shifted his 14-acre plantation to the new farming method. “There will not be a sudden increase in yield, but it sustains. Also, organic pest control methods are used,” he said. Cardamom plantation is known for its high usage of pesticides.
V.C. Devasia said his cocoa plants and rubber plantation have shown higher yield since he shifted to zero budget farming three years ago.
Shaji Thundathil, who is co-ordinating the farmers engaged in zero budget farming, said that thousands of farmers were keen to shift to the farming method. He said that 300 acres of fallow grass land in Muttukadu would be cultivated using zero budget farming methods jointly by farmers, who have found success employing the method.
Mr. Joshyjkumar said that his main cultivation, pepper, is completely resisting pest attack even though he was not using any pesticides and production has increased considerably. He bought an indigenous variety of cow- Jaboo - from Kasargod when he shifted to this farming method.
Cow dung is the main component used for revitalising soil with the help of dried plants, which is used to cover the ground around the cultivated plants.
Besides pepper, he also cultivates vegetables, nutmeg and clove. “An exporting agent from Marayur who markets organic produce bought clove from me at Rs.400 a kg when the market price was Rs.310,'' he said.
Another farmer, Sunny Kudankavil of Panamkutty said he got an yield of 400 kg from 5 kg of ginger rizhome since he shifted to zero budget farming. “If you follow the guidelines suggested by Mr. Palekar, you will get the result,'' Mr. Kudankavil, who had attended a three-day workshop organised by Mr. Palekar said.
Though the Kerala Agriculture Development Society procures organic produce at 10 to 30 percent higher price, lack of a regular procurement scheme for organic produce is one problem faced by farmers, he said.
Jose Ammencheri, a cardamom farmer in Vandanmedu, said yield had not fallen when he shifted his 14-acre plantation to the new farming method. “There will not be a sudden increase in yield, but it sustains. Also, organic pest control methods are used,” he said. Cardamom plantation is known for its high usage of pesticides.
V.C. Devasia said his cocoa plants and rubber plantation have shown higher yield since he shifted to zero budget farming three years ago.
Shaji Thundathil, who is co-ordinating the farmers engaged in zero budget farming, said that thousands of farmers were keen to shift to the farming method. He said that 300 acres of fallow grass land in Muttukadu would be cultivated using zero budget farming methods jointly by farmers, who have found success employing the method.
Zero-Budget Farming In Vithura, Kerala
The Hindu, Thiruvananthapuram, May 31, 2013
Farming is no ‘hobby’ for Abu Dhabi-based businessman Rohini Vijayan Nair from Vithura. Realising that the rooftop garden at his flat in Abu Dhabi is just too small for his experiments, this agri-enthusiast has now taken up farming in 100 acres of land at his hometown here.
“I needed to do a little more than terrace cultivation and thus took to farming in 100 acres of rubber plantation last year,” says Mr. Nair, who manages to juggle farming in Kerala and business abroad.
Thanks to his effort and willingness to take up farming amidst his busy schedule, the land is now full of medicinal and indigenous plants, tropical trees, and various fruit trees along with rubber trees. He has also taken up banana and cashew cultivation.
But unlike other farmers, this man wanted to make sure that his farming techniques did not, in anyway, affect the natural pattern of the soil and land. The search for a suitable farming method finally ended with the zero-budget natural farming advocated by noted agricultural scientist Subhash Palekar.
“The method involves using locally obtainable natural bio-degradable materials and traditional techniques to improve fertility. Though it is not ‘zero-budget’ here as many other factors such as the State’s climate and the labour cost have to be taken into account, it is a highly successful model,” Mr. Nair says.
Test Farm
And for those who need proof of how beneficial and environment-friendly the method is, Mr. Nair has a test farm. In three sections of this land, he has been using bio-fertilisers, chemical fertilisers, and ‘Jeevamritam’ (fertilizer used for zero-budget farming), separately.
“When visitors ask me how nature-friendly the technique is, I want to show them the results of the three types of farming, their pros and cons. When they see the test farm and the produce, they themselves will understand how profitable budget farming is,” Mr. Nair says. He has now joined hands with the Krishi Bhavan and has dedicated 25 acres of his land for vegetable cultivation, expecting to reap the harvest during Onam.
His date with farming does not end here. He takes classes for school children and organises field trips to his farm for them.
He says that many people have land but are not willing to cultivate. “But the younger generation is willing to listen and if we inculcate an interest in them, may be we can bring back what we have lost,” Mr. Nair says.
“I needed to do a little more than terrace cultivation and thus took to farming in 100 acres of rubber plantation last year,” says Mr. Nair, who manages to juggle farming in Kerala and business abroad.
Thanks to his effort and willingness to take up farming amidst his busy schedule, the land is now full of medicinal and indigenous plants, tropical trees, and various fruit trees along with rubber trees. He has also taken up banana and cashew cultivation.
But unlike other farmers, this man wanted to make sure that his farming techniques did not, in anyway, affect the natural pattern of the soil and land. The search for a suitable farming method finally ended with the zero-budget natural farming advocated by noted agricultural scientist Subhash Palekar.
“The method involves using locally obtainable natural bio-degradable materials and traditional techniques to improve fertility. Though it is not ‘zero-budget’ here as many other factors such as the State’s climate and the labour cost have to be taken into account, it is a highly successful model,” Mr. Nair says.
Test Farm
And for those who need proof of how beneficial and environment-friendly the method is, Mr. Nair has a test farm. In three sections of this land, he has been using bio-fertilisers, chemical fertilisers, and ‘Jeevamritam’ (fertilizer used for zero-budget farming), separately.
“When visitors ask me how nature-friendly the technique is, I want to show them the results of the three types of farming, their pros and cons. When they see the test farm and the produce, they themselves will understand how profitable budget farming is,” Mr. Nair says. He has now joined hands with the Krishi Bhavan and has dedicated 25 acres of his land for vegetable cultivation, expecting to reap the harvest during Onam.
His date with farming does not end here. He takes classes for school children and organises field trips to his farm for them.
He says that many people have land but are not willing to cultivate. “But the younger generation is willing to listen and if we inculcate an interest in them, may be we can bring back what we have lost,” Mr. Nair says.
India’s civilization was based on village residence. They would live very peacefully in the villages. In the evening there would be bhagavatakatha. They will hear. That was Indian culture. They had no artificial way of living, drinking tea, and meat-eating and wine and illicit sex. No. Everyone was religious and satisfied by hearing -- what we are just introducing -- Bhagavatam, Bhagavad-gita, Puranas, and live simple life, keeping cows, village life as it is exhibited by Krsna in Vrndavana.
-Srila Prabhupada (Morning Walk -- Durban, October 13, 1975)
