[Link].

Sci (2019) 8(12): 869-873

International Journal of Current Microbiology and Applied Sciences

ISSN: 2319-7706 Volume 8 Number 12 (2019)
Journal homepage: [Link]

Review Article [Link]

Zero Budget Natural Farming in India- A Review

Davinder Pal Singh Badwal1, Mandeep Kumar2*, Harjinder Singh3,

Simran1 and Sandeep Kaur1

1
Department of Agriculture Sciences, Sant Baba Bhag Singh University,
Khiala, Jalandhar, Punjab, India
2
Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, Lovely Professional University,
Phagwara, Punjab, India
3
Department of Agriculture, Government College, Hoshiarpur, Punjab, India

*Corresponding author

ABSTRACT

Using conventional techniques in agriculture is not good for our soil and
Keywords health as well. It makes soil barren as well as farmer goes under debt.
Zero budget,
Hence, the only approach to deal with this ever rising problem is zero
Farming, budget natural farming (ZBNF). The word „budget‟ refers to credit and
Conventional, expenses, thus the phrase „zero budget‟ means without using any credit and
Pesticides and
fertilizers
without spending any money on purchased inputs. „Natural farming‟ means
farming without using the chemicals. Subhash Palekar, the explorer of
Article Info ZBNF, introduces many principles and methods of ZBNF. Zero Budget
Accepted: Farmers use natural pesticides and fertilizers. The principal methods of
10 November 2019 ZBNF include crop rotation, green manures and compost, biological pest
Available Online:
10 December 2019 control. There are 4 pillars of ZBNF i.e. Jivamrita, Bijamrita, Acchhadana
and Whappasa.

Introduction production costs, high interest rate of credit,

the volatile market price of crops, the rising
The neoliberalization of the Indian economy costs of fuel based inputs and private seeds.
led to a deep agrarian crisis that is making More than a quarter of million farmers have
small scale farming an unviable vocation. committed suicides due to debt. It is a problem
Privatized seeds, inputs, and markets are for farmers across India. This creates a serious
inaccessible and expensive for peasants. problem in the Agriculture industry. The
Indian farmers increasingly find themselves in continuous use of pesticides and chemicals has
a vicious cycle of debt, because of the high severe effects on human health. After

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witnessing the harmful effects of chemical What is zero budget natural farming
farming, newly introduced agriculture
technique among farmers is zero budget The basic “toolkit” of ZBNF methods was put
natural farming (ZBNF), also known as zero together by Palekar. He is from a small village
budget spiritual farming (ZBSF). It has Amravati, Maharashtra, India. He is very
attained wide success in southern India much dedicated towards the betterment of his
especially Karnataka where it was firstly village farm, he experimented and revealed
evolved (Kumar, 2012). Now it is spreading that the continuous use of chemicals effect the
all over India, so rapidly. soil fertility and made the field barren
(Jannoura et al., 2014).
ZBNF is a method of farming where the cost
of growing and harvesting the plants is zero. In 1966-88 Palekar researched on forest
„Zero Budgets‟ farming promises to end a vegetation. After huge efforts in field work, he
reliance on loans and cut production costs, introduced new method of farming as ZBNF.
ending the debt cycle for desperate farmers. After six years of dedicated research, Palekar
The word „Budget‟ refers to credit and revealed that the dung of local Indian cows is
expenses, thus the phrase „Zero Budget‟ effective in re-enrichment of barren soil, Dung
means without using any credit, and without and urine of black coloured Kapila cow is
spending any money on purchased inputs and believed to be phenomenal. To get most out of
without chemicals. cow dung and urine, ensure that dung is as
fresh as possible and that the urine is as stale
This method of farming was introduced by as possible (Pawar et al., 2013). Urine, jiggery
Shri Subhash Palekar, for which he was and dicot flour can be used as additives.
honored with Padma Shri in 2016
(Anonymous, 2016). The lesser milk the cow gives, the more
beneficial its dung towards the reviving of soil
The movement in Karnataka state was born (Babu, 2008). An acre of land requires 10 kg
out of collaboration between Subash Palekar, of cow dung per month. Since the average
who put together the ZBNF practices, and the cow gives 11 kg of dung a day, dung from one
state farmer association Karnataka Rajya cow can help fertilize 30 acres of land per
Raitha Sangha (KRRS), member of La via month. “ZBNF is self-nourishing and
Campesina (LVC) (Campesina, 2016). Many symbiotic in nature” (Palekar, 2014).
members of KRRS are also members of ZBNF Privatized seeds, inputs and markets are
movement, which is a broader entity and difficult to get to and expensive for farmers.
includes many other farmers. Still, KRRS was
instrumental in mobilizing farmers at the Indian farmers increasingly found themselves
grassroots level and organized many massive under debt, because of high production costs.
ZBNF training camps with the help of other Under such conditions, ZBNF promises to end
allies. One might say that the organizational a reliance on loans and drastically cuts
fabric of KRRS was like the culture medium production costs, ending the debt cycle for
upon which the ZBNF movement grew. These desperate farmers (Mural, 2016). Palekar has
are the key activities organized by the ZBNF published a series of books-more than 60 in
movement at the state level. ZBNF extends various Indian languages such as, the
well beyond KRRS and include many other philosophy of spiritual faming, five layer
allies and members, but KRRS is a key ally at palekar Models etc, where he explains the
the state level. ZBNF practices in great detail.

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Zero budget natural farming (ZBNF) has increased as 6416 kg/ha in ZBNF as compared
basically four pillars Jivamrita, Bijamrita, to 5816 kg/ha in Non-ZBNF and Cost
Acchadana-Mulching, Whapsa moisture Reduction is reduced up to 5000-15000, so
(Palekar, 2014) which are mentioned in Table Net Additional Income by ZBNF in paddy is
1. Other important principles are up to 14000-25000 kg/ha.
intercropping, contour and bund system, local
species of earthworm. Palekar also gave The benefits of ZBNF are little/no cost, zero
formulae for pest management, Agniastra, chemical usage, use local seeds, less water
Brahmastra, Neemastra which is mentioned in requirement, zero budgets facilitate income
Table 2. Panwar et al., (2013) reported that the throughout the year and reduces risk. It has
application of FYM 5 t/ha + Vermicompost also been mentioned here that ZBNF
2.5 t/ha + Jeevamrita 2 times (30 and 45 DAS) exemplifies agro ecology. A survey carried
to Kharif sweet corn recorded significantly out by LVC suggests that ZBNF works not
higher values for sweet corn cob and green just in agronomic terms, but also brings about
fodder yield. Jannoura et al., (2014) revealed a variety of social and economical benefits. A
that organic fertilizer application improved majority of the respondents reported that by
nodule dry weight, photosynthetic rates, adopting ZBNF, over they saw improvements
Nitrogen fixation as well as N concentration in in yield, soil conservation, seed diversity,
several crops. Ramesh and Rao (2009) also quality of produce, household food autonomy,
reported that soil health could be sustained income, and health.
with organic nutrition due to soil
diversification of soil biota. Rao et al., (2013) The experience of practicing farmers and field
observed that the dynamics of various soil observations over a period of time lends to the
fertility parameters i.e. soil organic carbon, following conclusions. Anon (2013) suggests
available phosphorous, available potassium, that ZBNF works not just in agronomic terms,
all of them were found built up to considerable but also brings about a variety of social and
extent with use of organic manures to maize economic benefits. A majority of respondents
and sunflower. reported that by adopting ZBNF, over time
they saw improvements in yield, soil
Khadse et al., (2017) survey 97 farmers who conservation, seed diversity, quality produce.
are practicing ZBNF and the reasons for Palekar also entitled as “Krishi ka Rishi” by
adoption of ZBNF is family health (54%), many farmers of Mysore. The preliminary
environmental reasons(42%), reduce of cost of success in Andhra Pradesh is encouraging.
production (38%), reduce debt (30%) and
many other reasons. The pest attack reduced The system of ZBNF is eminently suited to
up to 84%, production costs decreased up to farmers particularly small and marginal
91% and need of credit decreased up to 93%. farmers because of its simplicity, adoptability
and drastically reduction of cost of production.
The Government of Andhra Pradesh (GOAP) Treatment of Beejamrutha and Jeevamrutha
has invited Palekar to organize training camps provides adequate protection from pests and
of ZBNF in January 2016 and September diseases during initial stages of germination.
2016. In 2016-17, 48565 farmers have been In conclusion, Savings on cost of seeds,
covered as a target for practice of ZBNF. fertilizers and plant protection chemicals has
GOAP, 2017 reported that Yield of Paddy is been considerable.

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Table.1 Basic Pillars of ZBNF

Sr. Methods Preparration Benefits

No.

1. Jivamrita It is made from cow-dung (20 It provides nutrients, but it also acts a
kg), urine (5-10 l), jaggery catalytic agent which promotes activity
(20kg) and flour (2kg) and is of microorganisms in soil, as well as
applied to crops with each increases earthworm activity. It also
irrigation cycle. helps to prevent from fungal and
bacterial diseases.
2. Bijamrita It is basically made up of water It is a seed treatment, equipped in
(20l), cow dung (5kg), urine protecting young roots from fungus as
(5l), lime (50g) and a handful well as from soil-borne and seed-borne
soil. diseases.
3. Acchadana- It can be done by soil mulch, It conserves soil moisture, by reducing
Mulching straw mulch. evaporation.
4. Whapsa The irrigation should be It is condition where air molecules and
mositure reduced and irrigation should water molecules present in soil.
be practiced at noon in
alternate furrows.

Table.2 Pest Management in ZBNF

Sr. Name of Composition Benefits

No. Pest Mgt.
Formulae

1. Agniastra It composed of 10l local cow urine, 1 kg It is effective against

Tobacco, 500gm of Green Chilli, 500gm of the pests like leaf roller,
Local Garlic, 5kg Neem leaves pulp (crushed in stem borer, fruit borer,
urine). For spraying, 2l Brahmastra is taken in pod borer.
100l water.

2. Brahmastra It is prepared by neem leaves, custard apple It is used to control all

leaves, guava leaves, lantern camellia leaves, of sucking pests, fruit
pomegranate leaves, papaya leaves and white borer, pod borer.
dhatura leaves crushed and boiled in urine.

3. Neemastra It is made up of local cow urine (5l), cow dung It is used for sucking
(5kg) and neem leaves and neem pulp (5kg) pests and mealy bug.
fermented for 24 hrs.

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This system has freed the farmers from the crop yield, and soil microbial biomass
debt trap and instilled in them a renewed sense indices in sole and intercropped peas
of confidence to make farming an and oats under organic farming
economically viable speculation. Palekar‟s conditions. Eur. J Apron. 52(B):259-
Zero Budget Natural Farming has undoubtedly 270.
made an stubborn mark on farming in India. Kumar N, (2012). “Subash Palekar‟s zero
More than 40 lakh farmers across the country budget no-till rice farming”.
have benefitted from this type of farming and La Via Campesina, (2016). Zero Budget
surely this number will increase tremendously Natural Farming in India,
in coming years. [Link]/3/[Link]
Palekar S, (2014).
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Babu RY, (2008). Action Research Report on microbial count of Sweet Corn (Zea
Subhash Palekar‟s “Zero Budget mays Var. Saccharata). Eco. Environ.
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GOAP, (2017). Status Note on Zero Budget Ramesh P, Rao AS, (2009). Organic farming:
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(mimeo), personal communication. Indian Institute of Soil Science Bhopal,
Jannoura R, Joergensen GR, Bruns C, (2014). 74.
Organic fertilizer effects on growth,

How to cite this article:

Davinder Pal Singh Badwal, Mandeep Kumar, Harjinder Singh, Simran and Sandeep Kaur.
2019. Zero Budget Natural Farming in India- A Review. [Link]. 8(12):
869-873. doi: [Link]

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