Fact-checked by Grok 2 weeks ago

Subhash Palekar

Subhash Palekar (born 2 February 1949) is an agriculturist from the region of who developed Subhash Palekar (SPNF), a chemical-free approach to that utilizes locally available inputs derived from cow breeds, such as dung and urine-based preparations like jivamrut and bijamrut, to purportedly achieve higher yields at minimal cost without synthetic fertilizers or pesticides. Palekar's system, initially termed Zero Budget Natural Farming, emphasizes reliance on natural microbial consortia from cow products over commercial organic inputs, claiming to address farmer indebtedness by eliminating external expenses and enhancing soil vitality through practices observed in traditional, low-input farming systems. He has authored multiple books detailing these methods and conducted workshops that have reportedly attracted millions of adherents, particularly smallholder farmers facing debt crises from chemical-dependent . In recognition of his efforts to promote sustainable, low-cost farming alternatives, Palekar received the award in 2022. However, his advocacy has sparked controversies, including sharp critiques of as ecologically harmful and unscientific, endorsements of in certain contexts, and claims of superior efficacy that lack robust, peer-reviewed empirical validation, with some analyses questioning yield sustainability and outcomes under field conditions.

Early Life and Education

Birth and Family Background

Subhash Palekar was born in 1949 in Belora village, , , , a region known for its agrarian economy in the area. He grew up in a with deep roots in traditional farming, where formed the core of daily life and economic sustenance. This familial immersion in farming practices, without specified details on parental occupations beyond the agricultural milieu, shaped Palekar's early exposure to crop cultivation and rural , influencing his subsequent innovations in sustainable methods.

Academic and Initial Training

Palekar obtained a degree in in 1972, receiving formal training in conventional farming techniques that emphasized chemical inputs and seeds. This education equipped him with methods promoted by agricultural institutions at the time, which he initially applied upon returning to his . During his college years, Palekar engaged with tribal communities in the Satpuda region, gaining practical exposure to indigenous farming practices and their associated challenges, including soil degradation and low yields. This hands-on involvement supplemented his academic curriculum, fostering an early awareness of contrasts between traditional and modern approaches, though he prioritized the latter post-graduation.

Agricultural Career

Adoption of Conventional Methods

Subhash Palekar, after completing his B.Sc. in Agriculture in 1972, returned to his family's farm in Belora village, , , and adopted the conventional farming practices emphasized in his education, which centered on the application of synthetic chemical fertilizers and pesticides to enhance productivity. These methods, aligned with principles, involved intensive use of inputs such as , , and insecticides to boost nutrient levels and control pests, reflecting the scientific curriculum promoted in Indian agricultural colleges during the era. Palekar implemented these techniques starting in 1973, fully adhering to the protocols taught by his professors, including precise dosing of chemicals for crops like and soybeans on his approximately 25-acre farm. The adoption was driven by an initial enthusiasm for modern science, as Palekar sought to modernize his father's traditional farming operations and achieve higher outputs through seeds and irrigated systems. In the early years, from 1972 to around 1982, this approach resulted in increased yields, validating the short-term efficacy of chemical inputs in raising production per hectare for staple and cash crops. This period marked Palekar's commitment to evidence-based conventional agriculture, where he experimented with recommended dosages and integrated mechanical tillage to prepare fields, aiming to replicate the successes observed in demonstration farms and extension services. However, reliance on external inputs tied farmers like Palekar to market-dependent supply chains, with costs for chemicals escalating over time as per government-subsidized procurement patterns in during the 1970s and early 1980s.

Crisis and Shift to Natural Approaches

Palekar began practicing chemical-intensive farming in 1973, implementing methods taught during his agricultural training to test their efficacy on his family's land. These approaches initially boosted crop production between 1973 and 1985, aligning with the promises of the technologies. By 1985, however, Palekar encountered a sharp decline in yields accompanied by escalating costs for seeds, fertilizers, and pesticides, resulting in mounting debts. Unable to service loans, he faced asset seizures by banks, including household property, which intensified his financial distress and highlighted the unsustainability of input-dependent agriculture. Over the subsequent three years (1985–1988), he conducted targeted research, attributing the failures to the degradation of by synthetic chemicals, which disrupted natural nutrient cycles and balance. This crisis catalyzed Palekar's pivot to paradigms, drawing from observations of thriving, unmanaged forest ecosystems that maintained fertility without external inputs. From 1988 to 2000, he undertook 12 years of on-farm experimentation, rejecting chemical amendments and in favor of indigenous cow-based preparations to revive organisms. To sustain this independent research amid social and personal hardship—including selling his wife's jewelry and 10 acres of land while grappling with suicidal thoughts—he developed foundational techniques for what became Zero Budget Natural Farming.

Development of Zero Budget Natural Farming

Conceptual Origins

Subhash Palekar formulated the conceptual framework of Zero Budget Natural Farming (ZBNF) during a period of intensive experimentation from 1989 to 1995 in , , responding to the observed degradation of soil and financial distress caused by chemical-dependent . Drawing from observations of thriving natural forests that require no external fertilizers or pesticides, Palekar posited that agriculture should emulate these self-sustaining ecosystems by relying exclusively on on-farm resources, particularly those derived from cow breeds (desi cows). He argued that the dung and urine of these cows, rich in diverse beneficial microbes absent in hybrid breeds, serve as the foundational biological activators for , cycling, and pest resistance, thereby eliminating the need for purchased inputs. The core philosophy of ZBNF rejects the Green Revolution's emphasis on hybrid seeds, synthetic chemicals, and credit-based , which Palekar viewed as creating dependency and debt traps for smallholder farmers. Instead, it prioritizes agroecological principles adapted to contexts, such as with beejamrit (a cow-based microbial inoculant), application of jeevamrit (fermented cow dung-urine mixture), mulching (acchadana) to suppress weeds and retain , and fostering aeration for whapasa (natural humidity). These elements, consolidated as the "four pillars" of ZBNF, aim to achieve zero external costs by generating all necessities internally, aligning with traditional farming knowledge while challenging modern agronomic reliance on industrial inputs. Palekar's approach incorporates a dimension, framing the cow as a "living " of microbial diversity and rejecting crossbred or exotic varieties as inferior for farming purposes. This cow-centric model, detailed in his early publications like The Philosophy of Farming, underscores a holistic view where farming restores ecological balance without dependency or genetic modification, positioning ZBNF as a return to pre-industrial rather than a invention. While influenced by broader traditions, Palekar emphasized empirical validation through his fieldwork, claiming superior yields and resilience without scientific trials reliant on controlled variables.

Core Principles and Components

Zero Budget Natural Farming (ZBNF), as formulated by Subhash Palekar, revolves around four primary components designed to replicate natural ecological processes using locally available, on-farm resources derived primarily from cow breeds, thereby eliminating the need for purchased chemical fertilizers, pesticides, or hybrid seeds. These components—Jeevamrita, Bijamrita, Acchadana, and Whapasa—aim to foster microbial , , and retention without external inputs, with Palekar asserting that they enable self-sustaining by harnessing the "live energy" of the . Jeevamrita, the foundational soil inoculant, is a fermented liquid preparation applied to fields to stimulate beneficial microbial populations. It consists of 200 liters of water mixed with 10 kg of fresh , 5-10 liters of from indigenous cows, 1 kg of , 1 kg of flour, and a handful of farm soil, stirred daily for three days to promote and microbial proliferation. Palekar recommends applying 200 liters per acre every 15 days during the crop cycle, claiming it enhances by introducing trillions of microorganisms that decompose and fix atmospheric , mimicking the nutrient dynamics observed in undisturbed forests. Bijamrita, used for , protects seeds from soil-borne pathogens and boosts through a similar microbial coating. Prepared by combining 5 kg , 5 liters , 50 grams , and 50 grams farm into a paste, seeds are soaked or coated with this mixture before sowing, purportedly reducing fungal infections and improving early seedling vigor without synthetic treatments. This step aligns with ZBNF's emphasis on non-hybrid, locally adapted seeds to preserve and resilience. Acchadana involves continuous soil mulching with crop residues, green manures, or intercropped to cover the ground throughout the year, preventing , suppressing weeds, and enriching as materials decompose. Palekar advocates maintaining 365-day coverage to simulate conditions, which he argues promotes activity and gradual nutrient release, though implementation requires diversified cropping patterns to generate sufficient biomass without dependency. Whapasa, or soil aeration and moisture balance, focuses on maintaining optimal soil porosity and humidity through minimal tillage and the aforementioned mulching, ensuring air circulation for root while conserving water via in humus-rich . Palekar describes this as achieving a "breathing " state, where moisture levels hover at 30-35% without dependency in rainfed systems, attributing efficacy to the integrated effects of the other pillars rather than standalone techniques. These components collectively underscore ZBNF's rejection of chemical agriculture in favor of cow-centric, low-input revival of traditional practices, with Palekar maintaining that indigenous cows produce urine and dung uniquely rich in growth-promoting microbes absent in hybrid breeds. The approach posits no net financial outlay beyond labor, as all inputs are generated internally, though critics note potential hidden costs in labor and biomass sourcing.

Claims and Demonstrations

Yield and Cost Assertions

Subhash Palekar asserts that Zero Budget Natural Farming (ZBNF) eliminates the need for purchased inputs such as chemical fertilizers, pesticides, hybrid seeds, and , achieving zero net cost of production by relying solely on on-farm resources like cow , , and microbial cultures prepared from local materials. This "zero budget" framing, central to his methodology since the , posits that farmers can generate all necessary nutrients and pest controls endogenously, thereby avoiding the cycles associated with conventional farming. Regarding yields, Palekar claims ZBNF matches or exceeds conventional outputs across crops, attributing this to enhanced microbial activity and mulching rather than external amendments. In a 2017 interview, he cited achieving 40 quintals per hectare of under ZBNF, surpassing the 26 quintals per hectare reported as the maximum for chemical-based farming in . He has similarly demonstrated higher yields in farmer trials, reporting transitions from yields as low as 2-3 quintals per acre in degraded chemical-farmed s to 10-15 quintals per acre within 2-3 seasons using ZBNF protocols, without expansions. These assertions are presented as replicable through his four pillars—Jeevamrita, Bijamrita, mulching, and whapasa ( )—and have been promoted via on-site workshops since 2003.

Empirical Experiments and Anecdotal Evidence

Subhash Palekar developed Zero Budget Natural Farming through a series of personal experiments on his own farm from 1989 to 1995, after experiencing crop failures and farmer suicides linked to chemical-intensive conventional agriculture in his region. During this period, he tested indigenous cow-based preparations such as Jeevamrut (a microbial culture from cow dung, urine, and other natural elements) and Beejamrut (seed treatment solution), alongside practices like mulching (Acchadana) and moisture conservation (Whapasa), claiming these restored soil vitality and enabled yields surpassing chemical methods without external inputs. Palekar's approach emphasized observation of native farming ecosystems, asserting that desi (indigenous) cow breeds provide all necessary microbial diversity for plant nutrition, a claim derived from his trial-and-error validation rather than controlled peer-reviewed trials. Palekar has conducted numerous on-farm demonstrations across , inviting skeptical farmers to witness crop performance under ZBNF protocols, often reporting anecdotal successes such as pest resistance and bountiful harvests from minimal interventions. Adopting farmers frequently cite personal testimonies of drastic cost reductions—approaching zero for purchased seeds, fertilizers, and pesticides—and improved after 2–3 years of implementation, with examples from regions like and where participants claim doubled incomes from crops like and . In , where ZBNF scaled to over 600,000 farmers by 2020, anecdotal accounts highlight and reduced labor migration, attributing these to lower input expenses and perceived crop resilience during droughts. Limited empirical studies provide mixed validation of these claims. A 2017–2020 trial by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research's Indian Institute of Farming Systems Research (ICAR-IIFSR) across four locations tested Palekar's formulations on and , finding cultivation costs 18–23% lower than integrated but yields 37% lower for (2,377 kg/ vs. 3,507 kg/) and 54% lower for (1,313 kg/ vs. 3,216 kg/), resulting in 58% reduced net returns due to insufficient nutrient supply (e.g., met only 39.5% of plant needs). Conversely, self-reported and crop-cut experiments in (e.g., Galab et al., 2019, surveying 1,365 farmers) indicated median net income increases of 35% (ranging 10–80%) for crops like (+16–28% yields) driven by input savings of 11–41%, though yields declined 7–33% in multi-year data. assessments in these studies showed partial microbial improvements but no superior carbon levels compared to controls, raising concerns over long-term nutrient depletion without synthetic replenishment. Overall, while cost reductions are consistently documented, yield gains remain unproven in rigorous, long-term controlled experiments, with anecdotal enthusiasm often outpacing replicable data.

Adoption and Impact

Spread Among Farmers

Subhash Palekar's Zero Budget Natural Farming (ZBNF) initially spread among farmers in through hands-on workshops and on-farm demonstrations he began conducting in the mid-1990s, emphasizing in inputs derived from local cow breeds to address rising input costs and debt burdens. By the early , adoption extended to , where it evolved into a peasant-led movement starting around 2002, attracting smallholder farmers disillusioned with chemical-intensive amid agrarian crises like farmer suicides. In , estimates indicate 60,000 to 100,000 farmers had adopted ZBNF practices by the late 2010s, often through peer-to-peer learning and Palekar's advocacy events. The most rapid expansion occurred in following state government endorsement in 2016 via the Rythu Sadhikara Samstha () program, which organized large-scale training for community master trainers—practicing ZBNF farmers—who then disseminated techniques to peers. By 2021, this effort covered approximately 750,000 farmers and farm workers across 100,000 hectares, up from 40,000 farmers in 2016-17, with the state targeting conversion of all 6 million farmers and 8 million hectares under climate-resilient ZBNF variants. Adoption in was driven by subsidized inputs for initial setup and promises of halved costs, though actual uptake varied by , with higher rates among farmers (42.3% of holdings in the state). Spread to other states like and remained more sporadic and farmer-initiated, relying on Palekar's books, seminars, and local networks rather than uniform policy support, resulting in lower documented numbers—such as thousands in Maharashtra surveys where 87.5% of ZBNF practitioners reported ease of input procurement. Nationally, over 1.6 lakh farmers across nearly 1,000 villages practiced ZBNF with some state assistance by the early , though independent estimates highlight uneven implementation and reliance on anecdotal success stories for propagation. Factors contributing to included perceived reductions in external input dependency and appeals to traditional practices, but adoption rates stagnated in regions lacking institutional backing or facing yield variability.

Government Endorsements and Policy Integration

The initiated the adoption of Zero Budget Natural Farming (ZBNF) in 2016 under Chief Minister , rebranding it as Andhra Pradesh Community Managed (APCNF) to promote chemical-free agriculture across the state. The program aimed to transition 6 million farmers to ZBNF practices by 2024, positioning as the world's first state-wide natural farming initiative, with an emphasis on reducing input costs and subsidies on fertilizers and . At the national level, endorsed ZBNF during a February 2019 address in , describing it as a potential "mass movement" to raise awareness among farmers and integrate sustainable practices into broader . The has supported ZBNF implementation through the Capital Investment Subsidy Scheme (CISS) under the Soil Health Management program, providing 100% assistance to state governments and agencies for infrastructure like bio-input resource centers. By March 2022, over Rs. 4,980 lakh had been allocated to eight states—, , , , , , , and —for ZBNF promotion, enabling pilot projects and farmer training. Karnataka's government explored ZBNF integration in 2018, with state agriculturists like Subhash Palekar advocating its suitability across agro-climatic zones, though adoption remained experimental compared to Andhra Pradesh's comprehensive rollout. Nationally, ZBNF aligns with initiatives like the National Mission for , though its policy embedding varies by state, prioritizing cost reduction and over chemical dependency.

Scientific Evaluation and Criticisms

Validation Attempts and Failures

Scientific institutions in , including the of Agricultural Sciences (), have rejected Zero Budget Natural Farming (ZBNF) due to insufficient supporting its claims of superior yields and cost savings without external inputs. critiques emphasized Palekar's unscientific assertions, such as the exclusive efficacy of dung from indigenous cows and the rejection of testing, noting that ZBNF lacks controlled trials demonstrating sufficiency across diverse agro-climatic conditions. Independent validation efforts, such as preliminary trials at G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, revealed a 30% shortfall in ZBNF plots compared to conventional methods after initial seasons, attributing this to inadequate supply from Jivamrit (providing only about 750 grams per acre per season, far below soil requirements). These trials, designed as multi-year comparisons, highlight failures in replicating Palekar's anecdotal high-yield demonstrations under standardized conditions, with full results pending after five crop cycles. Large-scale implementations, like Andhra Pradesh's promotion of ZBNF (rebranded as Managed ), faced scalability challenges, with modeling indicating potential 20-48% yield reductions in high-input systems due to limited biological (52-80% of conventional levels) and unaddressed deficiencies. While some low-input farmers reported initial yield gains, broader evaluations noted risks of income declines for higher-productivity farms without supplemental , contributing to uneven adoption and abandonment in regions like , where significant numbers of practitioners reverted to chemical farming after failing to sustain incomes. Reviews of ZBNF literature, including analyses, consistently conclude that its core premises—such as self-sufficiency without testing—remain unvalidated by peer-reviewed data, with practitioner self-reports in state appraisals (e.g., and ) deemed unreliable due to lack of controls and toward positive outcomes. These failures underscore the absence of causal mechanisms explaining claimed benefits, prompting calls for rigorous, independent field experiments before integration.

Key Scientific and Practical Objections

Critics argue that Zero Budget Natural Farming (ZBNF) lacks empirical validation through controlled, peer-reviewed experiments, relying instead on anecdotal demonstrations and Palekar's personal trials without standardized methodologies or replication across diverse agro-climatic zones. Palekar's dismissal of mainstream agronomy, including testing and balancing, as unnecessary or harmful, contravenes established principles of and , where depleted soils—common in intensively farmed regions of —require targeted replenishment beyond what and mixtures can provide. Nutrient supply in ZBNF, centered on preparations like Jeevamrutha (fermented solution), fails to deliver sufficient macronutrients (, , ) or micronutrients in measurable quantities to sustain high yields long-term, particularly in phosphorus-deficient lateritic soils prevalent in parts of southern . Independent analyses indicate that while short-term mulching and microbial inoculation may boost initial moisture retention and earthworm activity, they do not address underlying gaps, leading to potential yield stagnation or decline after 2–3 seasons without external amendments. This is evidenced by modeling studies projecting yield reductions of up to 20–30% in scaled-up systems under nutrient-limited conditions, challenging Palekar's claims of equivalence or superiority to conventional methods. Practically, ZBNF's insistence on indigenous (desi) cow breeds excludes smallholders without access to them, as hybrid or non-native cows produce urine and dung deemed ineffective by proponents, creating dependency barriers in regions like where dairy genetics differ. Labor demands for preparing inputs like Bijamrutha () and exceed those of mechanized conventional farming, offsetting purported cost savings, with actual expenses including and often unaccounted for in "zero budget" . In implementations, farmers reported initial yield drops of 30–40% and erosion of confidence due to inconsistent from extracts, highlighting scalability issues in rainfed or high-rainfall areas prone to fungal outbreaks. Furthermore, ZBNF's rejection of composting or vermiculture—labeling them as disruptive to natural microbial consortia—ignores causal evidence that diversified decomposition enhances soil organic carbon more reliably than single-source cow inputs, risking imbalances in and pH stability over time. While some field trials in showed no immediate yield penalty, long-term data gaps persist, with critics noting in proponent-led evaluations that overlook failures in marginal soils or during droughts. These objections underscore ZBNF's vulnerability to environmental variability, where unverified assumptions about "nature's intelligence" substitute for adaptive, data-driven practices.

Recognition and Publications

Awards and Honors

In 2016, Subhash Palekar was conferred the , India's fourth-highest civilian honor, by the in recognition of his development and promotion of Zero Budget Natural Farming (ZBNF). This made him the first practicing farmer to receive the award, highlighting his practical innovations in over theoretical or institutional contributions. Earlier, in 2005, Palekar received the Basava Shri Award from Murugh Matha in for his work in advancing methods aligned with traditional and ecological principles. In 2019, he was awarded an honorary (D.Sc.) degree by Dr. Avadh University in , acknowledging his empirical contributions to agricultural practices without reliance on chemical inputs. These honors reflect endorsements from governmental, institutional, and regional bodies, though they have not universally quelled scientific debates over ZBNF's efficacy.

Books and Advocacy Efforts

Palekar has authored over 20 books in , four in English, and three in , primarily focusing on the principles and practices of , which he developed in the mid-1990s after observing traditional farming methods on his family's land. Key English titles include How to Practice ?, The Philosophy of Spiritual Farming (Part 1), The Principles of Spiritual Farming (Part 2), and The Symbiosis of Spiritual Farming (Part 3), which outline ZBNF's core elements such as Jeevamrit (a microbial culture from and urine), Beejamrit (seed treatment), mulching for moisture retention, and to mimic natural ecosystems, emphasizing without external chemical inputs. These works frame ZBNF as a low-cost alternative to chemical-intensive , drawing from Palekar's fieldwork across where he tested methods yielding reported profits without purchased seeds or fertilizers. Through , Palekar has conducted thousands of on-farm demonstrations, seminars, and "Shivar Rounds" (field training sessions) since the early , training over 400,000 farmers by in states like , , and to adopt ZBNF as a remedy for debt-driven suicides and input costs. His efforts include direct farmer outreach, such as two-day workshops emphasizing pest management via cow-based preparations and weed control through mulching, often held on adopting farms to demonstrate live results. Palekar's campaigns position ZBNF against the Revolution's legacy, advocating for indigenous cow breeds over hybrids and rejecting or vermiculture as market-dependent, though critics note his methods rely on unverified claims from anecdotal trials rather than controlled studies. By 2019, his influenced state-level pilots, like 's Community Mobilized Natural Farming program, which scaled ZBNF-inspired practices to millions of acres under government support.

References

  1. [1]
    The Subhash Palekar Natural Farming method
    ... Palekar was born in 1949, to a family of farmers in a small village in the Vidarbha region of Maharashtra. Inclined towards studying agriculture, he ...Missing: biography | Show results with:biography
  2. [2]
    Subhash Palekar - Manavata
    This agriculturist is the creator of the 'Zero Budget Natural Farming' model, a method that has been creating waves in the farming community in India.
  3. [3]
    [PDF] Zero Budget Natural Farming - ICRIER
    The focus of the programme was to enhance farm income in harmony with nature by adopting low-cost climate resilient Subhash Palekar Natural Farming System.
  4. [4]
    People in Agriculture - Subhash Palekar - Taro Pumps
    As a pioneer of the ZBNF system, Palekar highlights various aspects of natural farming that help farmers in many ways, including higher crop productivity. ZBNF ...
  5. [5]
    Natural agriculture: The man behind 'zero-budget spiritual farming'
    Feb 11, 2016 · Palekar is a pioneer of 'zero-budget spiritual farming', a technique that he claims has over 40 lakh adherents, three-fourths of them in South India.
  6. [6]
    Organic farming will take India the Sri Lanka way: Palekar
    Jul 24, 2022 · Padma Shri awardee Subhash Palekar, who became synonymous with natural farming three years ago, has warned of India going the Sri Lanka way if the country ...Missing: achievements | Show results with:achievements
  7. [7]
    Budget & Zero Budget Farming: A response to Subhash Palekar
    Aug 15, 2019 · Influential natural farming advocate Subhash Palekar recently approved the use of Genetically Modified crops in his well-known “Zero Budget Natural Farming- ...
  8. [8]
    Open Letter to Subhash Palekar-ji, on his comparison of Organic ...
    Jul 30, 2019 · Open Letter to Subhash Palekar-ji, on his comparison of Organic Farming to Atom Bomb. By Organic Farmers and their leadersonJul. 30, 2019in ...
  9. [9]
    A critical analysis of the Zero Budget Natural Farming paradigm
    Jan 25, 2023 · This article analyses the Zero Budget Natural Farming (ZBNF) movement in India pioneered by Subhash Palekar. The first part of the text delves ...Missing: evidence | Show results with:evidence
  10. [10]
    (PDF) Subhash Palekar Natural Farming Vis-À-Vis Conventional ...
    Sep 4, 2024 · Subhash Palekar Natural Farming (SPNF) earlier known as Zero Budget Natural Farming envisages ecological processes that prohibit the use of chemicals to soil ...
  11. [11]
    [PDF] Padma Shri Dr. Subhash Palekar - Institute Colloquium
    Apr 28, 2025 · Subhash Palekar, born on 2 February 1949 in Belora village, Amravati district, Maharashtra, is a celebrated Indian agriculturist, author, and ...Missing: family background
  12. [12]
    Zero Budget farming inventor Subhash Palekar is PM Narendra ...
    Jul 6, 2019 · Subhash Palekar, the 70-year-old humble agriculture science graduate from Belora village of Vidarbha's Amravati district who developed the Zero Budget Farming ...Missing: biography | Show results with:biography<|control11|><|separator|>
  13. [13]
    http://palekarzerobudgetspiritualfarming.org/aboutme.html
  14. [14]
    Subhash Palekar is the first active farmer to receive the Padmashri ...
    Jun 9, 2016 · In 1972, Subhash Palekar graduated with a degree in B. Sc in Agriculture. He returned home eager to implement all that he had learnt in college.Missing: biography | Show results with:biography
  15. [15]
    With zero-cost methods, this 68-year-old scientist is fighting farmer ...
    Dec 13, 2017 · Having learnt chemical farming at the college, he joined his father in agriculture in 1972 and used his knowledge to employ chemical farming in ...Missing: early | Show results with:early
  16. [16]
    Subhash Palekar Padma Shri Awarded In 2016 - Edubilla.com
    He was educated in Bachelor's Degree in Agriculture at Nagpur. During college education he was working with tribals about their problems in Satpuda Tribal ...
  17. [17]
    https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1489790
  18. [18]
    SPK Mass Movement - Subhash Palekar Krushi (SPK)
    I was born on 1st July 1949 at the village Khadaksawanga, Dt- Yeotmal, Maharashtra my maternal uncle house that is now merged in the Bembala dam water. I was ...
  19. [19]
    [PDF] Zero Budget Natural Farming - Biotica Research Today
    During 1986-88, Palekar conducted extensive research on forest vegetation and uncovered the potential of natural systems within forests to foster their growth ...
  20. [20]
    Zero Budget Natural Farming - PIB
    Dec 17, 2021 · Zero Budget Natural Farming (ZNBF) means raising crops without using any fertilizers and pesticides or any other external materials.<|separator|>
  21. [21]
    Introducing Zero Budget Natural Farming in India - The Borgen Project
    Jul 21, 2025 · Researchers have increasingly observed that Zero Budget Natural Farming (ZBNF) holds the potential to substantially improve agricultural ...
  22. [22]
    [PDF] ZERO BUDGET NATURAL FARMING (ZBNF) - Agriallis
    Palekar, S. 2006. The principles of spiritual farming II. 2nd ed. Amravati: Zero Budget. Natural Farming Research, Development & Extension Movement, Amravati,.
  23. [23]
    This Farmer Won the Padmashri for His Zero Budget Natural ...
    May 22, 2016 · After witnessing the harmful effects of chemical farming, Subash Palekar, a B.Sc in Agriculture, developed the Zero Budget Natural Farming model ...
  24. [24]
    Subhash Palekar Natural Farming: Principles, Benefits, And Practices
    Sep 29, 2025 · Subhash Palekar's organic farming method is a natural way to grow crops without using chemical fertilizers or pesticides.
  25. [25]
    Natural Farming, Zero-Budget Natural Farming (ZBNF) - PMF IAS
    Components of Zero-Budget Natural Farming (ZBNF) · Jivamrita/jeevamrutha: it is a fermented microbial culture. · Bijamrita: Bijamrita effectively protects young ...Missing: key elements
  26. [26]
    Towards redesign at scale through zero budget natural farming in ...
    Jan 12, 2020 · ZBNF is a system developed in the 1980s by Indian farmer, agricultural scientist and extension agent Subhash Palekar who established ZBNF after ...
  27. [27]
    https://discuss.farmnest.com/t/natural-farming-workshop-by-shri-subhash-palekar/355
  28. [28]
    General Overview of Zero Budget Natural Farming (ZBNF)
    ZBNF is based on what Palekar calls the four wheels of ZBNF, shown in Table 1. Bijamrita (a seed treatment) and Jivamrita (a soil inoculant) are microbial ...Missing: key elements
  29. [29]
    The Making and Unmaking of Zero Budget Natural Farming in India
    Apr 15, 2025 · ZBNF was discussed by three farmers who attended the events organised by Subhas Palekar (2013). As the second wave of the pandemic hit, an ...
  30. [30]
    Zero Budget Natural Farming With Reference to Punjab Conditions ...
    Natural farming means farming without using chemicals. Subhash Palekar, the explorer of ZBNF, introduces many principles and methods of ZBNF. Zero Budget ...
  31. [31]
    [PDF] Zero Budget Natural Farming in Andhra Pradesh: A Review of ...
    Zero Budget Natural Farming was developed by Subhash Palekar in the mid-1990s in Maharashtra (Biswas 2020). The practice originally consisted of four core.
  32. [32]
    Zero Budget Natural Farming - An empirical analysis - OAR@ICRISAT
    Sep 9, 2024 · ZBNF was found to have partially improved soil health compared to lands of non-adopters possibly due to building the heterotrophic microbial ...Missing: criticisms evidence
  33. [33]
    [PDF] evaluation of zero budget natural farming (zbnf)
    up programmes for ZBNF. The accurate number of farmers who adopted ZBNF is not available. In Karnataka for example, an estimated 60,000 to 1,00,000 farmers have.
  34. [34]
    (PDF) Zero Budget Natural Farming in India -from inception to ...
    Apr 30, 2019 · This paper delineates the growth of Zero Budget Natural Farming (ZBNF) in India. From its origins as a peasant-led social movement in the state of Karnataka,
  35. [35]
    [PDF] Potential and Constraints of Zero Budgeted Natural Farming (ZBNF)
    In fact, the AP government is aiming to cover all the. 6 million farmers and 8 million hectares in the state under the initiative of Climate. Resilient Zero ...
  36. [36]
    [PDF] Impact of Zero Budget Natural Farming on Crop Yields in Andhra ...
    Feb 1, 2022 · Andhra Pradesh has the highest percentage of tenant holding farmers of all the states of India (42.3% compared to the national average of 13.7% ...Missing: rate | Show results with:rate
  37. [37]
    [PDF] Perception of farmers on attributes of zero budget natural farming
    Feb 23, 2025 · In the state of Maharashtra, most of the ZBNF farmers (87.50%) and. Non-ZBNF farmers (70.00%) were strongly agreed that it was easy to procure ...Missing: rate | Show results with:rate
  38. [38]
    Zero Budget Natural Farming - TNPSC Current Affairs
    According to the Economic Survey, more than 1.6 lakh farmers are practising the ZBNF in almost 1,000 villages using some form of state support, although the ...
  39. [39]
    [PDF] Adoption of Natural Farming and its Effect on Crop Yield and ...
    view, Subhash Palekar's Natural Farming method gives quick results compared to. Fukuoka's Natural Farming. He has seen drastic increase in arecanut yield ...<|control11|><|separator|>
  40. [40]
    The natural farming model of Andhra Pradesh - CGIAR
    Dec 18, 2023 · The state government of AP launched Zero Budget Natural Farming in 2016 as an alternative to chemical-based and capital-intensive agriculture.
  41. [41]
    APCNF: Andhra Pradesh Community Managed Natural Farming
    Farmers in regions with eruptive climate conditions are adopting pre-monsoon dry sowing as an eco-friendly and sustainable farming approach. Using primary ...ZBNF Archives · Who We Are · Academy · NF Resources
  42. [42]
    Andhra Pradesh to become India's first Zero Budget Natural Farming ...
    Jun 2, 2018 · The Government of Andhra Pradesh has launched a scale-out plan to transition 6 million farms/farmers to 100% chemical-free agriculture by 2024.
  43. [43]
    Andhra Pradesh's Zero Budget Natural Farming
    Andhra Pradesh is shifting six million farmers to Zero Budget Natural Farming (ZBNF) by 2024, making it the world's first 100% natural farming state.
  44. [44]
    Adoption of Zero Budget Natural Farming (ZBNF) - PIB
    Mar 29, 2022 · 4980.99 lakh has been released to 8 States namely Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Kerala, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh and ...
  45. [45]
    ZBNF is suitable for all of State's agro-climatic zones: Subhash Palekar
    Sep 17, 2018 · Andhra Pradesh government has adopted Zero-Budget Natural Farming model and Karnataka is set to experiment with it.Missing: support | Show results with:support
  46. [46]
    https://krishibazaar.in/blog/zero-budget-natural-farming-zbnf-in-india-is-it-the-future
  47. [47]
    Top agricultural scientists body rejects zero budget natural farming
    Sep 10, 2019 · He (Palekar) is further saying that ZBNF is effective only if dung and urine from black-coloured Kapila cows is used and farmers sow traditional ...
  48. [48]
    Stirring up the truth about Zero Budget Natural Farming - The Hindu
    Oct 9, 2019 · Unsubstantiated claims. To begin with, ZBNF is hardly zero budget. Many ingredients of Mr. Palekar's formulations have to be purchased. These ...Missing: savings assertions
  49. [49]
    Potential yield challenges to scale-up of zero budget natural farming
    Jan 20, 2020 · In Andhra Pradesh alone, 523,000 farmers have converted 13% of productive agricultural area to ZBNF. However, sustainability of ZBNF is ...
  50. [50]
    [PDF] Zero Budget Natural Farming - A Myth or Reality? - ResearchGate
    As of now there is hardly any scientific evidence to support detrimental effect of judicious use of fertilizers on soil health, crop productivity or farmers' ...
  51. [51]
    Explained: Zero Budget Natural Farming & Efforts to Scale it Up
    Dec 15, 2021 · Palekar has argued that the cost of external inputs such as pesticides and fertilisers were the leading cause of indebtedness and suicides ...<|control11|><|separator|>
  52. [52]
    Blog 142-Zero Budget Natural Farming- is it Scientific and ...
    Mar 18, 2021 · The widespread belief, which Palekar and a few others also share, is that application of chemical fertilizers will destroy the soil properties.<|separator|>
  53. [53]
    What is your opinion about zero budget natural farming?
    Nov 7, 2020 · In my view, zero budget natural farming is not realistic since even the services of the farmer to his own farm has value and should be ...
  54. [54]
    New report outlines potential yield challenges to scale-up of Zero ...
    Jan 21, 2020 · New report outlines potential yield challenges to scale-up of Zero Budget Natural Farming in India | News | The University of Aberdeen.Missing: studies failures
  55. [55]
    Is Zero Budget Natural Farming Right for India? - AgriBusiness Global
    Zero Budget Natural Farming (ZBNF) being encouraged by the government of India with an expectation that this can help in doubling farmers' income. It is too ...Missing: endorsements | Show results with:endorsements
  56. [56]
    (PDF) Understanding Constraints in Zero Budget Natural Farming
    Sep 4, 2024 · Planners faced challenges, such as low initial yields (62.58) and a lack of confidence in using ZBNF inputs (59.54).
  57. [57]
    [PDF] critique and recuperation in Zero Budget Natural Farming, South India
    In the context of the agrarian suicide crisis, Subhash Palekar's Zero Budget Farming was a beacon of hope that could provide a plausible answer to questions ...
  58. [58]
    Zero budget natural farming (ZBNF): Why it is not good for India | IDR
    Oct 16, 2019 · In response to this nation-wide crisis, Subhash Palekar claims Zero Budget Natural Farming is the solution. ... chemical-free farming ...
  59. [59]
    https://www.exoticindiaart.com/book-author/subhash%2Bpalekar/
  60. [60]
    Subash Palekar - Ojhus Anahata Vanam
    Padma shri Subhash Palekar an Indian agriculturist who practiced and has written many books about ZBNF (Zero Budget Natural Farming). Subhash Palekar was born ...Missing: biography | Show results with:biography
  61. [61]
    Subhash Palekar Books List PDF - Scribd
    Rating 5.0 (3) Following books on Zero Budget Spiritual Farming written by Subhash Palekar are available for sale. English 1) The Philosophy of Spiritual Farming? (Part 1) ` ...
  62. [62]
    Zero Budget Natural Farming in India - La Via Campesina
    Aug 30, 2016 · The movement in Karnataka state was born out of collaboration between Mr Subhash Palekar, who put together the ZBNF practices, and the state ...Missing: shift | Show results with:shift
  63. [63]
    Advocating zero budget for natural farming - The Hindu
    Sep 6, 2010 · With his relentless campaign to popularise the Zero Budget Natural Farming technique, Subhash Palekar has emerged as a crusader for the ...
  64. [64]
    *Padmashri Dr. Subhash Palekar Agriculture* *2 day Shivar Round ...
    Feb 12, 2025 · Palekar's native Maharashtra, have reverted to conventional farming after seeing their ZBNF returns drop after a few years, in turn raising ...
  65. [65]
    Budget push for zero budget farming but contradictions mar ...
    Jul 8, 2019 · Called the Climate Resilient Zero Budget Natural Farming (CRZBNF), this approach is inspired by Padma Shri awardee Subhash Palekar, who has been ...