Question : Zero Budget Natural Farming

(a) whether the Government is planning to promote Zero Budget Natural Farming (ZBNF) to double the income of farmers by 2022, if so, the details thereof along with the details of Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana and Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana and whether these are related to ZBNF, if so, the details thereof;

(b) whether the Government is claiming to double income of farmers by 2022 through various schemes, if so, the details of all such schemes announced during the last three years;

(c) whether ZBNF is being practiced by the farmers anywhere in the country, if so, the details thereof; and

(d) whether ZBNF is being used globally, if so, the details thereof?

MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

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(a): Organic farming practices including Zero-Budget Natural Farming (ZBNF) promote use of low cost inputs, hence, lead to savings to farmers. Realizing the potential and benefits of organic farming in the country, Government of India has been promoting organic farming for the welfare of farmers through the dedicated scheme of Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY) since 2015-16. Under PKVY, flexibility is given to States to adopt any model of organic farming including ZBNF depending on farmers’ choice.

Under Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY), States can avail funds for any agriculture development projects including ZBNF with the approval of State Level Sanctioning Committee (SLSC). The State of Andhra Pradesh has been implementing ZBNF under RKVY scheme.

(b): Various interventions have been taken by the Government for implementing recommendations of Doubling of Farmer’s Income (DFI), which are given at Annexure-I.

Contd…2/-

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(c) & (d): The following States are practicing ZBNF under Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) & Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY):

(i) Government of Andhra Pradesh has been promoting ZBNF through Rythu Sadhikara Samstha (RySS). As on date, the programme has reached out to 5.23 lakh farmers in 3011 villages duly touching all 664 mandals in AP, across all the 13 districts, covering an area of 5.01 lakh acres under PKVY and RKVY.

(ii) Karnataka has initiated implementation of ZBNF in the 10 Agro–climatic zones on Operational Research Project (ORP) mode.

(iii) Himachal Pradesh has taken up ZBNF in their State through scheme “Prakritik Kheti Khushal Kisan”.

(iv) Haryana has taken ZBNF in 80 acres land at Gurukul, District Kurukshetra.

(v) Kerala State has planned to take-up ZBNF.