CPSP Project & Policy Officer Dhannya V. Sasi reflects on a recent visit to Andhra Pradesh and her interactions with the farmers abandoning chemical pesticides in favour of natural farming practices.
Although I missed visiting the Grand Canyon during my time in the United States, earlier this year I was fortunate to see the ‘Grand Canyon of India’ at Gandikota, a small and quaint village in the Kadapa district of Andhra Pradesh.
Flanked by the river Pennar, the village of Gandikota is renowned for the dramatic cliffs and ravines formed by the river cutting through the Erramala Hills. This natural wonder made me ponder the resilience and adaptability of nature, and how communities have learned to thrive even in the harshest of environments.
Gandikota’s ancient past reflects the rich heritage and diverse ecosystems of Andhra Pradesh, a state that has become a trailblazer in promoting sustainable and natural agriculture practices. It was for this reason that I was there.
Andhra Pradesh: the forefront of sustainable agriculture
I was accompanying my colleague and filmmaker Heshani on a documentary pre-production research trip. Our aim was to visit farming communities in India to find out more about non-chemical farming practices.
As a Policy Officer, I am accustomed to engaging with policymakers on the health and environmental impacts of pesticides, but I don’t often have the chance to visit farming communities first-hand. This offered a unique experience.
When we initially started planning the trip, it quickly became apparent that Andhra Pradesh would be an ideal destination. The state has been at the forefront of natural farming, with initiatives like the Zero Budget Natural Farming system, championed by the late Subhash Palekar.
This is now known as Andhra Pradesh Community Natural Farming (APCNF) – a government-led training programme that aims to transform the farming practices of over 6 million farmers. This ambitious initiative intends to transition the entire state towards chemical-free, regenerative agriculture by 2031, making Andhra Pradesh a model for sustainable farming practices nationwide.
Through interactions with farmers, watching them in the field and listening to their stories, we gained a better understanding of what this means in practice. What was motivating the farmers to take up natural farming? What was the impact on their land and crops?
Seshama’s story
In the village of Santhanuthalapadu, we met Seshama, a tenant farmer who had embraced natural farming.
Seshama’s journey towards sustainable agriculture began with concerns for her family’s health. This had motivated her to join the APCNF programme.
We witnessed Seshama’s dedicated efforts as she tended to her fields and nurtured a variety of colorful vegetables. She now grows between five and ten crops every year, rotating vegetable crops with different harvesting periods, and incorporating livestock. This diversification has not only improved the resilience of her farming system but also contributed to the overall health and vitality of her land.
Seshama explained how her produce stays fresh for longer compared to conventionally grown crops. She has seen her land rejuvenated and her costs reduced, leading to a more sustainable and profitable farming operation. More importantly, her family’s well-being has improved, as they now have access to a steady supply of nutritious, pesticide-free food.
Mr Rao’s chili fields
In India, a meal will not be complete without some chilies. They are an indispensable component of Indian cuisine, lending their distinctive flavours and fiery heat to a wide array of dishes. Andhra Pradesh is the country’s leading chili-producing region.
Mr. Rao, an 89-year-old chili farmer from Guntar, has been cultivating chilies for generations. He explained that he had grown up using traditional ‘natural’ farming methods. However, when these traditional practices were largely abandoned in favour of modern intensive farming techniques, he too made the change.
Over time though, he observed a gradual decline in soil fertility, increased pest infestations, and a drop in the overall quality of his chili produce. Recognizing the need for a more balanced and sustainable approach, Mr. Rao has now reverted to traditional farming practices, which he believes have not only restored the health of the land but also produced chilies with superior flavour and nutritional value.
Having had a bite of Mr. Rao’s chilies, I can certainly vouch for their flavour!
Empowering women
One of the most inspiring parts of this visit was meeting women farmers, who were members of a community self-help group. These groups play a crucial role in transforming food cultivation systems through the APCNF initiative.
The women shared how they have leveraged the APCNF approach to revitalize their farming practices, increase crop yields, and promote sustainable agriculture in their local communities. Their collective efforts and dedication to ecological farming methods have been instrumental in driving positive change in the region’s food production landscape.
In a conversation with Mr. Vijay Kumar Thallam, a prominent figure in APCNF, he reiterated the positive impact of community-managed natural farming on strengthening community cohesion, improving farmer welfare, and empowering women economically.
Mr. Thallam highlighted how the APCNF program has enabled women farmers to assume leadership roles within their communities, leading to increased decision-making power and financial independence.
Natural farming: a long-term solution?
I had been impressed by the taste and vibrancy of the natural produce I had sampled, but I still had a question on whether natural farming can be as efficient as chemical farming in ensuring an adequate food supply for a rapidly growing global population.
I took the opportunity to ask the farmers directly.
The farmers highlighted that while natural farming may not achieve the same level of short-term productivity as conventional practices relying on synthetic inputs, they believe the long-term sustainability and environmental benefits of natural farming make it a more viable solution for feeding the world’s population in a responsible way.
They emphasized that the focus should be on optimizing natural farming techniques, rather than trying to match the output of unsustainable chemical-heavy approaches. They believed that with proper training, community support, and policy incentives, natural farming can be scaled up to meet growing demands while preserving soil health and biodiversity.
Reflections
As we departed the picturesque countryside and returned to Hyderabad, I took a brief nap, contemplating the serene landscapes, the warm and welcoming farmers, and the abundant fields we had just explored.
The trip had been far more than just an academic endeavour. It had been a captivating and transformative journey that had allowed me to fully immerse myself in the rich agricultural heritage of the region and witness the remarkable practices of natural farming first-hand.
I had seen the transformative potential of natural farming. Furthermore, I had seen the positive impact it could have on communities, improving wellbeing and empowering women.
But I also understood that a careful balancing act is required, one that leverages the benefits of natural farming while also addressing the need for reliable and abundant food production. This will likely involve a combination of policy support, technological innovation, and ongoing research to refine and scale natural farming practices in a way that can meet the evolving demands of the global food system.