Prime Minister Narendra Modi's appeal for Natural Farming is a call to return to sustainable, chemical-free agriculture, especially relevant for India's smallholder farmers. According to the Agriculture Census 2015-16, nearly 86% of India's operational landholdings belong to small and marginal farmers, making a low-cost, self-reliant farming model an urgent necessity. The Situation Assessment Survey of Agricultural Households (NSSO 70th Round, 2013) further found that about 52% of agricultural households in India are in debt, reflecting severe economic distress in the farming sector, due to high dependence upon costly synthetic agrochemicals.

 

 

Natural Farming, a self-sustaining system that uses locally available resources like cow dung and urine-based biological inputs, offers a meaningful alternative to the present days farming which is over dependent upon hazardous chemical pesticides and fertilizers.

 

 This approach was pioneered by Padma Shri awardee Subhash Palekar through Zero Budget Natural Farming (ZBNF) in the mid-1990s, demonstrating that farming without purchased chemical inputs is both possible and economically viable.

 

 

Acharya Devvrat, the Governor of Gujarat, is one of India’s strongest advocates of natural farming. He says it is not just an agricultural practice but a way to protect human health, restore soil fertility, conserve water, and secure the future of coming generations.

 

 According to him, it can reduce farming costs, raise farmers’ incomes, and make agriculture more sustainable and environment friendly.

India's dependence on imported urea and DAP fertilizers can be significantly reduced through natural farming, which offers an environmentally friendly and cost-effective approach to agriculture.

 

 Natural farming mimics the way natural forests sustain themselves without chemicals, relying instead on bio-fertilizers like jeevamrit, beejamrit, mulching techniques that enhance soil health and boost crop productivity. These organic inputs replace synthetic fertilizers while maintaining soil fertility naturally. 

 

Alongside bio-fertilizers, natural farming employs bio-pesticides and integrated pest management techniques to control harmful insects and diseases without damaging the environment or reducing food quality. 

 

The practice incorporates multi-layer cropping systems, where different crops and plants are grown together, creating a diverse ecosystem that strengthens plant resilience and increases overall productivity. By adopting natural farming methods, farmers can reduce their dependence on expensive imported chemicals, lower production costs, and improve their income. 

 

 

The Government of India formally supports this approach through the Bhartiya Prakritik Krishi Padhati (BPKP) scheme, introduced in 2020-21 as a sub-scheme of Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY). Under BPKP, financial assistance of ?12,200 per hectare for three years is provided for cluster formation, capacity building, training, certification, and residue analysis. As of official data, natural farming has been taken up in an area of 4.09 lakh hectares under BPKP across eight states.

 

 

Andhra Pradesh has emerged as a nationwide leader in this transition. Under the AP Community Managed Natural Farming (APCNF) programme, during 2020-21 the state covered 4.78 lakh farmers across 5.06 lakh acres, including 1.0 lakh hectares under the BPKP scheme.

 

 

The environmental and health costs of chemical-intensive agriculture are well documented. According to the World Health Organisation, pesticides are among the leading causes of poisoning worldwide, with the highest burden falling on agricultural workers in developing countries.

 

 While the exact percentage varies, scientific studies widely acknowledge that a significant share up to 70% of applied pesticides does not remain confined to the target and instead enters the soil, water, and air. Groundwater contamination from agricultural nitrates has been reported across multiple Indian states, with concerning levels detected in several agricultural regions.

 

 

There is a valid apprehension that this vital transition from hazardous agrochemicals based farming to natural farming will face resistance.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp ChannelIndia's synthetic agrochemical sector is a large and established industry with significant commercial interests in maintaining farmer dependence on synthetic inputs. Concerns have been raised in policy discussions and by civil society groups about vested interests that may resist the shift to natural farming through funded studies designed to cast doubt on its viability, through influence over research agendas at institutions dependent on corporate grants, trying to influence the policy makers and through narratives spread via local dealer networks that seek to discourage farmers from trying natural methods. 

 

 

Jammu and Kashmir is well positioned to lead this change by promoting Natural Farming alongside complementary methods like Integrated Pest Management, Integrated Farming System and Multi-Layer Cropping. The Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKUAST), with campuses at Jammu and Srinagar, can develop region-specific protocols suited to J&K's diverse agro-climatic zones.

 

 Farmer Field Schools, Krishi Vigyan Kendras providing hands-on training, structured financial support during the transition period, and accessible certification pathways for residue-free produce will enable farmers to access premium markets. Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) can aggregate small producers, reduce market risks, and help negotiate better prices.

The potential benefits for Kashmir's horticulture sector are significant.

 

 The Kashmir Valley produces approximately 16 lakh metric tonnes of apples annually, making horticulture the backbone of the region's rural economy. Kashmir's world-renowned Kesar saffron from Pampore, which holds a Geographical Indication tag, is internationally valued for its superior quality, aroma, and medicinal potency. 

 

When grown chemical-free, Kashmiri saffron, apples, walnuts, and almonds would be better positioned to access strict regulatory markets like the European Union and Gulf countries, where premium prices are paid for certified residue-free produce, often 30 to 50% higher than conventional equivalents in organic and natural food segments.

For farmers in the Jammu region, the transformation through natural farming is equally important, rooted in cost reduction and liberation from debt.

 

 Jammu's farmers cultivating basmati rice, wheat, maize, and vegetables currently spend substantial amounts annually on chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides. Transitioning to natural methods reduces input costs significantly within two to three years, freeing up household income for education, health, and farm improvements.

 

 India's premium basmati rice, a major export commodity, faces growing competition globally, and the international organic food market, projected to exceed $600 billion by 2030, presents a significant opportunity. Certified naturally grown basmati can access this premium segment where organic and residue-free rice varieties command substantially higher prices than conventionally grown grain. For wheat and vegetable growers, natural farming improves soil structure and water retention, a critical advantage as groundwater levels in several parts of Jammu have shown signs of depletion over recent decades. Healthier soils retain moisture more effectively, reducing irrigation needs and providing greater crop resilience during erratic weather patterns.

 

From a public health and environmental perspective, Jammu and Kashmir stands to gain enormously from natural farming. Cleaner food free from toxic residues, protected drinking water sources, and revitalised river ecosystems would improve the quality of life for millions. A chemical-free agricultural landscape also strengthens J&K's agro-tourism potential, attracting visitors to its saffron fields, orchards, and working farms, creating additional livelihood streams for rural households.

For Jammu and Kashmir, with its premium produce, fragile mountain ecology, and pristine environment, Natural Farming is not merely a policy choice. It is a practical, evidence backed path toward a healthier, wealthier, and genuinely sustainable future for its farmers, its land, and its people.

 

 

The author is a retired district officer from the Department of Horticulture and, presently, convenor of We The Humans Forum for Nature and Mankind. He regularly writes articles on environmental and social issues, for various newspapers of Jammu and Kashmir. (KNS)