Natural farming a chemical-free, profitable, sustainable, and health maintaining farming in the temperate zone of Kashmir valley

Abstract

India has gone from a food shortage to a food surplus due to agricultural intensification brought about by the "Green Revolution" (GR) and its associated technologies.But there have also been a number of negative effects from this.Uncertain market conditions and the effects of climate change have combined with increased use of chemical pesticides and fertilizers and stagnated or declining crop output to create unprofitable agriculture.In addition to health risks from significant exposure to toxic chemical pesticides, farmers have become indebted as a result of the growing cost of crop production.An agro-ecological farming method called Natural Farming (NF) is thought to be a useful means of overcoming some of these difficulties.The experiences of field-level farmers with NF adoption in the Kashmir Valley's Anantnag area are presented in this research.180 NF adopted farmers, including 20 FLD farmers, and 225 non-NF adopted farmers were surveyed for the study between November and December 2024.It was discovered that while some upper belt farmers (tribals) have been using NF practices for over 20 years, others have only recently done so.The methods that the NF farmers employ vary as well.Farm Yard Manure (FYM) is being used by some farmers.Farmers in this district were also discovered to utilize Ghana jeevamritha, a solid form of jeevamritha, which is a liquid mixture of microbial inoculants.It was found that NF with FYM had a higher net return than NF without FYM and non-NF farms for the majority of crops.The market price of NF produce has slightly increased while the variable cost has decreased.According to the study, in addition to being economic and ecological, natural farming may be viewed as one of the alternative methods that could revitalize the agro-ecosystem.