In kerala also they tried to introduce this farming method which did not
prove well even though got media publicity. In Thrissur the farmers of
kopli farm tried to cultivate through this method which ended up in a
disaster. Now it is alleged it a s campaign by the seed companies who
wants to sell their developed crops.
ZERO BUDGET NATURAL FARMING
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
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 Subhash Palekar). While conventional agriculture
uses synthetic pesticides and water-soluble synthetically purified
fertilizers, zero budget farmers are restricted by regulations to using
natural pesticides and fertilizers. The principal methods of ZBNF
include crop rotation, green manures and compost, biological pest
control, and mechanical cultivation. These measures use the natural
environment to enhance agricultural productivity: legumes are planted
to fix nitrogen into the soil, natural insect predators are encouraged,
crops are rotated to confuse pests and renew soil, and natural
materials such as potassium bicarbonate and mulches are used to
control disease and weeds. Natural farmers are careful in their
selection of plant breeds, and organic researchers produce hardier
plants through plant breeding rather than genetic engineering.
He denies the modern farming and agricultural farming but it is an
imitation of natural farming. He is against earth worm compost. He is
following superstitious beliefs that women are not to allowed to create
jeevamrutha, which is one main content of his agricultural method. But
any way no one is following palekar’s zero budget farming as such in
Kerala.
Friends of Scientifica, October 2016