Why in News?

• NITI Aayog has recently released a report titled- “Production and promotion of organic and bio fertilizers with special focus on improving economic viability of gaushalas”, recommending Capital Assistance to Cow Shelters to promote Dung-Based Fertilizers for Agriculture, thus promoting Natural Farming.

Highlights

• Agriculture in India was based on an integrated approach of organic fertilizers. But after the Green Revolution, India could not maintain this balance and use of chemical fertilizers brought imbalance in the soil nutrients.Cow shelters can address the problem of stray cattle that damaged crops in many parts of the country.
• The number of stray and abandoned cattle had risen to a level beyond the resources available with existing gaushalas for their upkeep and sustenance and suggested channeling the potential of such cattle wealth for promoting natural and sustainable farming.The government can help gaushalas through capital assistance so that they could market cow dung and cow urine-based formulations for applications in agriculture.
• Gaushalas can be of great help in promoting natural farming and organic farming. Thus, complementarity can be built to promote gaushalas and natural farming.
• Cow dung-based organic fertilizers will have a huge impact in fulfilling the constitutional mandate under Article 48 that the State shall take steps for preserving and improving cattle breeds, and prohibiting the slaughter of cows and calves, and other milch and draught cattle.
• Natural farming is a method of agriculture that seeks to create a balanced and self-sustaining ecosystem in which crops can grow without the use of synthetic chemicals or genetically modified organisms.
• Instead of relying on artificial inputs like synthetic fertilisers and pesticides, natural farmers rely on techniques like crop rotation, intercropping, and composting to enhance soil health and support crop growth.Natural farming methods are often based on traditional knowledge and practices and may be adapted to local conditions and resources.
• The goal of natural farming Is to produce healthy, nutritious food in a way that is sustainable and environmentally friendly