Natural farming in India
India’s diverse physical features and climatic conditions have resulted in a variety of ecosystems such as forests, wetlands, grasslands, deserts, coastal and marine ecosystems. These ecosystems harbor and sustain high biodiversity and contribute to human wellbeing. At the moment, the Indian government is actively promoting natural farming. Numerous Dutch organizations, such as Commonland and NL Works, help to implement agriculture practices that are more eco-friendly and can support the livelihood of the population.
Nature-inclusive farming is an age-old practice in India. It dates back to the Indus Valley Civilization, where mixed or multi-cropping was prominently practiced and made possible by high levels of environmental diversity. Also, cows used to be a part of every farmer’s household in India. They served as the backbone of Indian agriculture by providing cow dung manure and urine which were crucial inputs for adding organic matter and nutrients to the soil. Cow urine, for example, is used in preparation of several biopesticides. Multi-tier farming is also practiced based on principles of nature-inclusive farming in parts of Southern India like Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh, where agroforestry is combined with coffee cultivation.
However, population growth and a stark increase in food demand and production have pushed Indian farmers towards farming practices that are more productive but less inclusive of nature and the living environment. Currently, the Indian government actively promotes natural farming, a practice aimed at cultivating crops without the use of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides and relying on natural methods instead to improve soil health and crop yields.
‘Natural farming aims at cultivating crops without the use of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides and relying on natural methods instead to improve soil health and crop yields’
Key drivers of natural farming
One of the key drivers of natural farming in India today is that it is a low-cost method of cultivation, which makes it particularly appealing to small-scale farmers who may not have the resources to invest in expensive inputs. By relying on natural methods, farmers can also reduce their reliance on external inputs, which makes their farming more sustainable in the long run.
Biodiversity loss is one of the challenges that India is facing. The increase in land used for agricultural purposes has resulted in the loss of natural habitats, leading to the displacement of many native species. Pesticides and fertilizers have also had a negative impact on biodiversity. The excessive use of chemicals has led to the pollution of soil and water resources, making it difficult for many species to survive.
More scope for Indo-Dutch cooperation
Additionally, the adoption of monoculture farming practices has reduced the diversity of crops, which has had a negative impact on soil health and overall ecosystem stability. This has also led to a decline in the number of pollinators such as bees, butterflies, and birds, which play a crucial role in maintaining the balance of ecosystems. There are some promising developments in India addressing these challenges, such as the use of state-of-the-art technologies for forecasting and soil analysis, reducing agro-chemicals usage, access to good advice and agroforestry projects. India and the Netherlands already work together in these fields and there is scope for more.
New technologies can give a boost to nature-inclusive farming. An online tool such as Cropin (an Indian company that also has an office in the Netherlands) helps to analyze soil health and enables farmers to be more precise with their inputs and prevent excess use of fertilizer and pesticides.
Numerous Dutch organizations, along with Indian partners and global organizations such as World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and HumanKind Group, are trying to implement agriculture practices that are more eco-friendly and can support the livelihood of the population. One example is Commonland, a Dutch NGO working on the principle of 4Rs Framework (Return of Inspiration, Social return, Natural return and Financial return), has initiated a project in Chhattisgarh, one of the five states that have largest forest coverage.
In 2019 Commonland teamed up with the local government and several local organizations to conceptualize a project based on the following principles:
- localize forest resource management plans and promote community action,
- increase the reach and impact of agroforestry by using success stories and lessons from civil society organizations working actively in the region and
- expand agribusiness opportunities for agroforestry and non-timber forest products, such as Mahua tree flowers and explore setting up a carbon project that benefits local communities
Scaling agroforestry, water management and carbon credits
A scoping study was conducted in 2022 that suggests a high potential for scaling agroforestry, water management and carbon credit activities in the plains. The state of Madhya Pradesh, for example, has the largest forest cover in India. About 25% of organic cotton produced globally is produced in Madhya Pradesh.
Another agroforestry project that is worth mentioning is the India climate smart coffee project in Kerala, supported by NL Works. Through the development of an agroforest with multiple crops a shaded coffee plantation is created. This agroforest is part of landscape restoration in the Wayanad region of Kerala, and while it also enhances climate resilience and productivity of the coffee plantation, it also produces timber and biomass.
Another example is the Collaborative founded by IDH, Laudes Foundation and WWF who have set up an ambitious target to cover all the cotton-growing regions in Madhya Pradesh through a combination of in-field interventions, value chain development, institutions and governance building, and concerted public-private engagement to address the smallholder resilience in the landscape holistically.
To make available biofertilizers from farm waste that are economically feasible, a lot of work is needed. In this field, Koppert Biological Systems does a tremendous job supplying farmers with products such as microbial solutions, bio stimulants and botanical extracts.
Indo-Dutch Center of Excellence
On top of these examples and ongoing activities, there is potential for more engagement between Dutch and Indian stakeholders in different realms of nature inclusive farming, such as agroforestry. Knowledge, propagation material and planting trees can be used for a breeding program to achieve climate and drought resilient tree species. This can be explored under the umbrella of the Indo-Dutch Center of Excellence program.
Dutch companies, knowledge institutes and other organizations that are interested in the field of nature-inclusive farming in India can reach out to the agriculture team of the Netherlands embassy in Delhi. They can tell you more about opportunities in specific regions in India. Furthermore, the team can connect you to relevant companies, NGOs, international organizations and government agencies, for example those mentioned in this article.
Contact
Would you like to know more about the current developments in the domain of agriculture and nature in India or contact the agricultural team at the Netherlands Embassy in India?
You can visit the country page of India at the website agroberichtenlandbuitenland.nl of the Netherlands ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality. Or you can send an email to NDE-lnv@minbuza.nl
This article is part of the latest edition of e-magazine Agrospecial (June 2023) about nature-inclusive farming. The teams of our Netherlands Agricultural Network showcase nature-inclusive practices and initiatives in 36 countries worldwide. They delve into the development, benefits and challenges of this innovative farming approach. Each team has a different story to tell. Click here to read more about insights into the potential of nature-inclusive farming practices worldwide!