Main Features of Natural Farming in India

Physical work and labour can be highly reduced as compared to other agricultural systems

• Yields similar to chemical agriculture is possible
• There is an increase in soil fertility year after year
• Water requirement is minimized

The idea of natural farming is, however, not something that is imported from Japan. Similar ideas have been widely practised in Indian agriculture for over thousands of years. In India, natural farming is often referred to as ‘Rishi Kheti’, which is based on ancient Vedic principles of farming like the use of animal waste and herbal juices for controlling pests and promoting growth of plants.

The key principles of natural farming are:

• No till farming – ploughing the soil alters the natural environment of the soil and promotes the growth of weeds.
• No weeding by tillage or herbicides – weeds are not eliminated but can be suppressed by spreading straw over freshly sown land and growing ground cover.
• No chemical fertilizers – this is because adding chemical fertilizers help in the growth of the plant but not of the soil, which continues to deteriorate.
• No dependence on chemical pesticides – nature’s own balancing act prevents any one species from gaining the upper hand. (ECO News)