• A recent study in Andhra Pradesh on Zero Budget Natural Farming (ZBNF) highlighted significantly higher crop yield and unaffected nutrient availability compared to organic or conventional farming.
• The state has been pushing towards chemical-free agriculture under Andhra Pradesh Community Managed Natural Farming (APCNF)

About ZBNF

• It is a natural farming technique in which farming is done without use of chemicals and without using any credits or spending any money on purchased inputs.
• It is a method of chemical-free agriculture drawing from traditional Indian practises based on 4 pillars–
  • Jeevamrutha: It is a mixture of fresh cow dung and aged cow urine (both from India’s indigenous cow breed), jaggery, pulse flour, water and soil; to be applied on farmland.
  • Bijamrita: It is a concoction of neem leaves & pulp, tobacco and green chilies prepared for insect and pest management, that can be used to treat seeds.
  • Acchadana (Mulching): It protects topsoil during cultivation and does not destroy it by tilling.
  • Whapasa: It is the condition where there are both air molecules and water molecules present in the soil. Thereby helping in reducing irrigation requirement.
• ZBNF reduces the cost of production down to zero due to utilisation of all the natural resources available in and around the crops.
• It was originally promoted by Maharashtrian agriculturist Subhash Palekar.
• ZBNF was introduced in Union Budget 2019- 20.