Lok Sabha Question No. 4416 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-01-08
Subject: Zero Budget Natural Farming (ZBNF)
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: KUNWAR PUSHPENDRA SINGH CHANDEL

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, COOPERATION AND FARMERS WELFARE

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4416

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 8 TH   JANUARY, 2019

## ZERO BUDGET NATURAL FARMING (ZBNF)

4416.  SHRI KUNWAR PUSHPENDRA SINGH CHANDEL:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ ष एवं कसान कयाण मंी be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Zero Budget Natural Farming (ZBNF) is being practiced in various States of the country, if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether ZBNF is a method of farming where the cost of growing and harvesting plants is zero  and  farmers  need  not  purchase  fertilizers  and  pesticides  in  order  to  ensure  the  healthy growth of crops;
- (c) if  so,  whether  the  Government  has  made  any  study  to  assess  the  impact  of  ZBNF practices in improving soil fertility, if so, the details and outcome thereof;
- (d) the details of the total area of land being cultivated under ZBNF;
- (e) whether steps are being taken by the Government to declare Bundelkhand as Natural Farming Zone, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (f) whether  any  training  programme  is  being  conducted  for  creating  awareness  and  to educate farmers  about  ZBNF and  Central grant  is  being  given  to  the  States  to  promote  this technique; and
- (g) if so, the details thereof, State-wise including Bundelkhand region?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

कृ ष एवं कसान कयाण मंालय म राय मंी (SHRI PARSHOTTAM RUPALA)

- (a): Government of Andhra Pradesh has been promoting ZBNF under Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana and Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana through Rythu Sadhikara Samstha (RySS).  The programme has reached out to 163,000 farmers in  972 villages  across  all  the  13  districts  in 2017-18. During 2018-19, it is proposed to reach 500,000 farmers, covering over all the 664 mandals of the State.  Karnataka has initiated implementation of ZBNF in the 10 Agro -climatic zone on Operational Research Project (ORP) mode. Himachal Pradesh has taken up ZBNF in their  State  through  scheme  'Prakritik  Kheti  Khushal  Kisan.  Haryana  has  taken     ZBNF  in  80 acres land at Gurukul; district Kurukshetra .Kerala State has planned to take-up ZBNF in the State and is in initial stage.
- (b): under ZBNF, instead of chemical fertilisers and pesticides,   traditional inputs   prepared from locally available material such as    cow dung, cow urine, jaggery, botanical extract etc. are utilised for  enrichment of soil   and  pest control.

- (c): Indian  Council  of  Agricultural  Research  (ICAR)  has  initiated  study  on     'Evaluation  of zero  budget  farming  practices  in  basmati  rice-wheat  system ' at  Modipuram  (Uttar  Pradesh), Ludhiana (Punjab), Pantnagar (Uttarakhand) and Kurukshetra (Haryana) from rabi 2017.
- (d): An  area  of  1.08  lakh  hectares  is  covered  under  ZBNF  under  PKVY  in  the  state  of Andhra Pradesh during the period 2015-16 to 2017-18.
- (e): No, Madam. However 9500 hectares ( 485 clusters of 20 hectares each)   have been taken  up    in  Bundelkand  for  organic  cultivation  under  Paramparagat  Krishi  Vikas  Yojana (PKVY).
- (f) & (g): Training/  capacity  building  is  integral  part  of  Paramparagat  Krishi  Vikas  Yojana and based on the request from States training is imparted to farmers. ZBNF practicing states like A.P are organizing training programme under PKVY to   farmers to create awareness on Organic farming including ZBNF.

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