In the heart of Maharashtra, a quiet revolution began when one man questioned the way farming was being done. Subhash Palekar, once a conventional farmer himself, noticed how chemical fertilisers and pesticides were silently eroding the very foundation of agriculture — the soil. What began as an observation turned into a lifelong mission that transformed the lives of countless farmers across India.
From conventional roots to natural awakening
For years, Palekar followed modern agricultural methods, using chemical fertilisers and pesticides to boost crop yield. At first, the results appeared promising — healthy plants, quick growth, and good profits. But with time, he began to see the darker side of this approach. The soil gradually lost its fertility, water retention decreased, and the dependency on external inputs grew stronger. Each harvest demanded more investment but offered diminishing returns.
This crisis led Palekar to experiment with natural ways of farming. He observed how forests thrived beautifully without any human intervention or synthetic inputs. That insight became the seed of his revolutionary idea — Zero Budget Natural Farming (ZBNF).
The birth of Zero Budget Natural Farming
ZBNF is based on the principle that farming can be both productive and sustainable without spending a single rupee on chemical fertilisers or pesticides. Instead, Palekar turned to nature’s own resources — cow dung, cow urine, jaggery, pulse flour, and soil from under trees. These simple, locally available materials could restore soil health, improve microbial activity, and protect crops from pests naturally.
One of his most celebrated formulations, Jeevamrutha, a mixture of cow dung, cow urine, jaggery, pulse flour, and soil, acts as a powerful natural fertiliser and soil conditioner. Another, Bijamrutha, is used to treat seeds and protect them from fungal and bacterial infections. Palekar’s approach promotes biodiversity, enhances water conservation, and restores the ecological balance that industrial agriculture disrupted.
Palekar’s philosophy was clear — farming should not be a business of debts and dependency but one of self-reliance and harmony with nature. His model removes the need for costly chemical inputs, irrigation systems, and hybrid seeds. Instead, it encourages farmers to rely on traditional seeds, local resources, and natural processes.
Over time, thousands of farmers from different parts of India — from Andhra Pradesh to Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh to Himachal Pradesh — have adopted ZBNF. Many of them who were once burdened with loans and failing crops now speak of renewed hope and self-sufficiency.
A voice for sustainable agriculture
Palekar’s work has gone beyond the boundaries of his own fields. His lectures, workshops, and books have inspired a nationwide movement. Governments have taken note too — states like Andhra Pradesh have integrated ZBNF into their agricultural policies, aiming to transition millions of farmers towards chemical-free cultivation.
His contribution has earned him several honours, including the Padma Shri award, yet Palekar remains humble. He continues to emphasise that true wealth lies not in yield or profit, but in nurturing life — in the soil, in the plants, and in the farmer’s heart.
Subhash Palekar’s story is not just about farming; it’s about faith — faith in nature’s balance, in simplicity, and in the human spirit to restore what has been lost. His journey reminds us that solutions to even the most complex problems can often be found in the most natural ways.
In an age where agriculture is often tied to industrial systems and profit-driven models, Palekar’s Zero Budget Natural Farming stands as a powerful reminder that farming can indeed flourish — without spending a penny on chemicals, but with immense respect for the earth.
Read more: Thenga: What’s in a coconut?
