Zero-Budget Natural Farming

Zero-budget natural farming (ZBNF) is primarily a method of chemical-free farming, developed by Subhash Palekar, a farmer from Maharashtra. Hence it is also known as 'Subhash Palekar Natural Farming'. This method is based on Indian traditional methods.
In this, agriculture is done in a natural way using minimum resources. In this method, it is believed that the nutrients necessary for the growth of plants are present in the soil with sufficient quantity. therefore fertilizers and pesticides are not used in it, due to which the agricultural cost is 'zero or minimum'.
ZBNF is mainly based on four pillars-
- Jivamrita or Jeevanmurti- It prepared by mixing cow dung and urine, pulse’s flour and brown sugar. It acts as a catalyst for the addition of nutrients to the soil.
- Bijamrut- It is a type of paste, which applied on the seeds before sowing.
- Mulching- Mulching is used to maintain soil moisture, it has three types – Live, Straw and Soil Mulching.
- Waaphasaa or Moisture - The condition under which it is believed that 'moisture' is present in the air and soil, so the crop does not require irrigation it means that , plants grow with the help of moisture.