Understanding Constraints in Zero Budget Natural Farming: A Comparative Study of Two Districts in Northern Karnataka, India

Abstract

The Green Revolution successfully achieved food security but also brought about new challenges, such as decreasing factor productivity and inefficient nutrient utilization. As concerns about food safety, environmental sustainability, and climate change continue to grow, Zero Budget Natural Farming (ZBNF) has emerged as an alternative and gained support from governments. This study aimed to identify the constraints of ZBNF in Northern Karnataka. Using an ex post facto research design, data were collected from 100 respondents in Belagavi and Haveri districts, categorized into planners and adopters. The Garrett Ranking Technique and Mann-Whitney U test were applied to analyze the constraints. Planners faced challenges, such as low initial yields (62.58) and a lack of confidence in using ZBNF inputs (59.54). However, adopters cited inadequate government support (53.96) as their top constraint. Both groups reported the labor-intensive nature of practicing ZBNF and issues with market access, highlighting systemic barriers to ZBNF adoption. Statistically significant differences were found between planners and adopters in terms of the non-availability of traditional seed varieties (p=0.012), low yields in the initial stages (p=0.030), lack of information on preparing asthras (p=0.024), and inadequate government support (p=0.015). Other constraints, such as purchasing indigenous cows (p=0.05) and intensive labor requirements (p=0.223), were identified but not statistically significant. These findings contribute to the sustainable agriculture discourse and offer insights for policymakers and practitioners aiming to promote ZBNF as a viable alternative to conventional farming.