Abstract Many countries have implemented policies to reduce the use of chemical inputs in agriculture. However, these policies face many obstacles that limit their effectiveness. The purpose of this paper is to review the main challenges associated with reducing chemical inputs in agriculture and to propose potential solutions. Our analysis, based on a literature review linking agronomy and economics, shows that several agronomic options have proven effective in reducing chemical inputs or mitigating their negative impacts. We argue that the organization of the agri-food system itself is a major barrier to their implementation. Involving all stakeholders, from the chemical input industry to consumers, and designing appropriate policy frameworks are key to address this issue. We recommend combining different policy instruments, such as standards, taxes and subsidies, in a simplified and coherent way to increase effectiveness and ensure better coordination in the adoption of sustainable practices. 

Reducing chemical inputs in agriculture requires a system change

In 2018, the state of Himachal Pradesh in north India launched an initiative to convert all its farmers to natural farming (NF), an agroecological approach. The aim was to address multiple challenges related to rural livelihoods, high input costs, biodiversity loss, and environmental degradation. This paper is based on a qualitative case study of the state programme to transition farmers to NF. It seeks to understand how its mechanisms support and empower small and marginal women farmers. In addition to identifying mechanisms that facilitate the effective uptake of NF, the case study sought women’s views on whether these mechanisms increased spaces for decision making and developed capabilities and autonomy. Framed within the vision of reclaiming food sovereignty, various mechanisms such as training in villages, participating in NF groups and networks, visits to model farms, and adopting leadership roles offered new pathways for women farmers to gain confidence and capabilities. Women began to participate in spaces that had been culturally and structurally denied to them. This case study demonstrates how agroecology initiatives, with a particular emphasis on gender, can offer women various opportunities for decision making, income generation, and creative expression. These initiatives also expand community agency and enable the acquisition of knowledge necessary for sustainable ecosystems.

New Possibilities for Women’s Empowerment through Agroecology in Himachal Pradesh, India

This review explores the rich concept of natural farming and the varied usage of neem in natural farming. Neem plant holds an important position in the rich tradition of India. The various portion of neem tree are used as insecticide, fertilizer, manure, soil conditioner etc. In recent era the major challenge is to increase the food production without harming the environment. Neem is considered ecofriendly, biodegradable, least persistence and also economic. Neem based formulations forms a considerable constituent of Natural farming. Successful results of application of neem based formulations in natural farming will provide adoption of cost effective technology to the farming community. 

pdf/harnessing-neem-azadirachta-indica-a-juss-a-sustainable-1m2imexw93.pdf

Harnessing Neem (Azadirachta indica A. Juss): A Sustainable Approach to Natural Farming

Sustainable Agriculture is rapidly emerging as an important discipline to meet societal needs for food and other resources by adopting paradigms of conserving natural resources while maximizing productivity benefits. This paper proposes an integrative methodological approach for critically analyzing Precision Farming (PF) paradigms and Zero Budget Natural Farming (ZBNF), providing sustainable farming solutions and achieving productivity and profitability. This paper analyses the productivity of crops in PF using various machine learning (ML) algorithms based on different soil and climatic factors to identify sustainable agricultural practices for maximizing crop production and generating recommendations for the farmers. When implemented on the collected dataset from various Indian states, the Random Forest (RF) model produced the best results with an AUC-ROC of 95.7%. The Juxtaposition of ZBNF and non-ZBNF is evinced. ZBNF is statistically (p<0.05) observed to be a cost-efficient and more profitable alternative. The impact of ZBNF on soil microbial diversity and micro-nutrients is also discussed.

/pdf/an-integrative-approach-towards-recommending-farming-3n0wlg4t.pdf

An Integrative Approach Towards Recommending Farming Solutions for Sustainable Agriculture

In 2018, the state of Himachal Pradesh in north India launched an initiative to convert all its farmers to natural farming (NF), an agroecological approach. The aim was to address multiple challenges related to rural livelihoods, high input costs, biodiversity loss, and environmental degradation. This paper is based on a qualitative case study of the state programme to transition farmers to NF. It seeks to understand how its mechanisms support and empower small and marginal women farmers. In addition to identifying mechanisms that facilitate the effective uptake of NF, the case study sought women’s views on whether these mechanisms increased spaces for decision making and developed capabilities and autonomy. Framed within the vision of reclaiming food sovereignty, various mechanisms such as training in villages, participating in NF groups and networks, visits to model farms, and adopting leadership roles offered new pathways for women farmers to gain confidence and capabilities. Women began to participate in spaces that had been culturally and structurally denied to them. This case study demonstrates how agroecology initiatives, with a particular emphasis on gender, can offer women various opportunities for decision making, income generation, and creative expression. These initiatives also expand community agency and enable the acquisition of knowledge necessary for sustainable ecosystems. 

Zero Budget Natural Farming (ZBNF) is a grassroot agrarian movement and a state backed extension in Andhra Pradesh, and has been claimed to potentially meet the twin goals of global food security and environmental conservation. However, there is a lack of statistically evaluated data to support assertions of yield benefits of ZBNF compared to organic or conventional alternatives, or to mechanistically account for them. In order to fill this gap, controlled field experiments were established in twenty-eight farms across six districts, spanning over 800 km, over three cropping seasons. In these experiments, we compared ZBNF (no synthetic pesticides or fertilisers, home-made inputs comprising desi cow dung and urine with mulch) to conventional (synthetic fertilisers and pesticides) and organic (no synthetic pesticides or fertilisers, no mulch, purchased organic inputs, e.g. farmyard manure and vermicompost) treatments, all with no tillage. Comparisons were made in terms of yield, soil pH, temperature, moisture content, nutrient content and earthworm abundance. Our data shows that yield was significantly higher in the ZBNF treatment (z score = 0.58 ± 0.08), than the organic (z= -0.34 ± 0.06) or conventional (-0.24 ± 0.07) treatment when all farm experiments were analysed together. However, the efficacy of the ZBNF treatment was context specific and varied according to district and the crop in question. The ZBNF yield benefit is likely attributed to mulching, generating a cooler soil, with a higher moisture content and a larger earthworm population. There were no significant differences between ZBNF and the conventional treatment in the majority of nutrients. This is a particularly important observation, as intensive use of synthetic pesticides and fertilisers comes with a number of associated risks to farmers' finances, human health, greenhouse gas emissions, biodiversity loss and environmental pollution. However, long-term field and landscape scale trials are needed to corroborate these initial observations.The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13593-023-00884-x. 

https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s13593-023-00884-x.pdf

Natural farming improves crop yield in SE India when compared to conventional or organic systems by enhancing soil quality

The present study aims to identify the crucial determinants of the adoption of zero-tillage (ZT) technology in maize production in peninsular India. The study also measures the impact of ZT adoption on maize yield, income generation, and the expenses associated with different agricultural operations.The study used multi-stage stratified random sampling and conducted a face-to-face questionnaire survey to collect primary data from 1,189 maize farmers. Initially, the study employed probit regression analysis to identify the ZT adoption determinants. Subsequently, using the Propensity Score Matching (PSM) approach, the study measures the impact of ZT adoption over conventional tillage in terms of yield, income, and cost management. Finally, the Endogenous Switch Regression (ESR) method was implemented to mitigate unobserved heterogeneity and sample selection bias. Additionally, ESR assessed the robustness of PSM results.The probit model identifies that variables like education, institutional credit adoption, crop insurance, visit of extension agent, landholding size, and prior experience of new technology adoption positively influence ZT adoption. The PSM and ESR approach results suggest that ZT adoption positively impacts farmers’ yield and net income while reducing cultivation costs and labor use. Results show that ZT adoption decreases the cost of land preparation, weed, pest management, and harvesting by INR 2708 acre−1, INR 167 acre−1, and INR 649 acre−1, respectively, thereby decreasing the overall cultivation cost by INR 8376 acre−1. However, seed and seed treatment costs and irrigation costs improve by INR 108 acre−1 and 176 acre−1 due to the adoption of ZT in maize cultivation. Moreover, ZT improves maize yield by 2.53 quintal acre−1 and minimises 9.56 person-days acre−1. ESR results suggest that the net return from maize cultivation is 26.1% higher for ZT adopters than conventional farmers. Additionally, ZT adopters can save 8.23 man-days acre−1, providing additional monetary benefits of INR 3259 acre−1 compared to ZT non-adopters.The study findings may support policymakers in designing suitable agricultural policies to improve technology adoption and motivate small and marginal maize farmers for sustainable production.

Impact of zero tillage maize production on yield, income, and resource utilization in peninsular India: an action-based quasi-experimental research

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Natural farming improves crop yield in SE India when compared to conventional or organic systems by enhancing soil quality

Impact of zero tillage maize production on yield, income, and resource utilization in peninsular India: an action-based quasi-experimental research