Salient Features of Zero Budget Natural Farming
Posted 11-23-2009 at 10:11 AM by kishores
Salient Features of Zero Budget Natural Farming
The salient features of this method of farming are:
1) Zero Budget Farming
In this system of farming no monetary investment on the part of farmer is required for purchase of seeds, fertilizers and plant protection chemicals from the market. The farmer can produce his own seed or he may use seeds that are available with other farmers. More importantly, there is absolutely no place for fertilizers and plant protection chemicals in this scheme of farming. Dependence on hired labour is also reduced to the bare minimum as the system discourages intercultural operations. The whole philosophy behind this system is to make the farmer self-reliant so that he is freed from the clutches of money lenders and market dispensed high cost inputs.
2) Seed Treatment with Beejamrutha
Composition:
a) Water 20 litres
b) Desi cow dung 5 kg
c) Desi cow urine 5 Litres
d) One handful of soil from the surface of field
e) Lime 50 grams
The above mixture termed as ‘Beejamnrutha’ can be used to treat seeds, seedlings or any planting material. The planting material has to be simply dipped in ‘Beejamrutha’ taken out and planted. Beejamrutha protects the crop from harmful soil borne and seed borne pathogens during the initial stages of germination and establishment.
3) Treatment with Jeevamrutha
Composition:
1) Water 200 litres
2) Desi cow dung 10 kg
3) Desi cow urine 5 to 10 litres
4) Jaggery 2 kg
5) Flour of any pulse 2 kg
6 Handful of soil from farm or forest -
The above mixture will suffice for one time application on one acre crop. ‘Jeevamrutha’ is to be provided once in a fortnight or at least once in a month. It promotes immense biological activity in the soil and makes the nutrients available to the crop. Jeevamrutha is not to be considered as nutrient for the crop but only a catalytic agent to promote biological activity in the soil.
4) Mulching
Mulching with organic residues or live mulching reduces tillage and consequently labour requirements, suppresses weeds, promotes humus formation and enhances the water holding capacity of the soil. Mulching enhances the biological activity and replenishes the nutrient base of the soil. Adequate mulching keeps the top and sub soil moist and enhances the water holding capacity of the soil and also reduces water loss due to evaporation so that the crop will be better equipped to tide over drought conditions.
5) Plant Protection
In the event of outbreak of insects and diseases the farmer can himself prepare home made pesticides and use it on the crops.
Fungicide-I
a) Butter milk fermented for five days 5 litres
b) Water 50 litres
Fungicide –II
a) Desi cow milk 5 litres
b) Black Pepper Powder 200 grams
c) Water 200 litres
Insecticide- I
a) Powder of neem seed or Neem leaves 20 kg
b) Water 200 litres
Insecticide- II
a) Cow dung 5 kg
b) Cow urine 10 litres
c) Neem leaves 10 kg
d) Water 200 litres
This mixture is particularly effective against aphids, jassids, mealy bugs and white flies.
Insecticide – III
a) Neem leaves 10 kg
b) Tobacco powder 3 kg
c) Garlic paste 3 kg
d) Green chillies paste 4 kg
The above ingredients should be soaked in cow urine for ten days. About 3 litres of this mixture can be mixed with 100 litres of water and sprayed on crops.
The above mentioned fungicides and insecticides can be prepared by the farmer himself and used either as prophylactic or as curative measure for control of crop pests. If the economic injury to crops due to pests is less than five percent, it should be deemed to be ‘return to nature’ and no plant protection measures should be taken.
The salient features of this method of farming are:
1) Zero Budget Farming
In this system of farming no monetary investment on the part of farmer is required for purchase of seeds, fertilizers and plant protection chemicals from the market. The farmer can produce his own seed or he may use seeds that are available with other farmers. More importantly, there is absolutely no place for fertilizers and plant protection chemicals in this scheme of farming. Dependence on hired labour is also reduced to the bare minimum as the system discourages intercultural operations. The whole philosophy behind this system is to make the farmer self-reliant so that he is freed from the clutches of money lenders and market dispensed high cost inputs.
2) Seed Treatment with Beejamrutha
Composition:
a) Water 20 litres
b) Desi cow dung 5 kg
c) Desi cow urine 5 Litres
d) One handful of soil from the surface of field
e) Lime 50 grams
The above mixture termed as ‘Beejamnrutha’ can be used to treat seeds, seedlings or any planting material. The planting material has to be simply dipped in ‘Beejamrutha’ taken out and planted. Beejamrutha protects the crop from harmful soil borne and seed borne pathogens during the initial stages of germination and establishment.
3) Treatment with Jeevamrutha
Composition:
1) Water 200 litres
2) Desi cow dung 10 kg
3) Desi cow urine 5 to 10 litres
4) Jaggery 2 kg
5) Flour of any pulse 2 kg
6 Handful of soil from farm or forest -
The above mixture will suffice for one time application on one acre crop. ‘Jeevamrutha’ is to be provided once in a fortnight or at least once in a month. It promotes immense biological activity in the soil and makes the nutrients available to the crop. Jeevamrutha is not to be considered as nutrient for the crop but only a catalytic agent to promote biological activity in the soil.
4) Mulching
Mulching with organic residues or live mulching reduces tillage and consequently labour requirements, suppresses weeds, promotes humus formation and enhances the water holding capacity of the soil. Mulching enhances the biological activity and replenishes the nutrient base of the soil. Adequate mulching keeps the top and sub soil moist and enhances the water holding capacity of the soil and also reduces water loss due to evaporation so that the crop will be better equipped to tide over drought conditions.
5) Plant Protection
In the event of outbreak of insects and diseases the farmer can himself prepare home made pesticides and use it on the crops.
Fungicide-I
a) Butter milk fermented for five days 5 litres
b) Water 50 litres
Fungicide –II
a) Desi cow milk 5 litres
b) Black Pepper Powder 200 grams
c) Water 200 litres
Insecticide- I
a) Powder of neem seed or Neem leaves 20 kg
b) Water 200 litres
Insecticide- II
a) Cow dung 5 kg
b) Cow urine 10 litres
c) Neem leaves 10 kg
d) Water 200 litres
This mixture is particularly effective against aphids, jassids, mealy bugs and white flies.
Insecticide – III
a) Neem leaves 10 kg
b) Tobacco powder 3 kg
c) Garlic paste 3 kg
d) Green chillies paste 4 kg
The above ingredients should be soaked in cow urine for ten days. About 3 litres of this mixture can be mixed with 100 litres of water and sprayed on crops.
The above mentioned fungicides and insecticides can be prepared by the farmer himself and used either as prophylactic or as curative measure for control of crop pests. If the economic injury to crops due to pests is less than five percent, it should be deemed to be ‘return to nature’ and no plant protection measures should be taken.
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