Principles and Practices of Natural Farming
Course Overview
Official detailed syllabus from the ICAR Sixth Deans’ Committee curriculum.
Course Objectives
i. To teach students the concept, need and principles of native ecology-based production under natural farming ii. To impart practical knowledge of natural farming and related agricultural practices in Indian and iii. To global environmental and economic perspectives.
Theory Syllabus
Indian Heritage of Ancient Agriculture, History of Natural Farming, Importance of natural farming; Definition; 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. Introduction to concept of ecological, water, carbon and nitrogen foot prints, Concept and evaluation of ecosystem services, 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 Syllabus
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; Evaluation of ecosystem services in natural farming (Crop, Field and System).
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. (Ed.). 1980. Alternative Methods of Agriculture. Elsevier, Amsterdam, 199 pp.
3. Dabholkar Shripad A. 2021. Plenty For All: Natural Farming A To Z Prayog Pariwar Methodology Prayog Pariwar.
4. Das P, Das Reddy, G S, Das S K, Rani G, Mishra A, Gupta H P, Verma L R, Ray D P, Singh R P, Kavia Z D and Arya H P S. 2004. 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.
5. Ecological Farming -The seven principles of a food system that has people at its heart. May 2015, Greenpeace.
6. Faires Nicole. 2016. The Ultimate Guide to Natural Farming and Sustainable Living: Permaculture for Beginners (Ultimate Guides).
7. INFRC. 1988. Guidelines for Nature Farming Techniques. Atami, Japan. 38 p.
8. Khurana A and Kumar V. 2020. State of Organic and Natural Farming: Challenges and Possibilities, Centre for Science and Environment, New Delhi.
9. Malhotra R and Babaji S D. 2020. Sanskrit Non-Translatable- The importance of Sanskritizing English. Amaryllis, New Delhi India.
10. 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. 94p.
11. Nalini S. 1999. Krishi-Parashara (Agriculture by Parashara) by Parashara. Brig Sayeed Road, Secunderabad, Telangana: AAHF Classic Bulletin, Asian Agri-History Foundation. 104p.
12. 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.
13. Prathapan Paramu. 2021. Natural Farming Techniques: Farming without Tilling. Bookventure.
14. 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.
15. UK Behera. 2013. A text Book of Farming System. Agrotech Publishing House, Udaipur.
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