Why are farmers in South India shifting from conventional ‘Green Revolution’ agriculture to natural farming?

Abstract

Introduction The Green Revolution contributed to significant increases in crop production and yield in India. However, it also resulted in negative social and environmental consequences. In response, alternative farming practices have emerged, based on agroecological principles, such as natural farming. In recent years, government policies at state and national levels have promoted natural farming. However, anecdotal evidence suggests its adoption by farmers has been limited and uneven. The aim of this study was to understand barriers and facilitators involved in transitioning to natural farming in India in the context of a government natural farming program at the early stages of implementation. Methods An exploratory sequential mixed methods design was used. Eleven focus group discussions (FGDs) were conducted in six villages across Anakapalli and Visakhapatnam districts of Andhra Pradesh from March to May 2023. FGD transcripts were coded and analyzed using a constant comparative method. Subsequently, a questionnaire was developed based on the FGD findings and administered to heads of 1,126 households across 82 villages in four districts in Andhra Pradesh from October to November 2023. Qualitative and quantitative findings were analyzed separately and subsequently integrated using the ‘Diffusion of Innovations’ theory. Results Adoption rates of natural farming were low after the first few months of training, with just 23 out of 1,126 households adopting any natural farming practices. Farmers perceived that health benefits were a relative advantage of adopting natural farming over conventional farming. Internal community resource persons (iCRPs) and presentations on a Pico projector (i.e., handheld projector)emerged as predominant channels of communication. Preexisting institutional architecture in the form of women’s self-help groups contributed to an enabling social system. However, a lack of decentralized input supply, weak market linkages, perceived yield penalties and the labor- and knowledge-intensive nature of natural farming were key barriers. Conclusion The study highlights the importance of understanding the diverse motivations of farmers to adopt natural farming. Modeling peer-to-peer learning, use of mass media, and decentralized input supply may lead to improvement in natural farming uptake. Tailoring policies to address specific needs of conventional and natural farmers will likely facilitate a smoother transition to natural farming.