VIJAYAWADA: Taking exception to the claims of the State government that Zero Budget Natural Farming will yield Rs 3 lakh to Rs 6 lakh income per acre and that five lakh acres of land in the State is being cultivated under ZBNF, YSRC farmer wing leader and agriculture expert MVS Nagi Reddy has said it is nothing but cheating people.
Listing out the expenditure for cultivating paddy in one acre, he questioned whether indigenous cow, feed and fodder for the cow are free of cost. As per the statistics of the State government, 5.83 lakh farmers are cultivating in 5 lakh acres in the State under ZBNF, which means not even one acre each is being cultivated under the so-called natural farming.
“The very concept of ZBNF is no investment. But, could anyone explain as to from where will one each indigenous cow be brought? Will it not cost money to buy livestock, feed, grains and gur, preparing Jeevamrutham and maintaining the livestock as recommended under Zero Budget Natural Farming ?” he demanded to know.