Seeding a greener future – an impetus to natural farming in A.P.

Seeding a greener future – an impetus to natural farming in A.P.

Sub : Geo

Sec: Eco Geo 

Pre-Monsoon Dry Sowing (PMDS) model:

• Under the PMDS concept, a combination of Navadhanya and 15-20 other seeds are sown in a single field before the rainy season begins.
• The PMDS model allows farmers to harvest three crops a year, even in rainfed conditions, compared to the single crop under traditional methods.
• Farmers practising PMDS using natural farming methods experience multiple benefits, such as improved soil structure, increased earthworm activity, nutrient-rich grass for livestock, and higher crop yields.
• Additionally, farmers gain financial benefits by selling vegetables and grass from the PMDS fields, providing them with income even in summer.
• The effectiveness of PMDS was also demonstrated during the Michaung cyclone, as fields utilising PMDS were protected.

Promotion of Natural Farming:

• The Andhra Pradesh Community-Managed Natural Farming (APCMNF) supports smallholder farmers in transitioning from chemical-intensive to natural farming.
• APCNF aims to reach all 8 million farmer households in Andhra Pradesh within the next 10 years, with the model already being replicated in 12 other Indian states.
• The program is funded by central schemes and international donors like KfW Bank Germany and the Azim Premji Foundation, with delegations from 45 countries visiting Andhra Pradesh to learn from its success.
• RySS (Rythu Sadhikara Samstha) encourages farmers to adopt the PMDS model for the year-round green cover, improved soil fertility, and environmental conservation.
• Farmers are educated on preparing natural fertilizers and growth promoters, following principles like minimal soil disturbance and year-round soil cover with crops.
• Global recognition:
  • APCNF is the world’s largest agroecology program, reaching over a million smallholder farmers across 500,000 hectares in Andhra Pradesh.
  • The program has brought environmental benefits like increased soil carbon sequestration and reduced land degradation.
  • APCNF received global recognition by winning the 2024 Gulbenkian Prize for Humanity, shared with soil scientist Rattan Lal and Egyptian NGO Sekem.
• International collaborations:
  • APCNF plans to send its first batch of farmers to Zambia in August and another group to Indonesia later this year to share knowledge and expand the program internationally.

Source: TH