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The trials, conducted under a biotechnology-based research programme on Indian natural farming practices, recorded production of more than 40 tonnes of turmeric per hectare under natural farming, compared with 19.3 tonnes per hectare under conventional cultivation. Natural farming generated net returns of over Rs 10.5 lakh per hectare, compared with around Rs 3.61 lakh per hectare under conventional farming, according to the study. GBRC researchers carried out microbial and metabolomic analysis of natural farming inputs, identifying several beneficial micro organisms and around 300 to 500 important metabolites across 11 different classes.
An official statement said the findings have also translated into a significant improvement in returns to farmers. Quoting science and technology minister Arjun Modhwadia , the statement said that the study, published in BMC Plant Biology, compared conventional chemical farming with nine different combinations of natural farming treatments. “The findings will encourage farmers and agricultural scientists to move towards natural farming on a scientific basis,” the minister said. Govt said the scientific analysis also provided clues to the biological mechanisms behind the results. Some of these could contribute to soil health, plant growth and crop resilience, the study said.
Gandhinagar : A field experiment jointly conducted by the Gujarat Biotechnology Research Centre (GBRC) and Sardarkrushinagar Dantiwada Agricultural University (SDAU) has found that turmeric cultivated through natural farming practices can produce more than twice the yield recorded under conventional chemical farming. The experiment evaluated traditional biological formulations including ‘Beejamrut’ for seed treatment, ‘Jeevamrut’ as a liquid bio-stimulant and ‘Ghanjeevamrut’ as a solid natural farming input.