Padma shri Subhash Palekar an Indian agriculturist who practiced and has written many books about ZBNF (Zero Budget Natural Farming).Subhash Palekar was born in 1949 in a small village Belora in the Vidarbha region of Maharashtra in India, and he has an agricultural background. He practised Zero Budget Natural Farming without using chemical fertilizers or pesticides to cultivate. He was awarded India’s fourth highest civilian award the Padmashri in 2016.
Zero Budget Natural Farming, as the name implies, is a method of farming where the cost of growing and harvesting plants is zero. This means that farmers need not purchase fertilizers and pesticides in order to ensure the healthy growth of crops. Shocked by the harmful effects of chemical farming, Palekar began the hunt for less-destructive alternatives. Thus began the journey of Zero Budget Natural Farming in India.
What is Zero Budget Natural Farming
Come let’s practice brand new farming in agriculture i.e, Zero Budget Natural Farming which means investment is zero in agriculture farming. Natural farming is an ecological farming approach. Natural farming is practised by using the things which are naturally available in nature. All things required for the growth of the plant are available around the root zone of the plants.Our soil is prosperous-full of nutrients, Only 1.5 to 2.0% nutrients taken from soil remaining 98 to 98.5% nutrients are taken from air, water & solar energy.
Farmers’ welfare
Reduced costs and risks, increased yields, regular income, climate change resilience
Excellence
More food, safe food and nutritious food
Youth Welfare
Reverse migration to villages
Environment
Enhanced soil health, water conservation, regenerated coastal ecosystem, biodiversity.
Natural farming is practised by using the things which are naturally available in nature. All things required for the growth of the plant are available around the root zone of the plants.
According to Palekar there are four artefact followed in natural farming.
BENEFITS OF ZBNF
No chemical fertilizers or pesticides, only all natural inputs for agriculture which r educe your expenses & dependence on market
ZBNF Method makes land more fertile & productive leading to better quality yield & good returns
One Cow provides enough for 30 acres of land which in turn, will earn you 12 Lacs per acre.
ZBNF produces without chemical hazardous pesticides giving you poison-free food.
with ZBNF produce, you consume zero/NO harmful chemicals, hence no disease.
Farmers are debt-free, No to suicide. We are disease-free, No Hospitals. Better Healthy Society.
"Addressing the 14th Conference of Parties (COP14) to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD)- We are focusing on Zero Budget Natural Farming (ZBNF)."
"ZBNF is an unprecedented transformation towards sustainable agriculture on a massive scale, and the kind of bold chagne we need to see to protech the climate, biodiversity, and food security. We're pinning a great deal on the ZBNF Programme, which is a better deal for farmers, consumers, and the planet."
"ZBNF has positive ecological effects on soil quality, fertility and water retention capacity as well as socio-economic benefits. There is also evidence of positive impacts on food security and climate change resilience."
"Around 50 lakh farmers are working on ZBNF in differenet states, and it has potential for India and also global. It is a practical method and would not only benefit small and marginal farmers, but also the medium and large farmers could succesfully adopt it at no cost."
"I promise to keep on propogating ZBNF, which has been my mission since 2015. It preserves land fertility, saves water and helps reduce global warming. It was a matter of satisfaction that many states had started work on it, and vers oon other will dopt this regenerative practice to save the farmers sovereignty."
"As 90 percent of our population is dependent on farming, the state needs to follw PM Narendra Modi's vision to increase agriculture production and the income of farmers by the year 2022, for which I believe that ZBNF programme should be pushed in a big way."
"My goverment will promote ZBNF to reduce cost of production of farmers. We need to 'Go back to basics' and to 'replicate this innovative model that can help in doubling our farmers income in days to come."
"ZBNF is a set of farming methods, and also a grassroots peasant movement, which has spread to various states in India. Zero budget garming promises to end a reliance on loans and drastically cut production costs, ending the debt cycle for desperate farmes."
"Chemical farming did not give farmers any income. Organic farming is also expensive. Both these farming lead to global warming on large scale. ONy ZBNF provides the sustainable solution to the distressed farmers of the country."
"The success of Andhra Pradesh’s Zero Budget Natural farming experiment will not only help India to meet its SDGs but will also inspire and transform the lives of millions of farmers across the de-veloping world"
"“Agriculture is the biggest contributor in providing employment. If we are able to promote zero investment natural agriculture then it will not only be a revolutionary step for the farmers but also for development of the state."
