50 million people
6 million farmers
8 million hectares
In India’s state of Andhra Pradesh, the world’s largest agro-ecological transition project, is having remarkable results. The state-wide program Andhra Pradesh Community-managed Natural Farming (APCNF) is transitioning 6 million farmers on 8 million hectares of land to natural methods in order to feed its 50 million inhabitants by 2031.
Natural farming is agriculture without tillage, without fertilizers, without pesticides, without weeding.
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) predicts 90 percent of Earth’s topsoil is at risk by 2050. The FAO warns that the equivalent of one soccer pitch of earth erodes, every five seconds. Regeneration is essential and urgent, as it takes about a thousand years to create just a few centimeters of healthy topsoil, critical to land restoration.
Farmer D. Radhamma, featured in the video above, hails from the drought-prone Ghantapuram village in Sri Satya Sai district, Andhra Pradesh. She has made a remarkable transition to climate-resilient natural farming, thanks to the support of Andhra Pradesh Community Managed Natural Farming (APCNF). On her 2.5-acre rain-fed land, Radhamma's natural farming practices serve as a guiding light for her family, community, and our collective battle against climate change. As both a farmer and a farmer trainer, her journey of cultivating a diverse range of crops throughout the year, employing eco-friendly methods in a challenging climate, goes beyond ensuring stable farm incomes and producing safe, nutritious food. It is also a testament to her dedication to preserving biodiversity and countering the climate change impacts primarily driven by conventional food systems. Radhamma's inspiring narrative is deeply rooted in agroecology/natural farming principles, advocating for a transformative shift in how we approach farming, food production, and consumption.
Universal Principles of Natural Farming
· Soil to be covered with Crops 365 Days (Living Root)
· Minimal Disturbance of Soil
· biostimulants as necessary catalysts
· Use indigenous seed
· Diverse Crops,trees 15 -20 crops
· Integrate animals in to farming
· increase organic residues on the soil
· Pest management through botanical extracts
· No Synthetic Fertilizers,pesticides,herbicides
Further Resources
Andhra Pradesh Community-managed Natural Farming (APCNF)
Book - Sowing Seeds in the Desert: Natural Farming, Global Restoration, and Ultimate Food Security, by Masanobu Fukuoka (Note: Voyage Virage is an Amazon books affiliate and may take a small commission from the sale of this book).
