Down to earth

Like this farmer of Nagargaon (Taluka Shirul,Maharashtra),around 40 lakh farmers across the country are practicing ZBNF,a concept started by Subhash Palekar,who is also popular as Krishi Ka Rishi. Under ZBNF nothing needs to be purchased for the production of crops. Palekar,travels 25 days in a month to various villages in India for spreading the message of ZBNF amongst the farmers,through various workshops,seminars,his books and meetings with the local agricultural bodies.

Palekar’s prescription of homemade pesticides is a big hit amongst the farmers,wherein a potion of ingredients like gram flour,jaggery,green chilles,garlic and neem leaves is sprinkled over the crops to keep away pests. “Everything required for the growth of the plant is available around the root zone of the plants. The crops can absorb about 1.5 to 2 per cent of the nutrients from the soil and the remaining 98 to 98.5 per cent nutrients are taken from air,water and sun. Our soil is fertile enough to provide the required 1.5 to 2 per cent nutrients. Thus,there is absolutely no need to add any kind of chemicals,” says Palekar,who is practicing ZBNF from last 25 years. He backs up his argument by giving example of forests,which grow without any fertilizers. Palekar shuns use of pesticides and insecticides as it leads to destruction of earthworms,which disturbs the soil ecosystem.

To formulate the concept of ZBNF,60-year-old Palekar did a verified research for six years. The method mainly stands on four pillars – Bijamrita,Jiwamrita,Mulching and Waaphasa. From seed treatment to pest management,the method uses absolutely natural and easily available ingredients. For instance,under Bijamrita – farmers treat their seeds with a mixture formed with local cow urine,cow dung and soil. “When Jiwamitra is applied to the soil,around 500 crore micro-organisms are added to the soil,which convert non available nutrients into available form,” says Palekar.

Besides workshops,camps and seminars,Palekar’s books have attracted a lot of farmers to the concept. These books are published in Marathi,Hindi,English,Kannada,Telugu and Tamil. He has also established various model farms throughout India. Palekar has received Bharat Krushak Ratna Award (2005),Basava Shri Award (2006) and Gopal Gaurav Award (2007) at the World conference on Indian cattle breeds.