Farmers across Gujarat are increasingly adopting cow-based natural farming to reduce cultivation costs and improve soil health, supported by the Agricultural Technology Management Agency (ATMA) Project, according to a report by ANI.
Cow-Based Natural Farming Practice
In Dahod district, farmers such as Narendrabhai Hatila have been practising indigenous cow-based natural farming after receiving training under the ATMA Project. They use natural formulations like Jeevamrut and Ghan Jeevamrut, prepared from indigenous cow dung and urine, instead of chemical fertilisers. According to Narendrabhai Hatila, natural farming requires minimal expenditure and is centred around indigenous cows. He stated that one indigenous cow can support natural farming on up to 30 acres of land. The practice not only restores soil fertility affected by excessive chemical fertiliser use but also benefits human health and the environment while significantly reducing farming expenses.
ATMA Project Support and Financial Assistance
The Agriculture Department, through the ATMA Project, is promoting natural farming by providing farmers with training, technical guidance, model farms, and financial assistance. Chetan Kumar Rathod, Taluka Project Manager of the ATMA Project, said that Narendrabhai has been associated with the project for the past seven years and has consistently practised natural farming. The farmer received district-level training and support through model farms. Ramsinh Chauhan, Technology Manager of the ATMA Project in Dahod, said that farmers practising indigenous cow-based natural farming in Dhanpur Taluka receive financial assistance of ₹10,800 annually under the ATMA Project.
Bio-Resource Centres (BRCs) have also been established to ensure local availability of natural formulations such as Jeevamrut, Ghan Jeevamrut, Agni Astra, and Brahmastra. Under the Mission Cluster Scheme, financial assistance of ₹1 lakh is provided for establishing a BRC unit, while ₹60,000 is available under the Non-Mission category.
| Assistance Type | Amount |
|---|---|
| Annual farmer assistance (Dhanpur Taluka) | ₹10,800 |
| BRC unit under Mission Cluster Scheme | ₹1,00,000 |
| BRC unit under Non-Mission category | ₹60,000 |
Model Farms and Income Impact
Chetan Kumar Rathod noted that Narendrabhai’s five-layer model farm includes horticultural crops, vegetables, and fruit crops. The farmer earns a good annual income through cow-based natural farming without using chemical fertilisers or pesticides. The model farm demonstrates the viability of sustainable agriculture while reducing input costs.
Implications for Agricultural Supply Chains
With lower input costs, improved soil health, and better farm returns, cow-based natural farming is emerging as a sustainable and cost-effective model for enhancing farmers’ incomes in Gujarat. For commodity traders and agribusiness executives, this shift signals potential changes in domestic supply of horticultural and vegetable crops from the region, as natural farming practices may influence yield quality and consistency over time. The reduced reliance on chemical inputs could also affect demand for fertilisers and pesticides in the area. As more farmers adopt these methods, local production patterns may gradually evolve, though the scale of adoption remains limited to project-supported clusters for now.
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