Zero budget farming is the best method of chemical-free farming drawing from conventional Indian methods. ZBNF reduces farming expenses and promotes the use of natural fertilizers and local seeds.

1. ZERO BUDGET
NATURAL
FARMING

2. What is Zero Budget Natural
Farming – Advantages &
Features
India comes under the top countries in cultivating
and development. Agriculture is the backbone of the
Indian economy.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman emphasized
zero budget farming in the 17th Lok Sabha’s first
speech in July 2019. That was the time, Zero Budget
Farming came into the spotlight. Several states,
Andhra Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh, have been
attracted to this farming technique.

3. What is Zero Budget
Natural Farming?
Zero budget farming is a cultivating method for the
natural development of yields without using substance
composts. It is a unique chemical-free method that
involves agro-ecology. For the zero-net expenditure of
manufacturing, yields are known as the term zero
budget.
It uses biological pesticides. To crop protection,
farmers can use cow dung, urine, human excreta,
plants, natural fertilizers, and earthworms. It protects
the soil from degradation and decreases the farmer’s
investment.

4. Top 4 Pillars of Zero Budget
Natural Farming
Below we are showing the top 4 pillars
which provide support to the zero budget
natural farming.
Have a look.

5. 1. Jeevamrutha
Jeevamrutha is the first and important pillar of zero budget
farming. It is a blend of aged cow urine and fresh cow dung
from India’s indigenous jaggery, water, pulse flour, soil, and
cow breed. This mixture is one type of natural fertilizer
which applied to farmland.
2. Bijamrita
Bijamrita is the second pillar of zero budget farming. It is a
blend of tobacco, green chilies, and neem leaf pulp, used
for insects and pest control. It’s used to treat seeds, and it
provides natural protection to seeds.

6. 3. Acchadana (Mulching)
It helps to maintain soil moisture content. This
pillar helps to protect the cover of soil cultivation
and does not ruin it by tilling.
4. Whapasa
Whapasa is a condition where water molecules
and air molecules are present in the soil. It helps to
reduce the extra irrigation requirement.
These are the basic and essential pillars of zero
budget farming.

7. Why is ZBNF Necessary?
From the (NSSO) National Sample Survey Office data,
70% plus of farmers spend more they earn, and most
farmers have debt. The indebtedness level is around 90%
in states like Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, where each
household has an average debt of Rs 1 lakh.
To achieve the promise of the central government to
double the income of farmers by 2022, one factor being
considered is natural farming methods zero budget
natural farming.

8. Why is ZBNF Important?
1. Farmers depend on loans.
2. The economic survey has highlighted the
ecological benefits.
3. Cost of farming inputs is rapidly
increasing.
4. The number of farmer’s suicide cases is
growing continuously.
5. The demand for safe food increased
among customers.
6. Unstable market price.

9. Institutions that Supports ZBNF
Below are the organizations that supported
zero budget natural farming in India.
● Isha sadhguru foundation
● The art of living foundation
● Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha
● Sony India private limited

10. Government Schemes and
Plans for ZBNF
● India’s Legislature is advancing natural
farming in the nation from 2015-16 through
the traditional agricultural development
plan’s committed schemes and the National
Agricultural Development Plan.
● In 2018, Andhra Pradesh started a
plan to become the first state in India
to practice 100% natural farming by
2024. It aims to carry out chemical
farming on 80 lakh hectares of land by
converting 60 lakh farmers of the
state into ZBNF methods.

11. Features of Zero Budget
Natural Farming
According to zero budget natural farming principles,
crops get 98% of their supply of nutrients from the
water, sunlight, and air. And the remaining 2% can be
fulfilled by good quality with lots of favorable
microorganisms.
● Soil microclimate – The soil always covers
an organic mulch, which forms humus and
encourages good microorganisms.
● Cow – The farming system requires cow
urine and cow dung obtained by only Indian
breed cows.

12. Advantages of Zero Budget
Natural Farming
● Zero budget natural farming reduces the initial
cost of farmers.
● Farmer’s income automatically increases.
● The soil ecosystem improves.
● Cow dung adds soil value. It is full of nutrients
value and available locally.
● Bacteria of cow dung decompose the organic
matter in soil and make soil for the plants.
● It required less electricity and water.
● ZBNF improves the productivity of the soil.
● It decreases the disease attack risk on the
crop.
● In Zero Budget Farming we use utilizing less
chemical fertilizer, farming production quality
improves.

13. Disadvantages of Zero Budget
Natural Farming
● This farming method used in some parts of
India.
● The type of farming being debated, and there
is not much scientific research under
evaluation.
● It is highly sustainable farming.
● This farming technique used in negligible
areas.

14. Implementing States of Zero
Budget Natural Farming
● Haryana – 80 acres in Gurukul, Kurukshetra
● Punjab – 1000 acres
● Karnataka – 10 Agro climate zones
● Andhra Pradesh – 5.01 lakh acres
● Himachal Pradesh – Across the state

15. Zero Budget Natural Farming V/S Organic Farming
1.
2.
3.
Zero Budget Natural Farming(ZBNF) Organic Farming
No external fertilizers are used in ZBNF.
There is no tilling and no mixing. It requires
natural ecosystems.
It is low-cost farming due to the local
biodiversity.
Organic fertilizers such as compost,
cow dung, and vermicompost are used
in organic farming.
It requires basic agro methods like
tilling, plowing, mixing, etc.
It is expensive due to the need for bulk
manures.
S/N

16. Unique Points of Zero Budget
Natural Farming
● Sustainable growth.
● Cost-free Farming.
● Chemical-free food.
● It consumes the least electricity and the
least water.
● No extra labor required.
● Saves farmer’s life from suicide cases.

17. How Did Zero Budget Farming
Start In India?
The Green Revolution started to ruin livelihoods and
lands, few farmers started their research to return to
alternative systems. One of them was a Maharashtrian
agriculturist, and Padma Shri Subhash Palekar developed
it in the mid-1990s as a green resolution’s methods
alternative, which was driven by chemical, intensive
irrigation, and pesticides.
Mr. Subhash Palekar argued that the rising cost of
external inputs is the main cause of suicide and
indebtedness among farmers. The impact of chemicals
on long-term fertility and the environment is devastating.
He met with the Japanese philosopher Fukuoka. They
both came with techniques of natural farming. They
promoted the technique of natural farming widely in
Karnataka as zero budget natural farming.

18. Zero Budget Natural Farming
Success Stories
● The first success story of ZBNF is Mr. Annadurai
from Musiri Trichy, Tamilnadu, a paddy farmer. He
practices ZBNF on 2 acres of land, and he gets a
good share of yield per acre. he gained the
confidence to spread it 10 acres.
● The success story of ZBNF is Mr. Kudankavil, who
lives in Idukki. He practiced ZBNF in their field. And
he got a high yield and better price. Mr. Kudankavil
says if you follow Mr. Palekar’s guidelines, you will
get the best results.
● Mr. T Suryanarayana from East Godavari district. He
is a ZBNF farmer who cultivates paddy and oil palm.
He got a good yield of oil palm and paddy.
● In this way, zero budget natural farming is an
excellent farming technique for Indian farmers for
farming with high productivity at a low cost. We
hope you enjoy this blog and delight in it.

19. THANK YOU