Comparative Economic Analysis of Zero Budget Natural Farming for Kharif Groundnut under Central Dry Zone of Karnataka, India

Abstract

This research work is mainly focused on comparative economic analysis of Zero Budget Natural Farming (ZBNF) for Kharif Groundnut under Central Dry Zone of Karnataka. The purpose of conducting the study is to examine the cost of cultivation for ZBNF with other treatments. This is mainly due to farmers are facing high cost of cultivation by practicing conventional farming as it is highly depends on external inputs. ZBNF is low cost technology where, farming is practiced by using jeevamrutha, beejamrutha, mulching and whapsa etc. The Groundnut experiment was conducted at ZAHRS, Babbur Farm, Hiriyur during Kharif 2019-20 in order to estimate economics for different treatments. Each treatment was having different input usage. For calculating economics of each treatment, conventional cost of cultivation method was followed (i.e. calculation of Variable cost, Fixed cost, Gross returns, Net returns and B:C).The results of economic analysis revealed that the per hectare yield (17.46 q/ha) total cost ( 53,019), gross returns ( 88,871), net returns ( 35,852) and B:C (1.68) were found to be highest in RPP among all treatments i.e. ZBNF, OPS and Control. The cost of cultivation of ZBNF 22.55 per cent lesser than RPP. The B:C ratio was found to be more in ZBNF (1.66) than OPS (1.58).This is due to highest cost for purchase of excess quantity of FYM in case of OPS. It is concluded from the study that RPP was best treatment among all treatments. This is due to highest yield, net returns and B:C was found in RPP treatment as compared to all treatments. In the economic point of view, there was reduction in total cost in case of ZBNF with fewer yields as compared to RPP.

Natural farming improves crop yield in SE India when compared to conventional or organic systems by enhancing soil quality

“…Yield of groundnut kernels was ~30–40% higher in the ZBNF treatment (see supplementary material, Table S1 ). This finding is notable because groundnut is the most important oilseed crop in India (Singh et al 2013 ) and covers 537,000 ha in Andhra Pradesh alone (Naik et al 2020 ). To meet increased crop demands on a diminishing area of available land (16% of the land area in India remains for potential conversion to agriculture, at most), efficiency of crop production must increase (Smith et al 2020 ).…”

“…To meet increased crop demands on a diminishing area of available land (16% of the land area in India remains for potential conversion to agriculture, at most), efficiency of crop production must increase (Smith et al 2020 ). Therefore, methods that can improve groundnut productivity are particularly beneficial because, despite having the largest groundnut area in the world, India is not the largest producer of groundnut (Naik et al 2020 ; Singh et al 2013 ). Andhra Pradesh is also India’s largest producer of tomatoes, covering 167 thousand hectares (Yesdhanulla and Aparna 2018 ).…”

Comparing the influence of natural farming on cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) yield and economics with integrated and organic farming

“…Low-input practices offer reduced costs, higher yields, chemical-free food and improved soil fertility (Tripathi et al, 2018). Input costs have outpaced the increase in output per hectare for most crops, resulting in reduced farm income (Naik et al, 2020). Natural farming, influenced by Fukuoka's philosophy (Fukuoka, 1987) and championed by Palekar, gained popularity in India (Khadse et al, 2018).…”