States can promote ZBNF under the two farm sector schemes – Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana and Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana.
NITI Aayog vice-chairman Rajiv Kumar on Monday made a case for promoting zero-budget natural farming (ZBNF) in states, saying it would help double farmers’ income by 2022.
Aayog member Ramesh Chand, who is an expert in agriculture, said that such methods could be scaled up nationally only after they have been scientifically proven to be correct and there is proper manual for these. Under ZBNF, neither fertiliser nor pesticide is used and only 10 per cent of water is to be utilised for irrigation as compared to traditional farming techniques.
Rajiv Kumar said that states can promote ZBNF under the two farm sector schemes – Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana and Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana.
“Around five million farmers are working on zero-budget farming in different states,” he said, adding that not only does it have potential for India but it can also be put to global use.
The NITI Aayog vice-chairman was addressing a press conference after meeting principal secretaries (agriculture) of states, representatives from agriculture universities, institutes, farmers and practitioners.
Speaking on the occasion, minister of state for agriculture and farmers welfare Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said, “We are seeing side-effects of chemicals and fertilisers used in crops.”
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