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Agriculture is both the cause and victims of water scarcity, Importance of Zero Budget natural farming in water conservation and sustainable agriculture

 Agriculture is both the cause and victim of water scarcity, the Importance of Zero Budget natural farming in water conservation, and sustainable agriculture.

As per the central water commission, agriculture in India consume 83% of total water resources.
As per food and agriculture organizations, excess use of water threatens the sustainability of livelihood and agriculture.

The negative effect of the green revolution:

  • Made land infertile
  • Extensive water consumption
  • Groundwater loss.

Zero budget natural farming
Zero budget natural farming

Zero budget natural farming is the solution to water problems in India.

  • India Introduced ZBNF in the Union budget 2019-20 and Andhra Pradesh adopted zero natural farming in the state.
  • It reduces farmers' direct cost in farming by using houses input such as seed, cow dung, and cow urine.
  • It also helps to maintain soil nutrition and fertility.
  • Required less tillage and no use of inorganic fertilizer and herbicides.
  • ZBNF emphasizes on mulching of crop residues to retain moisture in soils

As per Bengaluru based technology research study  of Andhra Pradesh ZBNF on comparison of the Zero Budget natural farming and general farming
On six parameters;

  • Water Consumption, 
  • Electricity Consumption
  • Energy Consumption
  • Greenhouse gas emissions
  • Yield
  • Revenue.

Reports:

  • Maximum benefit in paddy crops with saving maximum water. The irrigation cycle in ZBNF in 8 to 10 days was 5 to 6 days in general farming.
  • Not much impact on crop yields and net revenue
  • Electricity consumption is reduced as less water is needed.
  • Multiple aerations hinder microbial activities and reduced methane emission by 88%.

The benefit of ZBNF:

  • It is a sustainable way of agriculture with no known environmental losses.
  • It can save water scarcity problems.
  • It can solve the dispute between farming communities where the upper stream former uses canal irrigation.
  • Soil fertility does not decline.

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