From Chemicals to Nature: The Growing Shift towards Natural Farming in India

Abstract

The philosophy of natural farming is working with nature to produce healthy food, to keep ourselves healthy, and to keep the land healthy. In the web of life, every natural component serves a meaningful purpose. Hence, natural farming popularly known as “Do Nothing Farming” and often described as chemical-free farming relies on nature’s self-sustaining processes, where the farmer merely supports natural processes rather than controlling them. This approach emphasizes farming without tillage and the use of synthetic agrochemicals, including herbicides, fertilizers, and pesticides. Studies have shown that it can reduce manual labour and physical effort by up to 80% compared to conventional agriculture. It differs from organic farming in that it does not employ any organic manure, such as farm yard manure and vermi-compost, and instead aims to improve soil biological fertility without the use of artificial chemicals or external inputs.