Parisara

ENVIS Newsletter Issue 21

Environmental Management & Policy Research Institute
Department of Forests, Ecology & Environment, Government of Karnataka

July 2010

Natural farming The next green revolution?

INDIAS PLAGUED AGRICULTURE

fter independence, India initiated a large agricultural expansion programme. It aimed at addressing an urgent national need: More food was needed for the nation. Traditional farming methods relied on the use of farmyard manure, compost and the improvement of seeds through selection. Now for the first time chemicals were introduced. They held the promise to give plants nutrients that they cannot find in sufficient quantity in nature. The range of chemicals also included pesticides, herbicides and fungicides to weed out parasites and wild plants. These chemical aides radically changed the way of farming and agricultural output rapidly grew. But so did several problems.

grew larger because also fertilizers and pesticides had to be bought. Farming methods are not the only thing that changed since Independence. The ground water table on which irrigation depends is over-exploited and increasingly depleted. And natural disasters have shown an increase. In the state of Karnataka floods have affected 19 districts since 2001 while droughts were witnessed in as many as 25.

Droughts, crop failures and un-repaid loans sent many farmers into debt traps and despair. It is no secret that across the country large numbers of farmers caught in dept traps are committing suicide every year. Karnataka is among the five The increased use of states with the highest rate chemical fertilizers renders of farmer suicides in India. crops more vulnerable to This is a macabre indicator diseases and insect atof the agrarian crisis and Figure1:Droughtaffectedfarmland tacks. The previously varthe utter hopelessness in ied range of crops increasingly gave way to larger which many farmers live today. monocultures, which make generous breeding grounds for parasites feeding on them because they Many experts have warned that persisting with can find food in such abundance. More parasites chemical agriculture will only prove countermean that more pesticides are required. Besides, productive in the long run and cause irreparable these chemical aids cost money that the farmer damage to soil, health and environment. Instead, reneeds to recover from the sale of his produce. Con- storing soil health by re-adopting non-chemical agrisequently, loans previously taken chiefly for seeds culture would be a path towards sustainability.
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ENTER: NATURAL FARMING

eginning to doubt the wisdom of modern agricultural science, microbiologist, farmer and philosopher Masanobu Fukuoka, born in 1913 in Japan, looked for alternatives. Around 1940 he worked out an answer, which aims at the re-establishment of the natural ecosystem. It is based on the insight that nature is intrinsically in harmony with itself as long as there is no interference of man. Known as natural Figure2:MasanobuFukuoka farming, it is also referred to as Fukuoka method or, in India, as Rishi Kheti meaning agriculture adopted by the sages. The concept aims at reproducing natural conditions that improve soil productivity and growth of plants. It surprises perhaps most because of its simplicity. It does not entail entirely new or innovative methods of growing. It disagrees with the general dictums of modern agricultural science. And it says that if you want to grow crops and vegetables in harmony with nature what you actually need is very, very little. No pesticides: Natural farming is opposed to the use of pesticides. Apart from killing insects and other organisms, pesticides enter the soil and fruit and cause serious health problems when absorbed by humans. No herbicides: In this method, weeds are used rather than killed. Wild growing grass such as rye and clover are grown for mulching. Natural farm orchards are green with grass growing between the trees. The grass prevents soil erosion, holds moisture, propagates microorganisms, produces organic fertilizer, improves soil ventilation and suppresses pests. No fungicides: Natural farming recognizes that indigenous microorganisms and fungi are an integral part of the ecosystem. They have an important role to play and hence, instead of eliminating them, they need to be respected and protected. No tillage: Land is not being ploughed. Instead, earthworms and small animals dig through the soil if they are not disturbed. And while mechanized ploughs drawn by tractors can plough up to 20 cm deep, fragile tiny earthworms dig a surprising 7 meters deep. The key to their services is to allow them to
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work by not interfering with them. The excretions of earthworms turn into the best soil. Because of the absence of tillage the grass seeds in the soil do not come up to the surface as they germinate and die. There are less weed problems than on tilled land. No chemical fertilizers: Nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium, calcium and other common elements of chemical fertilizers are substituted with inputs from exclusively natural sources. For instance, fish amino acid provides nitrogen, eggshells supply calcium and animal bones provide phosphoric acid. These inputs are not only cheap but highly effective. No animal waste: The liquid waste from animal stables is not discharged on the land or rivers outside. The treatment takes place right on the floor which is not made of concrete but of soil on which rice straw, sawdust and fresh soil is strewn. Feces decompose quickly through inherent microorganisms. The combination of sunlight, air circulations and microorganisms keeps the floor dry and fluffy. There is no need of cleaning the area frequently as the waste does not pile up and it leaves very little smell. No installation of any expensive material or equipment is required and the problem of livestock wastewater entering water bodies does not arise. Natural farming takes into account the nutritive cycle and identifies the growth stages of plants and animals. Fertilizers, soil improvers, pest controls, disease cures all made by the farmers using natural materials are supplied as and when needed. Farmers make what they need with ingredients available in nature. Nothing needs to be bought.

Figure3:Fukuokainhiselement

The central guiding tenets are the principles of nature. They are studied in respect of natural mechanisms and the farmers committed to natural farming work accordingly. The materials used are not supplied by agricultural suppliers but by fields, hills, forests, rivers and even oceans. The inputs prepared include indigenous microorganisms, fermented plant juice, oriental herbal nutrient, lactic acid bacteria, fish amino acid, water-soluble calcium phosphate and insect attractants. All these are produced on the farm from locally available material cheaply. This local and non-commercial approach virtually results into zero budget farming. It is eminently suited for small and marginal farmers because of its simplicity, adoptability and drastic cut in cost of cultivation. Its appeal lies in the fact that excellent production levels can be achieved while cultivation costs are at a bare minimum. This ensures and substantially enhances profit margins. Although all the facts are promising, making a beginning with natural farming may not be easy. If the land was previously used for conventional, that is intense chemical farming as is often the case, then the start might be challenging. The aftereffects of chemical methods, especially the lack of microbiological activities and the deficit of natural nutrients can be overcome only gradually. The ecosystem requires time to find, restore and improve its natural balance. The transition from conventional to natural farming is therefore likely to produce discouraging results in the first years. However, the process can be accelerated with extensive mulching. Mulch supplies some natural nutrients and supports the rapid restoration of biological activities in the soil. So the main recipe for the first years is faith and patience.

Figure5:MasanobuFukuokaataworkshopinIndiain2002

In summary, the practice of natural farming may not seem innovative from a technical point of view. Yet the deep understanding of the science and wisdom of mother nature and her capacity to achieve a balanced, self-sustainable state that provides everything it needs in perfect harmony is of tremendous practical relevance. While natural farming resembles the roots of human agriculture, it is practiced with a profound understanding of science and the aim to emulate and not to outsmart nature.
Natural farming and ecology Absolutely no chemicals are being used Improves soil fertility and rejuvenates soil productivity Increases organic matter Enhances biodiversity Maintains a balance between parasite and predator Emulates nature Virtually zero budget farming Suitable for small and marginal farmers Highly effective Achieves high profit margins Success in conversion from conventionally cultivated land takes time

Natural farming and business

Downsides

Figure4:NaturalfarminCambodia 3

AGRICULTURAL METHODS A COMPARISON

Conventional farming

Organic farming he fact is not widely known yet the roots of organic farming lie indeed in India. Sir Albert Howard, an English botanist born in 1873 worked in India as agricultural advisor between 1906 and 1931. Stationed in Indore he studied and gradually adopted cultivation practices from local peasants and began to promote composting to restore precious nutrients in the soil. Upon his return he developed the methods of organic farming further, documented them and began with their promotion through the Soil Association in England and the Rodale Institute in the USA. In the 1940s organic farming emerged as a broad movement in response to the problems of conventional farming. It relies on green principles such as crop rotation, biological pest control, composting and manure that aim to maintain soil productivity. It promotes practices in line with nature, rather than against it. The use of synthetic pesticides, plant growth regulators, livestock feed additives and genetically modified organisms is banned, save a few and tightly controlled exceptions where green answers to controlling pests are yet to be found. Organic agriculture contributes to sustainable development. The products, although more expensive, are generally tastier and sometimes more nutritious than their conventional counterparts. Local and international markets have tremendous growth prospects and offer creative producers opportunities to improve income and living conditions. Starting in the 1970s, a multitude of certification systems for organically grown produces were introduced in many countries to identify genuinely organic products in an increasingly complex market.

Figure6:Chemicalspraystocombatpests

n the early 20th century advances in agricultural sciences led to the emergence of modern farming. At the end of World War II, modern farming had spread over the entire world. Because of its prevalence it is considered to be conventional. Modern farming brought a departure from ancient practices that, once upon a time, were in alliance with nature. Conventional farming aims at maximizing the output of a narrow range of species. This is achieved by giving plants exactly what they need and removing everything else. Plants are supplied with synthetic fertilizers that suit the needs of the species grown in respect of soil and climate. Herbicides remove unwanted weeds, pesticides eliminate pests and other less harmful insects that come in search of food and habitat. Fungi are kept in check with fungicides. This approach looks at the plant in isolation from nature in a mechanic if not simplistic way. It is not surprising that the imbalance caused in the method backfires. On one hand we incur a substantial loss of soil fertility, increasing vulnerabilities to pest attacks and a drastic loss of biodiversity. On the other hand, the mass introduction of pesticides resulted in their progressive entry into the ground water and human food supplies where they compromise human health. This self-punishment does not appear entirely undeserved. The systemic imbalances of conventional farming are now imagined to be mended with even greater force: genetically modified crops, which today stand at the brink of commercialisation.

Figure7:Compostmanureusedinorganicfarming 4

Biodynamic farming

Permaculture

iodynamic agriculture was introduced by philosopher and educationalist Dr Rudolf Steiner, born 1861 in Austria. In a series of lectures in 1924 he offered suggestions to farmers concerned about the apparent loss of soil fertility in conventional farming. His approach, which predates the organic movement, focused squarely on the restoration and nourishment of soil fertility. While the spectrum of methods share a broad sameness with natural and organic farming, it also uses certain unique methods. These are based on the belief that a consonance of the relationships of soil, plants, animals and man as a self-nourishing system can be achieved better with the aid of medicinal properties and cosmic and terrestrial "forces".

erhaps the youngest method of all, permaculture was developed during the 1960s. The Austrian farmer Josef Sepp Holzer, born 1942, was its first known practitioner. The theoretical development came only in the 70s and was led by two Australians: Bill Mollison, born 1928, and David Holm gren, born 1955. Their main interest was to develop a stable agricultural system in light of the problems intrinsic to conventional farming which had already acquired inFigure9:BillMollisonmeets dustrial proporMasanobuFukuoka1986intheUSA tions. Given its relatively young age and interest in a holistic, sustainable approach, it is not surprising that permaculture was inspired by the ideas and exponents of other postconventional agricultural methods. While Holzer appears to have worked on his own, Mollison and Holmgren benefitted from global networks in which experiences with non-conventional methods including natural farming were exchanged. The result led to something larger then than a mere farming method: An approach to agriculture and human settlements modeled on the natural ecosystem and the interdependencies between its members. Permaculture strives for an integration of dwellings with plants, animals, soil and water into stable, productive and harmonious communities. The focus is not on any of these elements themselves, but on the quality of the relationships created between them.

Figure8:Biodynamicfarm

Like natural and organic farming, biodynamic farming excludes synthetic chemicals and emphasizes the use of manure and compost. The use of specific compost preparations however is unique. These preparations comprise of selected plants (e.g. Achillea millefolium, Matricaria recutita) which for a period of time are buried underground alongside peat or animal intestines (minerals). Upon fermentation they are applied to compost in homeopathic quantities. Biodynamic farming follows an astrological calendar for planting, cultivation and harvesting. It considers soil and farm as living organisms. Biodynamic farming has been adopted in most European countries, the USA, Australia and in some Asian countries. It was introduced to India in the 1990s and is practiced today by about 500 farmers across the country. Indian biodynamic farmers grow papaya, pepper, cocoa, vanilla, sugar cane, cotton, wheat and, in Darjeeling and the Nilgiris, tea. The ISKON farm near Mysore is a prominent example in Karnataka.
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Figure10:Permacultureintegratesabioticintobioticsystems

Natural farming in Karnataka, India A case study

The ultimate goal of natural farming is not the growing of crops but the cultivation and perfection of human beings.
Masanobu Fukuoka

ack in 1988 Kailash Murthy, a young man from Karnataka with a promising banking career did something unexpected. He discovered that he wanted to be a farmer. He quit his job and farmer is what he became. Inspired by Masanobu Fukuoka, the Japanese founder of natural farming and encouraged by Prof. Nanjunda Swamy, he plunged into uncertainties and established one of Karnatakas first natural farms. He started his adventure on a family property of 6.5 acres 120 km away from Bangalore in Doddinduvadi, ten kilometers from Kollegal in Karnatakas Chamarajnagar district. The farm is situated near a seasonal stream in a relatively low-lying area. It has an almost ideal level of water and sunlight. It was previously cultivated through the conventional method and, as expected, there were the usual difficulties in converting. The soil had lost its natural fertility. Now since more than two decades a variety of crops are cultivated here naturally. Pesticides, insecticides, synthetic fertilizers and even tilling are a thing of the past. And in their absence, nature and a combination of patience and hard work have turned this place into a little paradise: A natural untilled forest teeming with life. With around 300 cultivated species it has rich, varied vegetation. It provides habitat to dung beetles, earthFigure11:Pepperplantationamidstarecanuttrees

worms, termites, snakes, butterflies, bees, spiders, birds and even peacocks and many, many other species that are less visible. The farms ecosystem is busy and, for an ecosystem, busy means healthy. Plants grow, birds chirp and twitter, microbes ferment and decompose, leaves absorb carbon and generate oxygen, rain recharges the ground water, roots keep the soil in place, earthworms dig deep and butterflies fly happily. The ecosystem created a microclimate of a rich natural forest in harmony with itself. Its owner has every reason to be proud.

Figure12:India>Karnataka>Charmarajnagardistrict>KollegalAsatelliteviewofthenaturalfarm 6

Vegetation

he plants grown comprise of medicinal and aromatic plants on one side and horticultural and agricultural crops on the other. They include areca

nut, banana, Barbedos cherry, citrus, coconut, custard apple, drumstick, grape, guava, jamoon, mandarin, mango, mosambi, paddy, papaya, pepper, ramphal and sapota. The farm accounts for 32 different tree families represented by 111 species.

Table1:Treespeciesonthefarm Common (botanical) name 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Family: Meliaceae Neem tree (Azadiracta indica) Family: Fabaceace Honne (Pterocarpus marsupium) Rose wood (Dalbergia latifolia) Kakke (Cassia fistula) Bage (Albizia lebbeck) Kadu Seege (Acasia spinosa) Nilotka (Acascia nilotica Bilizale) Use Medicinal use Medicinal use Timber Medicinal use Timber Gum Non-timber forest product (NTFP) Timber, medicinal Timber, medicinal Matchwood, NTEP Fruits and timber Multipurpose, economically important Multipurpose, economically important Multipurpose, economically important Multipurpose, economically impudent Timber Fruit, edible Edible fruit Edible fruit Edible fruit, medicinal Fruits, medicinal Fruits, medicinal, economically important Fruits, medicinal, economically important Fruits, medicinal, economically important Common (botanical) name Family: Annonaceae Seethapala 26 (Annonas squamosa) 27 Ramphala (Annona sp) Family: Rutaceae 28 Curry leaf (Murraya koengii) Family: Leguminaceace 29 Sesbania spp 30 Nugge (Moringa oleifera) Family: Acanthaceae Andrographis serpyllifolia Arystasia gangatica Barleria buxifolia Blepharis asparima Jestica betonica Jesticia simplex Rungia sp Tjumbergia alata Family: Aizoaceae Medicinal, economically important Green manure Medicinal, edible leaves & fruits, economically important Medicinal Use Fruits, medicinal, economically important Fruits, medicinal, economically important

8 Acacia catechu 9 10 11 12 13 14 Family: Verbenaceae Teak (Tectona granids) Family: Myrtaceae n/a (Syzgium cumuni) Silk cotton (Bombax malabarica) Family: Anacardiaceae Mango (Mangifera indica) Family: Palmae Coconut (Cocos nucifera) Areca nut (Areca catechu)

31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38

39 Bilizale (Acacia catechu) 40 Molluga dishcha 41 Trianthema triquetra Family: Iamaranthaceae 42 Acharanthus aspera 43 Aerva amata 44 Amaranthus spinosus 45 Amaranthus tricolor 46 Amaranthus viridis 47 Alternanthera sessilis 48 Celosia argentea 49 Digera muricata 50 Gomphrena celosoides 51 Pupila lappacea Family: Apiaceae 52 Centella asiatica Family: Asclepiadceae 53 Asclepias curassavica 54 Calotriopis gigantea 55 Tylophora indica 56 Cryptolepis bruchananii Family: Asteraceae 57 Acanthospernuim hispidum 58 Ageratum conyzoides 59 Bidens biternata

Economically important

15 Guava (Psidium gujava) 16 Chelle (Cordiya myxa) 17 18 19 20 21 22 Halasu (Arto carpus integrefolias) Butter fruit (Persea americana) Leachee (Litchi chinensis) Elchi (Zizephus sp) Pomgranate (Punica granatum) Family: Rutaceae Lemon (Cirtus limon)

Medicinal, weed herb Medicinal, weed herb

Medicinal, herb Medicinal, herb Medicinal, herb Medicinal, herb Medicinal, herb Medicinal, herb Medicinal, herb

23 Sweet orange (Citrus sp) 24 Pommello (Cirtus maxima) Family: Musaceae Banana indigenous & exotic 25 (Musa Paradisica)


Common (botanical) name 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 Use 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 Common (botanical) name Use Family: Asteraceae (contd.) Eclipta alba Medicinal, herb Eupatorium odaratum Weed Flaveria australasica Gynura spp Lagasca mollis Parthenium hysterophorus Weed Sonchus oleraceus Spilanthes calva Synedrellia nodiflora Tridax procumbens Medicinal, herb Xanthnium strumaruum Weed Family: Boraginaceae Cynoglossum Sp Trichodesma indicum Family: Capparidaceae Cleome monophylla Family: Commelinaceae Cyanotis spp Family: Cucurbitaceae Bryonopsis SPP Melothria maderaspatana Coecinia grandis Medicinal, climber Family: Cyperaceae Cyperus rotundus Medicinal, grass Cyperus spp Medicinal grass Family: Elatinaceae Bergia ammanioides Family: Euphorbiaceae Acalypha indica Medicinal herb Croton bonplandianum Euphorbia thymiflora Euphorbia turta Euphorbia sp Family: Euphorbiaceae (contd.) Jatropha glandlifera Biofuel Jatropha gossypifolia Biofuel Kriganelia Medicinal herb Phyllanthus maderspatenis Medicinal herb Phyllanthus fraternus Medicinal use Phyllanthus simplex Medicinal use Family: Abaceae Cassia sp Weed Cassia serricea Weed Santalum album Aromatic medicinal Family: Solanaceae Cordiospemum helicacarbam Datura sp Medicinal shrub Solanum nigrum Medicinal herb Solanum torum Medicinal herb Solanum xanthocarpum Medicinal herb Family: Poaceae Chloris barbata Chloris sp Cynodon dactylon Eragrostis sp Panicum prostratum Setaria sp Family: Tiliaceae Cornchorus sp Triumfetta rhomboidea Family: Verbinaceae Lantana camara Weed Priva leptostchya Stachystarpheta indica Weed Family: Zygophyllaceae Triblus terrestris Weed, medicinal use
Source: Kailash Murthy, 2009

The yield

Figure13:Theinterwovennessofspecieslendstheplaceamysti caltouch:Drumstickshangingdownatree

xperience suggests that beyond the initial years after conversion, the yield is consistently equal or better than in conventional farming. Kailash Murthy could confirm this observation. According to his experience, the yield of Yalakki banana is 14-20 kg, much more the 8 kg average of conventional farming. Similarly, the 30 quintals per acre of paddy crop are far more than he would harvest with any other method even though he does not use hybrid varieties, fertilizers or synthetic pest controls. Because no synthetic chemicals are used and because very little labour is required, overall costs are exceptionally low. Apart from sowing, watering and harvesting, there is not much to do as the farm takes care of itself.
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Table2:Yieldofcropscultivated Crop Yielding plants Unyielding plants 500 100 Total 3,000 175 4 1 15 10 200 5 50 4 15 30 7 60 20 2 50 Yield per plant 4-6 kg 25-40 kg/bunch 2-4 kg 40 kg 100-140 nos. 2-3 kg 30-50 kg 30-40 nos. 8-12 kg 12-15 kg 50-70 kg 2000-2500 nos. 20-30 kg 70-110 nos. 2-4 kg 40 nos. 10-20 kg Total yield 12,500 kg 1,875 kg 12 kg 40 kg 1,800 nos. 25 kg 2,000 kg 35 kg 500 kg 40 kg 420 kg 12,000 kg 175 kg 1,050 kg 15 kg 10 kg 600 kg Market price (Rs/kg) 40 5 10 10 4/Nut 3 5 10 2 25 5 6 5 6 50 3 10 Annual gross income (Rs) 500,000 9,375 120 400 7,200 75 10,000 350 1,000 1,000 2,100 72,000 875 6,300 750 30 6,000 617,575

Areca 2,500 Banana 75 Barbedos cherry 4 Citrus 1 Coconut 15 Custard Apple 10 Drumstick 50 Grape 2 Guava 50 Jamoon 4 Mandarin 7 Mango 30 Mosambi 7 Papaya 15 Pepper 5 Ramphal 2 Sapota 40 Total annual gross income (Rs/annum)

150 3

45 15 10

Source: Report on visit to natural farm by Dr Shivananda, Indian Institute of Horticulture, 2008

Soil and nutrients

he soil of the farm is an alluvial fluventic alfisol with sandy loam, very friable and light in texture. With years of conventional cultivation, the soil had become starved of natural nutrients. Upon conversion it is generally recommended to apply organic farming practices for about three years before adopting natural farming fully. This helps restoring soil productivity more quickly than could be achieved by natural farming practices alone. After conversion, Kailash Murthy applied Jeevamrutha, a fermented fertilizer using available cow dung, cattle urine and jaggery as manure to improve soil fertility.

Today, 22 years after conversion, weeds and litter in the ground have visibly built up organic matter in the soil. Earthworms convert organic matter into valuable nutrients for plants. The soil quality of the farm was analysed and compared with samples of an adjacent farm of similar soil cultivated conventionally. The results shown in Table 3 suggest that natural farming practices help improving the water holding capacity of the soil. They are also indicative of richer sources of nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium drawn exclusively from natural sources than its conventional counterpart, which is assisted by chemical aids.

Table3:Soilcomparison Parameter Soil type Sand (%) Silt (%) Clay (%) Moisture content (%) Water holding capacity (%) pH Electrical conductivity Organic carbon (%) Nitrogen kg/ha Phosphorous kg/ha Potassium kg/ha Conventional method on adjacent land Loamy 43 30 27 9.7 33 6.94 at 25.9 C 20.4 s/ppm at 21.4 C 0.66 347.2 120 273.6 Natural farm Sandy loam 55 28 17 10.1 54 7.3 at 26.1 C 56.94 s/ppm at 23.4 C 2.7 672 130 448.8

Source: Department of Environmental Sciences, Bangalore University

Table4:Heavymetalanalysis Parameters (mg/kg) Cadmium (Cd) Copper (Cu) Chromium (Cr) Iron (Fe) Nickel (Ni) Zinc (Zn) AMZECC guidelines 3 60 ----500 200 Natural farm Not detected 44 Not detected 2080 136 20
Source: Kailash Murthy

It is not widely known but plants grown under natural conditions consume less moisture and water. At one time the organic matter in the soil was assessed to be 3.4% with a water holding capacity of up to 33%. The farm is under drip irrigation to ensure steady supply of water. Litter naturally decomposes into organic matter, which is fed on by earthworms, termites and dung beetles and then converted into manure and, later, soil. The waste of the faunal biodiversity thus adds an essential component of the nutrients needed for the growth of plants. Natural nutrient sources are the soil itself and decomposing organic matter, water and, surprisingly, even air. Although nitrogen is most abundantly available in the air, most plants are unable to acquire the amount of nitrogen needed from the air alone and thus need supplements in mineral form. On this farm so-called nitrogen fixing plants were introduced to gather nitrogen and to gradually enrich the soil with it.

Table5:Nutrientcomparison Nutrient Nitrogen (kg/acre) Phosphorous (kg/acre) Potassium (kg/acre) Organic Carbon (%) Conventional farm 138 48 109 0.66 Natural farm 268 52 179 2.7

Source: Department of Environmental Sciences, Bangalore University

Figure14:Thefarmhas3,000arecanuttreesshowingtheirprettyfruitsbetweenSeptemberandJanuary. Yetbotanicallyspeaking,thearecanutisnotatruenutbutadrupe. 10

Microbial activity icroorganisms in the soil vary widely depending on the presence and intensity of certain chemical and biological processes. They play a key role in the transformation of nutrients and they enhance soil fertility, microbial biomass and nutrient cycles in the land. Microorganisms flourish well in absence of chemicals and play a very significant role in the metabolism of organic and inorganic constituents present in the soil. An analysis by Bangalore University shows that microorganisms present in the land include pseudomonas, clostridium, mucor, azotobacter, azosprillium, streptomycetes, thiobacillus sp., bacillus, myrothecium clostridium, trichoderma, monotospora, pullularia, fusarium, rhizopus, aspergillus, penicillium, thermomonospora and mortiella. Kailash Murthy estimates that fungi account for about 50% of microbes; yeast, algae and protozoa together for 20% and other organisms like earthworms, nematodes, arthropods and mollusks for about 10%.
Table6:Microorganismcountintheuppersoillayer Microorganism type Bacteria Actinomycetes Fungi Hyphae Yeasts Algae and Cyanobacteria Protozoan Quantity 105 109 cells 105 108 spores 10 100 metres 103 cells 102 104 cells 104 106 cells

Pests and diseases

here were frequent pest attacks in the initial years. Papaya contracted viruses, coconuts battled with mites and areca nut trees with the bud rot. But the trees recovered and after a few years started producing good yields. The situation has further improved and presently pests and diseases appear to be well within manageable limits. The food crops grown are said to be free from pests and diseases and the plants appear healthy with no visible symptoms of any deficiency.

The conditions on the farm appear conducive for recovery and development of plants if the reduced frequency of pests and diseases is taken as an indicator.

Figure15:KailashMurthyinspectsfloweringmangotrees

Source: Department of Environmental Sciences, Bangalore University

Conclusions
ersistent economic pressure has led even small farmers to adopt pesticides and chemical fertilisers. Many of them might be on the brink of cultivating genetically modified crops if it only promises an answer to the problems faced in conventional farming. But many farmers have begun to realize that high input costs and the looming danger of droughts or other calamities are creating undesirable dependencies on manufacturers and creditors. Natures might as seen in floods and droughts puts a very high risk on cultivation and the investment behind it. The dependence and uneven risk distribution aggravates the pressure. But if government subsidies on fertilisers were to be withdrawn the situation may turn from bad to worse as the soil has lost much of its natural fertility.
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Some farmers such as Kailash Murthy in the cases study here understood that our dependency should first and foremost be on nature. And this trust in nature is amply rewarded. There is rich biodiversity, above average yields and fewer than usual pests and diseases. And above all there is a sense of true achievement through a self-sufficient and sustainable system. A larger-scale adoption of natural farming would have tremendous consequences. While industries would certainly lose business, farmers would take their lives more into their own hands. And this would have socio-economic benefits that would show a promising way out of todays agrarian crisis. Natural farming is not only a boon for farmers but a statement that sustainable agriculture is a possibility within our reach.

Figure16:KailashMurthytendingtohisnaturalfarm REFERRED PUBLICATIONS

Bonheur, Neou From an unhealthy farming system to an eco farming practice, undated Ganeshamurthy, Dr A.N., Dr N. Ramachandran, Dr M. Prabhakar, PN Kishnamurthy Report of the Committee constituted to visit the farm of Kailash Murthy in Doddabhinduvadi Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Bangalore, 2008 Heckman, Dr Joseph A History of Organic Farming: Transitions from Sir Albert Howard's war in the Soil to the USDA National Organic Program, 2007 Murthy, Kailash The integration efficiencies of natural farming in harmony with the ecosystem, undated Nandini, Dr N. Natural farming a boon to sustainable agriculture Bangalore University, 2008 Ramesh, M.N. Report on Mr Kailash Murthys farm University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore and College of Forestry, Ponnampet, undated Ravishankar, Dr H. Report on the participation in the National Level seminar on manago cultivation under natural conditions, Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Bangalore, 2009 Sainath, P. One farmer's suicide every 30 minutes | www.indiatogether.org/2007/ nov/psamids4.htm Shivananda, Dr Report on visit to natural farm Indian Institute of Horticulture, 2008

REFERRED WEBSITES
fukuokafarmingol.info onestraw.files.wordpress.com vannakblog. blogspot.com/2008/10/what-is-natural-farming.html www.biodyna mics.in www2.kenyon.edu/projects/ Permaculture www.thai naturalfarming.com/index.php?lay =show&ac=a rticle&Id=38076 www.satavic.org/rishikheti.htm en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Permacul ture

PHOTO CREDITS
Figure 1: news.bbc.co.uk Figure 2: www2.kenyon.edu Figure 3: onestraw.wordpress.com Figure 4: vannakblog.blog spot.com Figure 5: www.flickr.com Figure 6: news.bbc.co.uk Figure 7: blog.americanfeast.com Figure 8: www.biodynamics. in Figure 9: www.newint.org Figure 10: yogizendude.com Figure 11: EMPRI, Bangalore Figure 12: Google Earth Figure 13: EMPRI, Bangalore Figure 14: Kailash Murthy Figure 15: Kailash Murthy Figure 16: Kailash Murthy

EDITORIAL TEAM
B. Basappa, IFS Supervision Uzra Sultana Research and draft development Felix Nitz Concept and editing

ENVIS Centre Karnataka

Environm ental Managem ent & Policy Research Institute
Hasiru Bhavana, Doresanipalya Forest Campus, Vinayakanagar Circle J.P. Nagar 5th Phase, Bangalore 560 078, INDIA Phone: +91-(0)80-2649 0746 /47 Email: EMPRI.BLR@gmail.com Web: http://parisaramahiti.kar.nic.in Download this newsletter at http://parisaramahiti.kar.nic.in/publication.html