To enhance consumer confidence and increase farmer earnings, the central government is expected to launch a nationwide Natural Farming Certification System (NFCS)
What is Organic Agriculture?
Natural Farming is a farming method devoid of chemicals, grounded in Indian tradition and enhanced by contemporary insights into ecology, resource recycling, and optimization of on-farm resources.
Essential Characteristics of Natural Farming
Zero Budget Natural Farming (ZBNF): A widely advocated method by Subhash Palekar, designed to significantly lower input expenses.
Key practices:
Beejamrit: Eco-friendly seed treatment.
Jeevamrit: Inoculating soil with fermented cow manure and urine.
Mulching and Waaphasa: Soil aeration and moisture preservation.
Minimal input, enhanced sustainability: Decreases reliance on purchased market inputs.
Advantages of Natural Farming
Reduced Input Expenses: Nature-based agriculture uses fewer outside inputs such as synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, potentially lowering total production expenses for farmers.
Promotes Improved Health: Since Natural Farming avoids synthetic chemicals, health risks and dangers are removed.
The food contains more nutritional density and thus provides greater health advantages.
Environment Protection: Natural Farming promotes enhanced soil biology, greater agro-biodiversity, and a more efficient use of water while significantly reducing carbon and nitrogen footprints.
Sustainable Farming Techniques: By steering clear of excessive chemical fertilizers and pesticides, organic farming fosters a more sustainable and regenerative method of agriculture.
Why is Certification Required?
Trust Development: It aids consumers in identifying authentic natural agricultural products.
Market Access: It allows farmers to obtain higher prices and access specialized markets (both local and global).
Standardization: It creates consistency in natural farming methods.
Oversight and Responsibility: It guarantees traceability and quality assurance.
Obstacles in Expanding Natural Farming
Initial Yield Decrease: As farmers shifted from conventional to natural farming, many observed a short-term drop in crop production.
Restricted Scientific Support: While natural farming is advocated as ecologically sustainable, substantial large-scale, long-term research confirming its productivity, resilience, and scalability across various agro-climatic zones is scarce.
Insufficient Institutional Assistance: Collaboration among agricultural departments, research organizations, and rural institutions is lacking.
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