AGRON-212 Principles and Practices of Natural Farming New Syllabus 6th Dean’s

Objectives

1. To provide comprehensive understanding and knowledge to students about natural farming.
2. To teach students the concept, need and principles of native ecology-based production under natural farming.
3. To impart practical knowledge of natural farming and related agricultural practices in Indian and global environmental and economic perspectives.

Theory

Indian Heritage of Ancient Agriculture, History of Natural Farming, Importance of natural farming in view of climate change, soil health, water use carbon sequestration, biodiversity conservation, food security and nutritional security, and sustainable development goals (SDGs), Concept of natural farming; Definition of natural farming; Objective of natural farming, Essential characteristics and Principles of natural farming; Scope and importance of natural farming. Main Pillars of natural farming; Methods/ types/schools of natural farming. Characteristics and design of a natural farm, Concept of ecological balance, ecological engineering and community responsibility in natural versus other farming systems, Introduction to concept of ecological, water, carbon and nitrogen foot prints, Concept and evaluation of ecosystem services, integration of crops, trees and animals, cropping system approaches, Biodiversity, indigenous seed production, farm waste recycling, water conservation and renewable energy use approaches on a natural farm, Rearing practices for animals under natural farming, Nutrient management in natural farming and their sources, Insect, pest, disease and weed management under natural farming; Mechanization in natural farming, Processing, labelling, economic considerations and viability, certification and standards in natural farming, marketing and export potential of natural farming produce and products. Initiatives taken by Government (central/state), NGOs and other organizations for promotion of natural farming and chemical free agriculture, Case studies and success stories in natural farming and chemical free traditional farming, Entrepreneurship opportunities in natural farming.

Practical

Visit of natural farm and chemical free traditional farms to study the various components and operations of natural farming principles at the farm; Indigenous technical knowledge (ITK) for seed, tillage, water, nutrient, insect-pest, disease and weed management; On-farm inputs preparation methods and protocols, Studies in green manuring in-situ and green leaf manuring, Studies on different types of botanicals and animal urine and dung based non-aerated and aerated inputs for plant growth, nutrient, insect and pest and disease management; Weed management practices in natural farming; Techniques of Indigenous seed production- storage and marketing, Partial and complete nutrient and financial budgeting in natural farming; farming; Evaluation of ecosystem services in natural farming (Crop, Field and System).

Lecture schedule: Theory

1. Indian Heritage of Ancient Agriculture, History of Natural Farming, Importance of natural farming in view of climate change, soil health, water use carbon sequestration, biodiversity conservation, food security and nutritional security, and sustainable development goals (SDGs) 2
2. Concept of natural farming; Definition of natural farming; Objective of natural farming, Essential characteristics and Principles of natural farming; Scope and importance of natural farming 1
3. Main Pillars of natural farming; Methods/ types/schools of natural farming. Characteristics and design of a natural farm 1
4. Concept of ecological balance, ecological engineering and community responsibility in natural versus other farming systems 1
5. Introduction to concept of ecological, water, carbon and nitrogen foot prints 1
6. Concept and evaluation of ecosystem services, integration of crops, trees and animals, cropping system approaches 1
7. Biodiversity, indigenous seed production, farm waste recycling, water conservation and renewable energy use approaches on a natural farm 1
8. Rearing practices for animals under natural farming 1
9. Nutrient management in natural farming and their sources 1
10. Insect, pest, disease and weed management under natural farming 1
11. Mechanization in natural farming, Processing, labelling, economic considerations and viability 1
12. Certification and standards in natural farming 1
13. marketing and export potential of natural farming produce and products 1
14. Initiatives taken by Government (central/state), NGOs and other organizations for promotion of natural farming and chemical free agriculture 1
15. Case studies and success stories in natural farming and chemical free traditional farming, Entrepreneurship opportunities in natural farming 1

Lecture schedule: Practical

1. Visit of natural farm and chemical free traditional farms to study the various components and operations of natural farming principles at the farm 2
2. Indigenous technical knowledge (ITK) for seed, tillage, water, nutrient, insect-pest, disease and weed management 3
3. On-farm inputs preparation methods and protocols 2
4. Studies in green manuring in-situ and green leaf manuring 2
5. Studies on different types of botanicals and animal urine and dung based non-aerated and aerated inputs for plant growth, nutrient, insect and pest and disease management 2.
6. Weed management practices in natural farming 1
7. Techniques of Indigenous seed production- storage and marketing 1
8. Partial and complete nutrient and financial budgeting in natural farming 1
9. Evaluation of ecosystem services in natural farming (Crop, Field and System) 2

Suggested readings

1. Ayachit, S.M. 2002. Kashyapi Krishi Sukti (A Treatise on Agriculture by Kashyapa). Brig
   Sayeed Road, Secunderabad, Telangana: Asian Agri-History Foundation 4: 205.
2. Boeringa, R. (Eed.). 1980. Alternative Methods of Agriculture. Elsevier, Amsterdam, 199 pp.
3. Das, P., Das, S.K., Arya, H.P.S., Reddy, G. Subba, Mishra, A. and others: Inventory of
   Indigenous Technical Knowledge in Agriculture: Mission mode Project on Collection,
   Documentation and Validation of Indigenous Technical Knowledge, Document 1 To 7, Indian
   Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi.
4. Ecological Farming -The seven principles of a food system that has people at its heart. May
   2015, Greenpeace.
5. Ecological Farming, The Seven principles of a food system that has people at its heart. May
   2015, Greenpeace
6. FAO. 2018. The 10 elements of agro-ecology: guiding the transition to sustainable food and
   agricultural system.https://www.fao.org/3/i9037en/i9037en.pdf Agro ecosystem Analysis for
   Research and Development Gordon R. Conway.1985.
7. Fukuoka, M. 1978. The One-Straw Revolution: An Introduction to Natural Farming. Rodale
   Press, Emmaus, PA. 181 pp
8. Fukuoka, M. 1985. The Natural Way of Farming: The Theory and Practice of Green
   Philosophy. Japan Publications, Tokyo, 280 pp.
9. Hill S.B and Ott. P. (Eeds.). 1982. Basic Techniques in Ecological Farming Berkhauser
   Verlag, Basel, Germany, 366 pp.
10. Hill, S.B. and Ott, P. (Eeds.). 1982. Basic Techniques in Ecological Farming. Berkhauser
    Verlag, Basel, Germany, 366 pp.
11. HLPE. 2019. Agroeeological and other innovative approaches for sustainable agriculture and
    food systems that enhance food security and nutrition. A report by the High Level Panel of
    Experts on Food Security and nutrition of the Committee on World Food Security, Rome.
    https://fao.org/3/ea5602en/ea5602en.pdf.
12. INFRC. 1988. Guidelines for Nature Farming Techniques. Atami, Japan. 38 pp.
13. Khurana, A. and Kumar, V. 2020. State of Organic and Natural Farming: Challenges and
    Possibilities, Centre for Science and Environment, New Delhi.
14. Malhotra R. and S.D. Babaji. 2020. Sanskrit Non Translatable- The importance of
    Sanskritizing English. Amaryllis, New Delhi India.
15. Nalini, S. 1996. Vrikshayurveda (The Science of Plant Life) by Surapala. AAHF Classic
    Bulletin 1. Asian Agri-History Foundation, Brig Sayeed Road, Secunderabad, AP (now
    Telengana), India. 94pp.
16. Nalini, S. 1999. Krishi-Parashara (Agriculture by Parashara) by Parashara. Brig Sayeed
    Road, Secunderabad, Telangana: AAHF Classic Bulletin, Asian Agri-History Foundation.
    104pp.
17. Nalini, S. 2011. Upavana Vinoda (Woodland Garden for Enjoyment) by Sarangdhara (13th
    century CE): AAHF Classic Bulletin 8. Asian Agri-History Foundation, Brig Sayeed Road, Secunderabad, AP (now Telangana), India. 64p
18. Natural Asset Farming: Creating Productive and Biodiverse Farms by David B.
    Lindenmayer, Suzannah M. Macbeth, et al. (2022)
19. Natural Farming Techniques: Farming without tilling by Prathapan Paramu (2021)
20. Plenty for All: Natural Farming A to Z Prayog Pariwar Methodology by Prof. Shripad A.
    Dabholkar and Prayog Pariwar Prayog Pariwar (2021)
21. Reyes Tirado. 2015. Ecological Farming- The seven principles of a food system that has
    people at its heart. Greenpeace Research laboratories. University of Exeter, Ottho
    Heldringstraat.
22. Shamasastry, R. 1915. Kautilya’s Arthashastra.
23. The Ultimate Guide to Natural Farming and Sustainable Living: Permaculture for Beginners
    (Ultimate Guides) by Nicole Faires (2016)
24. U. K. Behera. 2013. A text Book of Farming System. Agrotech Publishing House, Udaipur.