How to Transition from Conventional to Natural Farming
The transition from conventional to natural farming is one of the most significant decisions a farmer can make. It requires not just new techniques but a fundamental shift in thinking—from quick-fix remedies to prevention-based strategies, from purchased inputs to on-farm resources.
The Mindset Shift
The biggest change is mental. Conventional farming trains us to respond to problems with products. Natural farming trains us to prevent problems through ecosystem management.
Natural farming is knowledge-based. You need to understand your soil, your local ecology, pest cycles, and crop interactions. This knowledge replaces the need for expensive inputs.
The 14-Step Transition Roadmap
Phase 1: Preparation (Steps 1-5)
Step 1: Make the Decision
Articulate your desire for conversion. Understand the principles, benefits, and realistic challenges. Get your family on board—natural farming affects the whole household.
Step 2: Self-Assessment
Evaluate your current practices. What chemicals do you use? What is your cost of cultivation? What are your yields? This baseline helps you measure progress.
Step 3: Identify Knowledge Gaps
What do you need to learn? Jeevamrit preparation? Pest identification? Seed treatment? Make a list and plan how to fill these gaps.
Step 4: Review Equipment Needs
Natural farming requires different tools—dung and urine collection systems, fermentation drums, sprayers for bio-formulations. Plan these modifications.
Step 5: Build Your Network
Identify resource persons—experienced natural farmers, KVK scientists, agricultural officers. Find neighbors who are practicing or interested in natural farming for knowledge sharing.
Phase 2: Foundation (Steps 6-8)
Step 6: Conduct Soil Assessment
Get your soil tested, especially for organic carbon. This baseline shows where you're starting and helps track improvement over time.
Step 7: Arrange for Cattle
Cow dung and urine are essential. If you don't have cattle, arrange access—through a neighbor, community gaushala, or by purchasing your own indigenous breed cow.
Step 8: Modify Farm Infrastructure
Set up your cow shed for easy dung and urine collection. Create a space for preparing and storing bio-formulations. Plan water harvesting structures.
Phase 3: Trial (Steps 9-11)
Step 9: Start Small—One Acre
Convert just one acre in the first season. Apply natural farming practices completely on this plot while continuing normal practices elsewhere.
Step 10: Document Everything
Keep detailed records of what you did, when, and what happened. Photograph your crops. Note successes and failures. This documentation is invaluable for learning and for future certification.
Step 11: Learn from First Season
Analyze your results honestly. What went right? What went wrong? Share experiences with other farmers and resource persons.
Phase 4: Expansion (Steps 12-14)
Step 12: Expand Marketing
First satisfy your home needs with natural produce. Then market locally—friends, neighbors, direct consumers. Build relationships before expanding further.
Step 13: Network and Visit Farms
Visit successful natural farmers. Invite them to your farm. Join farmer groups. Attend trainings. Continuous learning accelerates success.
Step 14: Scale Up Gradually
Over 2-3 years (4-6 seasons), based on experience, convert your entire farm. Don't rush—soil recovery takes time.
Key Activities During Transition
Increase Crop Diversity
Plant diverse trees:
- Neem, tamarind, cluster fig for ecosystem services
- Ber, aonla, drumstick for food and medicine
- Glyricidia, Sesbania on bunds for biomass
Maintain 8-10 crop types at all times.
Build Soil Fertility
During conversion:
- Apply well-decomposed compost
- Use green manure crops
- Apply liquid manure (Jeevamrit) 3-4 times per crop
- Use Panchagavya as foliar spray
Manage Pests Naturally
Learn to prepare and use:
- Neem-based formulations
- Fermented buttermilk for fungal diseases
- Dashparni extract for general pest control
- Chilli-garlic extract for sucking pests
Practice Mulching
Increase biomass production for mulch:
- Incorporate trees
- Grow cover crops
- Plan green manure in rotations
- Never leave soil bare
Realistic Expectations
Year 1: Yields may be similar or slightly lower than conventional. Costs will drop immediately.
Year 2: Soil begins recovering. Some yield improvement. Natural pest control starts working.
Year 3+: Yields stabilize and often exceed conventional. Soil is visibly healthier. Farm ecosystem is balanced.
Be patient. Soil depleted by years of chemicals doesn't heal in one season. But with consistent practice, the transformation is remarkable—and permanent.
The journey from conventional to natural farming is challenging but deeply rewarding. Every farmer who makes this transition joins a movement that is healing India's agricultural lands while building sustainable livelihoods.
