Ryots told to take to natural farming

Rajamahendravaram: East Godavari district administration is encouraging Zero Budget Natural Farming (ZBNF) in the district and succeeding in its endeavour. ZBNF also known as Zero Budget Spiritual Farming (ZBSF) was under implementation in 34 mandals across the district.

According to Project Manager K Pardha Saradhi, ZBNF was commenced in the district during 2015-2016. “This year, it was targeted to implement it in 34 fields relating to 12,000 farmers.

Pardha Saradhi said ZBNF enables farming without the use of chemicals or pesticides. Instead of using chemicals and pesticides, in ZBNF cow urine, cow dung and neem leaves will be used to increase fertility of respective farm fields, he said.

He said the agricultural produce per acre yield through ZBNF is 24 bags whereas it is 30 bags in the fields where pesticides and chemicals were applied. But use of fertilisers would spoil the soil fertility, he pointed out.

He added the government will give a subsidy of Rs 6,000 for constructing a shed to accommodate two cows and Rs 12,000 for more than two cows to encourage farmers to use this farming. A small channel from cow shed should be connected to farm field, he added.

Moreover, the government had been providing a subsidy of Rs 50,000 to each farmer who comes forward to start a centre for making natural fertilisers, he said. He added that a farmer Ch Babul Reddy in Arthamur village of Mandapeta mandal succeeded in his endeavour and yielded good crop.