Significance of Natural Farming

Significance of Natural Farming

Main Examination: General Studies Paper 3

(Indian Agriculture)

September 04, 2023

Foreword:

• Natural farming is associated with our tradition and now it has become the need of the hour.
• By adopting modern methods of farming, we have fulfilled our food needs, but on the other hand, due to the indiscriminate use of chemicals, it has had a lot of side effects on our earth and our lives.
• Due to chemical farming, the decreasing fertility of the earth and increasing pollution have put the whole world in worry. But its solution is present in our traditional farming i.e. natural farming.

Natural farming:

• Natural farming is a farming system in which farming is done only by natural methods, it does not use chemicals, pesticides, and synthetic treatments.
• Natural farming aims to produce foods that are safe, healthy and do not harm the environment.
• Animal husbandry is the primary requirement of natural farming, as fertilizers and pesticides are made from animal waste. Desi cow is the most useful in this, because the elements found in the dung and urine of a desi cow are not found in the waste of any other animal. Earlier farming was done in this way in our country and the food grains, fruits, vegetables etc produced from it had different characteristics. Today again there is a need to adopt the same technology, so that the danger of health, environment and soil becoming barren can be stopped and we can achieve our ancient prosperity.
• Actually, the animal friends found in the soil are very helpful in farming. Due to the use of chemicals, they start dying, due to which the fertility of the earth gradually starts decreasing and it reaches the verge of becoming barren.
• Manure and bio-nectar used in natural farming increases the number of these living friends found in the soil manifold, which also increases the fertility of the earth, the quality and quantity of crops. It neither requires much fertilizer nor water.
• Sixteen types of nutrients are found in soil, which are necessary for good growth and high yield of crops. If there is a deficiency of even one of these elements, the crop does not get the special benefit of the remaining fifteen elements.
• All these elements are present in the dung of local cow. The smell of cow dung and urine helps in increasing the number of earthworms and these earthworms are considered friends of farmers.
• In this, irrigation is also done at some distance from the plants, in which only ten percent water is used.
• In natural farming, the direction of the plants is kept north-south, so that the plants get sunlight's energy and light for a longer period.
• Due to this, the plants develop well, not only the chances of them being attacked by pests are reduced, but the nutrients are also collected in a balanced quantity in the plants.

Significance of Natural Farming:

• Natural farming is important for human communities, the environment and the social economy:
• Important for health: Natural farming produces delicious organic foods that lack chemical and biological harmful pollutants. This leaves the minimum amount of bacteria, pesticides, and germ residues in the products of natural farming, providing healthy and safe food for the consumers of the food.
• Conservation of biodiversity: Using natural farming maintains the natural balance of the earth and preserves biodiversity. In addition, it promotes commercial variety of seeds and helps in maintaining the fertility of the soil.
• Source of employment and income: Natural farming provides employment opportunities in rural areas and boosts the income of farmers. It encourages economic development with the study and priorities of better farming techniques.
• Environmental protection: Natural farming requires no wastage in food production and can reduce the impact of climate change. This reduces the carbon footprint and the problems associated with climate change can be overcome.
• Land Security: Following the right farming practices for natural farming maintains the security of the land and makes farming more secure and stable.
• Food Security: Through natural farming, there is a higher yield of food products, which can ensure food security.
• In natural farming, the crops have the power to bear the brunt of climate change. In this, the cost is reduced, water is saved and production also increases.
• Indigenous seeds take less nutrients and give more yield.
• Natural farming is beneficial for small and marginal farmers as there is no expenditure on fertilizers and pesticides and the yield is also plentiful.
• Fertilizers and pesticides are necessary for farming. These can be made from ingredients available at home. Jeevamrit and Ghanjeevamrit are prepared in this as manure.
• This manure improves the physical condition of the soil. Similarly, cow dung, cow urine, leaves of plants, tobacco, garlic and red chillies are used to make insecticides.
• Farming often has to face the vagaries of weather, due to which farmers suffer huge losses and despite hard work, their crops get ruined. In such a situation, these challenges can be solved by adopting natural farming methods.
• In natural farming, crops easily tolerate the vagaries of weather and changes in climate.
• In natural agriculture, subsidiary crops can also be grown along with the main crop. Local seeds also play a very important role in this method of farming.

Demerits of chemical farming:

• Use of chemicals in farming not only weakens the soil but also makes the crops poisonous.
• Chemical fertilizers and pesticides also pollute the environment.
• Many times foreign buyers refuse to buy our crops if pesticides are found in excess of the standard.
• These chemicals mix with underground water and pollute it.
• The cost of chemical farming is high and this cost further increases due to the way chemicals attack the fertility of the soil.

Beginning of Natural Farming in India:

• Natural farming in India was started by Subhash Palekar. Earlier he had started farming in his farm using chemical methods only. But after many years he got the idea of natural farming from the Upanishads and Vedas.
• Inspired by some of the sutras prevalent in these religious texts, he started natural farming and started scientific research on it.
• They started looking for such methods of farming which could protect the organisms present in the soil and this was possible only when the fields were free from toxic chemicals and the health of the soil was strong.
• While doing chemical farming, Palekar found that the yield in farming kept increasing for about twelve-thirteen years, but after that it started decreasing.
• Apart from this, while working with the tribals, he came to know that no external elements are required for the growth of plants in the forests, rather all the resources necessary for growth are available from nature itself.
• After six years of hard work, he succeeded in developing natural farming techniques without chemicals.
• He named it- 'Low cost natural farming'. Now they are promoting it all over India.

Conclusions:

• Natural farming is very beneficial for farmers, earth and environment in every way. But as there is a race to make farming an enterprise, irrational use of machines and chemical fertilizers is seen. Many foreign companies are engaged in the development of high yielding seeds. The agricultural research centers which used to develop seeds keeping in mind the climate and soil nature of the country, have now gone to the margins. In such a situation, the government needs to not only encourage natural farming, but also control the companies making seeds, fertilizers, chemicals.

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Mains Exam Question

Discuss in detail the significance of natural farming in the context of chemical farming.