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Towards redesign at scale through zero budget natural farming in Andhra Pradesh, India

Zero Budget Natural Farming (ZBNF) is a form of agricultural system redesign being practiced at scale in India, particularly in the state of Andhra Pradesh. ZBNF is an emerging set of agricultural practices designed dramatically to reduce farmers' direct costs (hence ‘zero budget’) while boosting yields and farm health through the use of non-synthetic inputs sourced locally (‘natural farming’). Andhra Pradesh has set out the aim of ‘rolling out’ ZBNF to all 6 million of the state’s farmers through a state-led programme of training and extension. This article presents data showing statistically significant differences between ZBNF and non-ZBNF yields and farmer incomes at multiple locations and with a variety of crops, as well as preliminary results on farmers’ experiences with crop health and household transitions following the adoption of ZBNF. The authores conclude with reflections on the lessons derived from Andhra Pradesh’s state support for ZBNF.

Title of publication: International Journal of Agricultural Sustainability
Volume: 18
Issue: 1
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Year: 2020
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Country/ies: India
Geographical coverage: Asia and the Pacific
Content language: English
Author: Zareen Pervez Bharucha, Sol Bermejo Mitjans, Jules Pretty ,
Type: Journal article
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