Natural Farming and Zero Budget Natural Farming in India: What Actually Works

Natural Farming and ZBNF in India: A Practical Assessment

Natural farming - particularly the Zero Budget Natural Farming (ZBNF) model popularised by Subhash Palekar - has moved from fringe practice to government policy in India over the past five years.

But what does natural farming actually involve? Where does it work? Where does it struggle? And what support is available for farmers who want to try it?

What Natural Farming and ZBNF Actually Are

Natural farming minimises or eliminates synthetic chemical inputs and relies on biological processes and locally available materials.

ZBNF's four pillars:

1. Jiwamrita: microbial inoculant from cow dung, cow urine, jaggery, pulse flour, and local soil.

2. Bijamrita: seed treatment for disease protection and better germination.

3. Acchadana (mulching): soil coverage for moisture retention, erosion control, and weed suppression.

4. Waaphasa: moisture and aeration balance through careful irrigation management.

Where Natural Farming Delivers Results

Best conditions:

• Dryland and rainfed contexts with high input costs
• Crops with organic premium markets
• Intercropping systems where biodiversity is already practiced

Andhra Pradesh's RySS program has enrolled hundreds of thousands of farmers and is one of the largest natural farming programs globally.

Key Challenges

• Transition period yield dips (often 2-3 years)
• Higher labour intensity for preparation and manual field management
• Irrigation dependency for consistent Waaphasa conditions
• Certification gap: natural farming alone does not equal market-recognised organic certification

Government Support in 2025

• PKVY: Rs 50,000/hectare over three years for organic farming support and certification
• BPKP: Rs 12,200/hectare over three years for ZBNF promotion
• State-level programs in Andhra Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Gujarat, and Karnataka

Decision Framework for Farmers

Before switching, honestly assess:

• Input costs as a percentage of crop revenue - the higher they are, the more natural farming can save
• Access to indigenous cattle inputs - ZBNF preparations depend on cow dung and urine from local breeds
• Access to premium natural or organic market channels - so the lower-input crop also earns a better price
• A financial buffer for the transition years, when yields often dip before the soil rebuilds

A farmer with high input costs, local cattle, and a premium buyer is in a very different position from one without any of those, and the decision should reflect that.

Where It Connects to the Wider Food Economy

Natural farming only pays off fully when the lower-input crop also reaches a market that rewards it. That is why collectives matter - an FPO can pool natural-farming produce, certify it, and sell it into premium channels that an individual farmer cannot reach alone. The same value-addition thinking runs through our guide to agri value-addition business ideas.

Natural farming can be transformative under the right conditions. Successful adoption depends on context, planning, and support - not ideology alone.

FAQs

What is Zero Budget Natural Farming (ZBNF)?

A natural-farming model popularised by Subhash Palekar that eliminates synthetic inputs and relies on locally made preparations like Jiwamrita and Bijamrita built around indigenous cow products.

Does natural farming reduce yields?

Yields often dip during a 2-3 year transition period as the soil rebuilds, after which many farmers stabilise - especially in dryland and high-input-cost contexts.

Is there government support for natural farming in India?

Yes. PKVY provides about Rs 50,000 per hectare over three years for organic support, and BPKP provides about Rs 12,200 per hectare for ZBNF promotion, alongside several state programs.

Is natural farming the same as certified organic?

No. Natural farming describes the practice; market-recognised organic status requires separate certification through schemes like PGS-India or third-party bodies.