Assessing the Potential of Natural Farming | 16 Nov 2024

Source: DTE 

Why in News?

An analysis conducted by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) in collaboration with the Andhra Pradesh (AP) government suggests that the AP model of natural farming has the potential to double the employment opportunities for farmers compared to industrial agriculture, thereby reducing overall unemployment and increasing farmers' incomes by 2050. 

• The analysis was a part of ‘AgroEco2050’, a collective future-building exercise by the AP government, French agricultural research organisation and FAO.

What is Natural Farming? 

• About & Objective: Natural farming is a chemical-free approach that relies on locally available resources, including desi cow dung and urine, and emphasises traditional, indigenous practices.  
  • It eliminates the use of synthetic fertilisers and pesticides, promoting on-farm biomass recycling, including mulching, and pest management through biodiversity, botanical concoctions, and exclusion of all synthetic chemicals.  
  • Internationally, Natural Farming is considered a form of regenerative agriculture—a prominent strategy to save the planet.  
    • It has the potential to manage land practices and sequester carbon from the atmosphere in soils and plants, where it is useful instead of being detrimental. 
• Current Scenario: Several states, including Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Himachal Pradesh, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, and Kerala, have already adopted natural farming and developed successful models.  
  • While still in its initial stages, the natural farming system is steadily gaining acceptance within the farming community. 

Why Should Natural Farming be Adopted? 

• Employment Impact: As per the FAO, by 2050, natural farming will employ twice as many farmers as industrial agriculture, with 10 million farmers in natural farming compared to 5 million in industrial farming. 
  • This shift would reduce unemployment, which is projected to rise to 30% in the industrial agriculture scenario, while in the natural farming scenario, unemployment would drop to 7%. 
• Farmer Income: Natural farming is expected to be more profitable for farmers due to lower production costs (seeds, chemicals, irrigation, credit, and machinery) and better market prices for high-quality produce.  
  • The income gap between farmers and non-farmers would narrow significantly—from 62% in 2019 to 22% in 2050 under natural farming. This is nearly half the income gap of 47% expected in the industrial agriculture scenario by 2050. 
• Land Use and Biodiversity: Under natural farming, the total cultivated area in 2050 would be 8.3 million hectares, compared to 5.5 million hectares under industrial agriculture.  
  • Natural farming would contribute to reversing land degradation, desertification, and improving biodiversity through regenerative and agroecological practices. 
• Nutritional Benefits: Despite slightly lower yields per hectare, natural farming would produce more nutritious food per capita (5,008 kilocalories/day) compared to industrial agriculture (4,054 kilocalories/day).  
  • The food from natural farming would be richer in macronutrients, micronutrients, and fiber, and would contain no chemicals (fertilizers, pesticides) or antibiotics. 

What are the Challenges Related to Natural Farming? 

• Inadequate Farmer Training and Handholding: Farmers require more comprehensive training and continuous support to transition to and sustain natural farming practices.  
  • The current training systems are insufficient in addressing the full range of needs. 
• Cumbersome Certification Process: The certification process for organic farming, particularly the Participatory Guarantee System (PGS-India), is seen as complicated and not farmer-friendly.  
  • Additionally, third-party certifications are expensive, which is a barrier for small farmers. 
    • The National Programme for Organic Production (NPOP), implemented by the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), grants organic farming certification through a process of third party certification. 
• Poor Marketing Linkages: There is a lack of effective marketing systems for organic produce, leading to concerns about remunerative prices.  
  • Without proper buy-back or procurement provisions, such as those in the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY), farmers face difficulty in selling their products at fair prices. 
• Insufficient Funding and Policy Support: Organic and natural farming programs receive minuscule budget allocations compared to the subsidies provided for chemical fertilizers, which is a significant barrier to scaling up efforts.  
  • There is also a lack of holistic understanding and support from the scientific community, which limits the case for change and investment in organic farming. 
• Slow Progress in State-Level Implementation: While some states have organic policies, the implementation has been slow.  
  • Despite having policies, states like Karnataka, Kerala, and others have not been able to achieve significant coverage or meet their targets. 
• Dependency on Chemical Inputs: A large part of the agricultural system remains heavily reliant on chemical inputs like fertilisers and pesticides, with organic alternatives still not being widely promoted or adopted. 
  • Low yields in natural and organic farming, coupled with high susceptibility to pests and weeds, deter small and marginal farmers from adopting these practices.  
  • For these farmers, who make up over 80% of India’s agricultural community, reduced production poses a serious threat to their livelihoods, contributing to the slow adoption of such farming methods. 

Way Forward 

• Scientific Studies on Yields: A major challenge with natural farming is that it may result in lower yields for staple crops like wheat and rice, which could threaten food security for India’s large population.  
  • To address this, it is essential to conduct thorough and rigorous scientific research on crop yields from natural farming, especially for these key crops, before considering its widespread adoption. 
• Localised Adoption: While natural farming may be beneficial on a localised level, it is suggested that its application be limited to supplementary foodstuffs rather than core staples.  
  • This would allow for a balance between sustainability and food security, with natural farming used for non-staple crops. 
• Risk Mitigation for Food Security: To avoid potential risks to national food security, the adoption of natural farming must be carefully evaluated through scientific tests, especially regarding the productivity and yield of staple crops. 
  • Before transitioning from chemical to natural farming on a large scale, extensive studies are crucial. Sri Lanka's previous transition to organic farming, which included banning chemical fertilisers, led to reduced yields, especially in rice, jeopardising food security.  
  • This resulted in a surge in prices and widespread protests, highlighting the risks of hasty policy changes.