Subash Palekar (Indian Agriculturist and Padma Shri Recipient) is the father of Zero Budget Natural Farming. He developed ZBNF in the mid-1990s as an alternative to the Green Revolution methods.

Zero Budget Natural Farming (ZBNF) is a farming method that involves growing crops without the use of fertilizers, pesticides, or other external materials. The term “zero budget” refers to the zero cost of production for all crops. ZBNF aims to help farmers retain soil fertility, ensure chemical-free agriculture, and increase farmers’ income. In short, ZBNF, is a farming method that believes in growing crops in tune with nature.

During his address to the farmers at the National Conclave on Natural Farming on December 16, 2021, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi remarked that 80% of the farmers of the country will benefit the most from natural farming.

Government has been promoting organic farming under the dedicated scheme of Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY) which encourages all kinds of chemical-free farming systems including Zero Budget Natural Farming.

Jeevamrutha is a natural fertilizer made from jaggery, water, pulse flour, soil, cow breed, old cow urine, and fresh cow dung.

Differences from organic farming:

ZBNF emphasizes self-produced, cost-free inputs, while organic farming often involves purchasing certified organic inputs. ZBNF also doesn’t require formal certification, unlike organic farming.

Principles and benefits of Zero Budget Natural Farming:

• No external inputs
• Soil to be covered with crops 365 days (Living Root)
• Minimal disturbance to Soil
• Biostimulantsas necessary catalysts
• Use indigenous seed
• Mixed cropping
• Integration of trees into the farm
• Water and moisture conservation
• Integrate animals in to farming
• Increase organic residues on the soil
• Pest-management through botanical extracts
• No synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides

Benefits

A study – “Life Cycle Assessment of ZBNF and Non-ZBNF in Andhra Pradesh” – reports the following benefits:

ZBNF processes require 50–60 per cent less water and less electricity (than non-ZBNF) for all the selected crops.
ZBNF reduces methane emissions significantly through multiple aeration. It also has the potential to avoid residue burning by practicing mulching.
The cost of cultivation is lower in ZBNF.

Four main elements and models of ZNBF:

Bijamrita:
The seeds are treated with formulations prepared using cow dung and cow urine from native cow species.

Benefits: The seeds sown in the field may be affected by fungus and other seed born/soil borne diseases. The seed treatment using “Bijamrita” protects the seeds from diseases.

Jiwamrita/Jeevamrutha:
Jiwamrita is prepared using cow dung and cow urine. It is used as an input for the plants. It is a fermented microbial culture obtained from cow dung, urine, jaggery, pulse flour and uncontaminated soil. This fermented microbial culture when applied to soil, adds nutrients to the soil besides acting as a catalytic agent to promote the activity of microorganisms and earthworms in the soil.

Benefits: This culture stimulates microbial activity in the soil and enhances nutrient availability for the plants, protects the crops against soil pathogens and increases carbon content of the soil.

Acchadana/Mulching:
Mulching is the process of covering the top soil with crop wastes/organic waste or with cover crops.

Benefits: Mulching materials decomposes and produces humus which conserves top soil, increases water retention capacity of the soil, decreases evaporation loss, encourages soil fauna besides enriching soil nutrient status and controlling weed growth.

Waaphasa/Moisture (Soil Aeration):
Good aeration is required in the soil for plant growth and development.

Benefits: Due to the application of Jiwamrita and mulching, the aeration of the soil increases, thus improves humus content, water availability, water holding capacity and soil structure which is most suitable for crop growth especially during drought periods.

ZBNF- Cropping Model

The model is based on raising poly crops i.e. growing short-duration and long-duration crops(main crop) together so that the cost of raising the main crops will be recovered from the incomegenerated from the short-duration crops resulting in “zero” expenditure for the main crop.Hence the term – “Zero Budget Natural Farming” – is used for this farming model.