The Government of Andhra Pradesh introduced Zero Budget Natural Farming (ZBNF) in 2016 as an alternative to chemical-based and capital intensive agriculture through its implementing agency Rythu Sadhikara Samstha (RySS). The main objective of the ZBNF is to make agriculture economically viable, agrarian livelihoods profitable, thereby reducing agrarian distress through cost reduction and sustainable agricultural practices that are climate-resilient. ZBNF aims to reduce the cost of cultivation, enhance soil fertility, enhance yields, reduce risks, and protect from uncertainties of climate change by promoting the adoption of an agroecology framework.

The present study is undertaken to examine the impact of agroecological practices such as biological inputs, intense use of land, diversification of crops – intercrops, border crops, bund crops and different models of ZBNF – on the production conditions of farmers including improved soil fertility, improved yield, improved quality of output, improved health of farming community and resilience of crops to droughts, floods and cyclones.