What is SPNF?
Subhash Palekar Natural Farming (formerly ZBNF) is a a farming system developed by Padmashree Subhash Palekar after researching for more than two decades. The basic principles of how a forest takes care of its own water needs, pest control and also soil fertility are used to with great success in SPNF thereby cutting cost, providing toxin free food for ALL OF US, saving farmers from debt, and hence also preventing farmer suicides.
VSA and SPNF
VSA successfully organized Padmashree Subhash Palekar's Natural farming workshop as part of the toxin-free food movement in Dec 2016. The summary of the workshop is available here.
One of the leading causes of farmer suicides is debt. Farmers go into debt in order to buy costly fertilizers and pesticides which actually destroy soil fertility over time. This vicious cycle of debt and diminishing yield has one proven solution and that is the Zero Budget Natural Farming (ZBNF) method innovated by Padmashree Subhash Palekar. VSA has worked closely with Padmashree Palekar's team to organise a ZBNF workshop shibir in Pune in December 2016.
Why SPNF?
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Reduction of water usage by 90%
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No chemicals used or needed - no poison in our food
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Reduction of labour and inputs - less burden on farmers
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Reforestation - Forest Trees and many layers of
other trees bring back tree cover to most of the land.
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No farmer suicides - because, with reduced cost farmers make more profit, restore pride and independence of farmers.
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Palekar's Jeevamrut preparation can be used to rejuvenate 30 acres with dung of just one native cow.
SPNF and climate change
SPNF increases green cover, takes care of soil erosion, increases biodiversity, and results in creation of a net carbon sink. If you practice Padmashree Palekar's 5-layer model which is part of SPNF, you will effectively have a forest farm that has all the benefits of a forest while also yeilding various produce throughout the year owing to the diverse crops that are recommended.