🌱 Natural Farming Techniques & Zero Budget Natural Farming | પ્રાકૃતિક ખેતીની પદ્ધતિઓ અને શૂન્ય બજેટ પ્રાકૃતિક ખેતી

Introduction | પરિચય

Natural Farming is an ecological farming approach that focuses on soil health, biodiversity, natural resources and beneficial microorganisms.

It aims to reduce dependence on synthetic fertilizers and pesticides by using locally available natural resources and biological processes.

પ્રાકૃતિક ખેતી એટલે કુદરતના નિયમો અને સિદ્ધાંતોને અનુસરીને કરવામાં આવતી ખેતી.

આ ખેતી પદ્ધતિમાં જમીનની ફળદ્રુપતા, ઉપયોગી સૂક્ષ્મજીવો, સ્થાનિક સંસાધનો, પાકની વિવિધતા અને કુદરતી જીવાત નિયંત્રણને વિશેષ મહત્વ આપવામાં આવે છે.

Zero Budget Natural Farming (ZBNF) સાથે સંકળાયેલી પદ્ધતિઓમાં ગાય આધારિત કુદરતી સંસાધનોનો ઉપયોગ, જમીનને ઢાંકેલી રાખવી અને જમીનમાં રહેલા જીવસૃષ્ટિના સંરક્ષણ પર ભાર મૂકવામાં આવે છે.

ચાલો જાણીએ પ્રાકૃતિક ખેતીની મુખ્ય પદ્ધતિઓ વિશે.

1. What is Zero Budget Natural Farming (ZBNF)?

શૂન્ય બજેટ પ્રાકૃતિક ખેતી શું છે?

Zero Budget Natural Farming is a farming approach popularized by Subhash Palekar.

Its objective is to reduce farmers’ dependence on purchased external agricultural inputs by utilizing locally available resources.

Main Principles

1. Bijamrita – બીજામૃત
2. Jeevamrita – જીવામૃત
3. Acchadana – આચ્છાદન અથવા મલ્ચિંગ
4. Whapasa – વાફસા

આ ચાર મુખ્ય સિદ્ધાંતો દ્વારા જમીનનું સ્વાસ્થ્ય, ભેજનું સંચાલન અને પાકની કુદરતી વૃદ્ધિને પ્રોત્સાહન આપવામાં આવે છે.

Important: Zero Budget does not mean that farming has absolutely no cost. Labour, water, equipment, transport and other farm expenses still exist.

2. Bijamrita | બીજામૃત

Bijamrita is a traditional natural farming preparation used for seed treatment.

Common Ingredients

• Fresh indigenous cow dung
• Cow urine
• Lime
• Water
• A small quantity of undisturbed field soil

Traditional Preparation Method

1. Take clean water in a suitable container.
2. Add fresh cow dung and cow urine.
3. Add lime dissolved in water.
4. Add a small quantity of local soil.
5. Mix properly.
6. Allow the preparation to settle according to the traditional method.

Uses of Bijamrita

• Traditional seed treatment.
• Supports biological activity around seeds.
• Helps create a favourable environment for seed establishment.

Application

Coat suitable seeds with Bijamrita, dry them in shade and sow according to crop-specific recommendations.

Precaution: Use clean ingredients and hygienic preparation practices. Bijamrita is a traditional input and should not be assumed to eliminate all seed-borne diseases.

3. Jeevamrita | જીવામૃત

Jeevamrita is a traditional fermented preparation made using cow-based ingredients and other locally available materials.

It is used in natural farming to support soil biological activity.

Traditional Ingredients for 200 Litres

Ingredient	Quantity
Fresh Cow Dung	10 kg
Cow Urine	10 litres
Jaggery (Gud)	2 kg
Pulse Flour	2 kg
Undisturbed Field Soil	1 handful
Water	200 litres

Preparation Method

1. Take 200 litres of clean water in a suitable drum.
2. Add fresh cow dung.
3. Add cow urine.
4. Add jaggery and pulse flour.
5. Add a handful of local soil.
6. Mix thoroughly.
7. Cover the container loosely.
8. Stir regularly.
9. Allow fermentation for approximately 48 hours under suitable conditions.

Application

Jeevamrita is traditionally applied through soil drenching or irrigation.

The actual quantity should be adjusted according to crop, soil, irrigation method and local agricultural recommendations.

Benefits

• Supports soil microbial activity.
• Helps in organic residue decomposition.
• Encourages biological nutrient cycling.
• Supports soil biological health.

Important: Jeevamrita is not a complete NPK fertilizer. Its nutrient content varies with ingredients and preparation.

4. Ghan Jeevamrita | ઘન જીવામૃત

Ghan Jeevamrita is a solid form of traditional Jeevamrita preparation.

It is useful when farmers prefer a solid organic input that can be stored and transported more conveniently than liquid Jeevamrita.

Traditional Ingredients

• Fresh cow dung
• Cow urine
• Jaggery
• Pulse flour
• Local soil

Preparation Method

1. Mix cow dung with the other ingredients.
2. Prepare a moist, uniform mixture.
3. Form small balls or lumps.
4. Dry them in shade.
5. Store in a dry, ventilated place after suitable drying.

Benefits

• Provides organic material.
• Supports biological activity.
• Can be used as a soil amendment.
• Convenient for field application.

Avoid storing incompletely dried material in airtight containers because it may develop unwanted microbial growth.

5. Acchadana | આચ્છાદન અથવા Mulching

Mulching means covering the soil surface with organic or other suitable materials.

It is one of the most important practices in natural farming.

Types of Mulching

1. Straw Mulching

• Wheat straw
• Paddy straw
• Millet straw

2. Live Mulching

• Cowpea
• Green gram
• Suitable cover crops

3. Organic Residue Mulching

• Dry leaves
• Crop residues
• Chopped plant material

Benefits of Mulching

1. Reduces direct evaporation.
2. Helps conserve soil moisture.
3. Reduces soil temperature fluctuations.
4. Suppresses many weed species.
5. Protects soil from erosion.
6. Supports soil organisms.
7. Adds organic matter after decomposition.

Mulching in Gujarat

In hot and dry regions such as Surendranagar, mulching can be particularly useful for reducing soil moisture loss.

Suitable materials include locally available dry crop residues, wheat straw and dry leaves.

Avoid placing thick wet mulch directly against plant stems because it may encourage fungal problems and stem rot.

6. Whapasa | વાફસા

Whapasa is a traditional natural farming concept associated with maintaining suitable air and moisture conditions in the soil.

It emphasizes balanced soil moisture and aeration around plant roots.

Importance of Whapasa

• Supports root respiration.
• Helps maintain suitable soil moisture.
• Avoids unnecessary waterlogging.
• Supports beneficial soil biological processes.
• Encourages efficient irrigation management.

How to Maintain Whapasa?

1. Avoid excessive irrigation.
2. Maintain proper drainage.
3. Use organic mulching.
4. Improve soil structure.
5. Irrigate according to crop requirements.
6. Avoid keeping soil continuously waterlogged.

Remember: Whapasa should not be interpreted as a universal fixed irrigation formula. Actual water requirements depend on soil texture, crop stage and weather.

7. Mixed Cropping | મિશ્ર પાક પદ્ધતિ

Mixed cropping means growing two or more crops together in the same field.

It helps diversify farm production and can reduce the risk of total crop failure.

Examples of Mixed Cropping

Main Crop	Intercrop
Cotton	Green Gram
Castor	Green Gram
Wheat	Mustard
Pomegranate	Garlic
Mango	Seasonal Vegetables
Cumin	Suitable short-duration intercrops

Benefits

• Diversifies farm income.
• Improves land utilization.
• Supports biodiversity.
• May reduce pest and disease risks.
• Provides multiple harvest opportunities.

Crop combinations should be selected according to spacing, sunlight, water availability and competition between crops.

8. Multilayer Farming | બહુસ્તરીય ખેતી

Multilayer farming involves growing crops of different heights and root depths together in a planned system.

This helps utilize vertical and horizontal growing space.

Example of Multilayer Farming

Layer 1 – Tall Trees

• Mango
• Coconut
• Other suitable fruit trees

Layer 2 – Medium Height Crops

• Papaya
• Banana
• Drumstick

Layer 3 – Shrubs and Vegetables

• Chilli
• Brinjal
• Tomato

Layer 4 – Root and Tuber Crops

• Sweet Potato
• Turmeric
• Ginger

Layer 5 – Ground Cover Crops

• Cowpea
• Groundnut
• Suitable legumes

Benefits

• Better utilization of available land.
• Multiple sources of income.
• Improved biodiversity.
• Soil protection.
• Potential reduction in weed growth.

Important: Select crop combinations according to local climate, sunlight, soil and water availability. Not all tropical multilayer models are suitable for dry regions.

9. Crop Rotation | પાક ફેરબદલી

Crop rotation means growing different crop families in a planned sequence on the same land.

Example of Crop Rotation

Season	Crop
Kharif	Green Gram
Rabi	Wheat
Summer	Cowpea / Green Manure

Benefits

• Helps break certain pest and disease cycles.
• Improves nutrient management.
• Supports soil biological diversity.
• Helps manage weeds.
• Provides diversified farm production.

Avoid growing crops from the same family repeatedly in the same field.

10. Green Manuring | લીલો પડવાશ

Green manuring is the practice of growing suitable crops and incorporating their green biomass into the soil.

Common Green Manure Crops

1. Dhaincha (ઢૈંચા)
2. Sunhemp (સનહેમ્પ)
3. Cowpea (ચોળી)
4. Green Gram (મગ)

Benefits

• Adds organic matter.
• Supports soil biological activity.
• Helps recycle nutrients.
• Improves soil structure.
• Leguminous green manure crops can contribute biologically fixed nitrogen.

The incorporation stage should be selected according to crop growth and local agricultural recommendations.

11. Natural Farming Pest Management

Natural farming emphasizes prevention and ecological pest management.

Important Practices

• Neem-based botanical formulations.
• Dashparni Ark as a traditional preparation.
• Biological control agents.
• Trichoderma-based products.
• Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt).
• Pheromone traps.
• Yellow and blue sticky traps.
• Conservation of beneficial insects.

Regular monitoring is essential. Natural preparations are not automatically harmless or effective against every pest.

12. Natural Farming vs Conventional Farming

Parameter	Natural Farming	Conventional Farming
Soil Management	Emphasis on biological processes	Depends on management practices
Fertility	Organic and biological inputs	Mineral fertilizers and other inputs
Pest Control	Ecological and biological methods	Chemical and non-chemical methods
Mulching	Commonly emphasized	Variable
Biodiversity	Strong emphasis	Variable
External Inputs	Aim to reduce purchased inputs	May depend on purchased inputs
Crop Diversity	Often encouraged	Depends on farming system

Both systems require scientific nutrient management, irrigation planning and crop monitoring.

13. Practical Natural Farming Model for Small Farmers

A farmer can gradually adopt natural farming practices without changing the entire farm at once.

Step 1: Soil Testing

Understand soil pH, EC, organic carbon and available nutrients.

Step 2: Organic Matter Management

Use mature compost, farmyard manure and crop residues.

Step 3: Biological Inputs

Use suitable biofertilizers according to crop requirements.

Step 4: Mulching

Cover exposed soil with suitable organic materials.

Step 5: Crop Diversity

Introduce suitable mixed cropping and crop rotation.

Step 6: Water Management

Use efficient irrigation and avoid waterlogging.

Step 7: Pest Monitoring

Use IPM and conserve beneficial insects.

Step 8: Record Keeping

Maintain records of production costs, crop yield, input use and market returns.

14. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1. What is Zero Budget Natural Farming?

It is a natural farming approach popularized by Subhash Palekar that aims to reduce dependence on purchased external agricultural inputs through locally available resources and biological processes.

Q2. What are the four pillars of ZBNF?

Bijamrita, Jeevamrita, Acchadana and Whapasa.

Q3. Can Jeevamrita replace all fertilizers?

No. Jeevamrita supports soil biological activity, but it should not automatically be considered a complete source of plant nutrients.

Q4. How often should Jeevamrita be applied?

There is no universal application frequency. It depends on crop, soil, preparation quality and local recommendations.

Q5. Is mulching suitable for Gujarat?

Yes. Suitable organic mulching can help conserve soil moisture and reduce soil temperature fluctuations in hot and dry regions.

Q6. Can natural farming be profitable?

It can be profitable when input costs, crop yields, labour, market prices and marketing channels are managed effectively. Results vary by farm and region.

Q7. Can natural farming be adopted on large farms?

Yes. It can be introduced gradually through demonstration plots, crop-wise planning and farm-level resource management.

Q8. Does natural farming mean no irrigation?

No. Crops still require water. Natural farming emphasizes efficient water use and suitable soil moisture management.

15. Conclusion | નિષ્કર્ષ

Natural farming is not just a method of cultivation; it is an approach to restoring ecological balance in agriculture.

પ્રાકૃતિક ખેતી માત્ર ખાતર અને દવાઓ બદલવાની પદ્ધતિ નથી. તે જમીન, પાણી, છોડ, સૂક્ષ્મજીવો અને સમગ્ર પર્યાવરણ વચ્ચેનું સંતુલન જાળવવાની ખેતી પદ્ધતિ છે.

ખેડૂત મિત્રો, તમારી ખેતીમાં નાનકડા વિસ્તારથી શરૂઆત કરો, પરિણામો નોંધો અને અનુભવના આધારે ધીમે ધીમે વિસ્તાર વધારો.

🌱 Healthy Soil + Biodiversity + Natural Resources = Sustainable Farming

ઝેરમુક્ત ખેતી અપનાવો – જમીન બચાવો – પાણી બચાવો – ખેડૂતની આવક વધારો.

---

Presented by: Dhaval Malvania
Surendranagar, Gujarat, India