Ghouse et al., International Journal on Emerging Technologies 16(1): 41-44(2025) 41 International Journal on Emerging Technologies 16(1): 41-44(2025) ISSN No. (Print): 0975-8364 ISSN No. (Online): 2249-3255 Zero Budget Natural Farming – Boon or Bane to Farmers Mohammed Ghouse L. * , Karthikeyan C. and Padma S.R. Department of Agricultural Extension and Rural Sociology, Agricultural College and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore (Tamil Nadu), India. (Corresponding author: Mohammed Ghouse L.*) (Received 18 October 2024, Revised 17 December 2024, Accepted 08 January 2025) (Published by Research Trend, Website: www.researchtrend.net) ABSTRACT: Zero Budget Natural Farming (ZBNF) is a technique for chemical-free agriculture that is based on traditions from ancient India. The ZBNF method starts from zero, with no production costs, and completely eliminates the use of synthetic chemicals like fertilizers and pesticides. Smallholder farmers cannot adopt organic farming since it requires expensive certification procedures and significant quantities of FYM/organic fertilizers. It promotes multiple cropping, year-round soil cover, and the use of a mixture comprised of cow dung and urines to activate the soil system's microorganisms. It has been found that ZBNF decreases the cost of production and increases the farm income. ZBNF also faces the severe criticism like, it will create negative impact on farmer’s income as well as food security. It is necessary to move away from chemical farming, but appropriate research must be conducted to evaluate its productivity, quality, and impact on soil nutrition. This review paper will give insight about the practices under ZBNF, government initiatives to promote ZBNF, the effect of ZBNF on crop yields and criticism about ZBNF. Keywords: Zero Budget Natural Farming, Cost of production, Farm income, Ecology. INTRODUCTION Providing food for a population of nine billion people by the middle of the century is one of the most important issues facing humanity. Agricultural output more than tripled worldwide between 1960 and 2015 (FAO, 2017). Initially, Green Revolution technology helped to boost yields and revenues in comparison to conventional methods (Panneerselvam et al., 2011). Due to the ensuing intensive, high-input agriculture that depends on chemical pesticides, fertilizers, and irrigation, there is proof of environmental deterioration and adverse health effects linked to synthetic chemical exposure (Bhattacharyya et al., 2015). Agroecology and sustainable intensification are two examples of more ecologically oriented solutions that have emerged as a result. These solutions have been marketed as substitute methods of agricultural production that are more in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the UN. Organic agriculture helps to reduce poverty and ensures food security through a variety of factors like; increasing yields in locations with low inputs, biodiversity and natural resources conservation on the farm and in the surrounding environment (Masoodi et al., 2022). Shanmuka et al. (2024) revealed that natural farming was a form of regenerative agriculture, it may have unique practices and philosophies that set it apart from other regenerative farming systems. The term "Zero Budget" refers to not utilizing any credit and not spending any money on inputs that must be acquired because the word budget refers to expenses. Natural farming entails using only natural methods and no chemicals (Fukuoka, 2009). The short-term intercrops balance out the main crop's expense, resulting in a total cost of zero. It corresponds to agro- ecological concepts including soil fertility and health improvement, nutrient recycling, biomass reprocessing, diversification, improved biological activity, and minimal loss of natural resources like water and nutrients (Sain et al., 2020). As a result, farmers do not need to buy fertilizer and pesticides to ensure that their crops grow healthily. Crops only absorb 2-4% of the nutrients they need as nutrition; the other 96% is acquired via air, water, and solar energy (Palekar, 2010). National Sample Survey Organization (2020) reported that more than half of all farmers are in debt, and about 70% of households in the agricultural sector spend more than they make. Around 90% of households in states like Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Telengana are in debt, with each having an average of Rs. 1 lakh in debt. To fulfil the Central government's promise to double farmers' income, ZBNF can be implemented. Green Revolution had negative effects such soil erosion, biodiversity losses, growing agricultural costs, etc. whereas ZBNF depends more on soil biology than soil chemistry (Kumar et al., 2020). e t