Decision-making in agriculture requires the use of actionable weather data

Amid rising costs for chemical fertilizers and pesticides in Uttar Pradesh, organic farming has become a new source of hope for farmers. Those who previously worried about increased agricultural expenses are now beginning to transition to organic farming methods.

Farmers are improving crop quality by using manure compost, vermicompost, and natural insecticides. Previously, a significant portion of funds was spent on purchasing fertilizers and chemicals, but after switching to organic farming, farmers' costs have decreased, and the price of their harvest has increased.

Organic farming is a practice where organic fertilizers rich in nutrients (such as manure compost, green manure, bacterial cultures, organic fertilizers, etc.), biopesticides, and bioagents are used instead of chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides.

This approach not only supports long-term soil fertility but also prevents environmental pollution. Furthermore, the reduction in agricultural costs and the improvement in product quality bring significant benefits. The growing demand for organic produce has given farmers the opportunity to receive higher prices in the market.

Natturam, a resident of the village of Baihar who practices organic farming, underwent a three-day training course at the State Agricultural School in Chirgaon, Jhansi. A retired teacher, he started practicing organic farming in 2022. As he began to see benefits, he started cultivating crops during both the Rabi (early rains) and Kharif (monsoon) seasons.

Currently, he manages not only a crop area of 18 bighas but also engages in horticulture. According to available information, his annual income ranges from 4 to 5 lakhs. Natturam is now actively spreading awareness about organic farming among others.

Like Natturam, Kotari Singh Patel, a farmer from the village of Barkhat in Manikpur district, also practices organic farming. He started this process in 2023. He shared that he began organic farming after experiencing issues with sugar and blood pressure and started consuming organically grown produce. He noted that his health has improved.

Kotari Singh Patel mentioned that when he became interested in this method, he started growing rice, arhar beans, and sorghum. He believes that organic farming is 'zero-balance agriculture' because it requires labor rather than money. He clarified that he produces grain for his family and sells the surplus in the market, emphasizing that organic farming has benefited him more than chemical farming.

Another prominent farmer in the district, known as a progressive farmer, is Yogesh Jain. He practices natural and organic farming near Bedipulia in Karwi district. Yogesh has been engaged in organic farming for many years. He recounted that the land in his cultivation area was depleted due to chemical farming. To restore the land, he first engaged in animal husbandry and then created composite fertilizer from manure and cow urine, applying it to the fields via a pump. According to him, this increased soil fertility, and he began producing Rabi and Kharif crops.

Regarding natural and organic farming, Deputy Director of Agriculture Jit Lal Gupta stated that the Government of India and the state government are jointly implementing the National Mission on Natural Farming program. The government has set a target to create 25 clusters by 2026-27, within which 3125 farmers are planned to be trained in organic farming. As part of this initiative, the department conducts seminars to motivate farmers to switch to organic methods. Additionally, farmers are provided with a grant of two thousand rupees for maintaining organic farms. It was noted that while organic farming may yield lower harvests initially, the production potential increases as soil fertility improves through the use of local fertilizers.

During the closing session of the Nampo Cape 2026 conference, Agriculture Minister Willie Aucamp and the current CEO of Land Bank, Jabu Mfanbo, held a fireside chat. The event was organized by Food For Mzansi and Land Bank in Bredasdorp.

Aucamp and Mfanbo engaged in a direct and constructive dialogue regarding farmers' debt issues, structural financial difficulties, biosecurity crises, and the urgent need to reform the agricultural financing system in South Africa.

While touring the country between the harvest of winter crops and the planting of summer crops, Aucamp noted that attending regional congresses allowed him to gain valuable insight into the specific and general challenges faced by South African producers. He stated that over the past two months, he attended numerous agricultural congresses where he spoke with farmers across the country and understood the various difficulties they encounter, noting that individualizing problems by region was a revelation for him.

Despite operational hurdles, Aucamp emphasized that he observes significant optimism within farming communities, citing recent successes in animal health management as evidence of progress. He mentioned that he has not heard complaints about foot-and-mouth disease for a long time because people can receive vaccines and solutions, and the overall mood is decidedly positive.

Highlighting the need for individualized debt assistance, Aucamp appealed to Land Bank management to help farmers who are financially sound but have been affected by unforeseen biosecurity outbreaks. He requested that they restructure and modify loan terms for these diligent payers, stating his desire to hold an official discussion on the matter.

This request came against the backdrop of a broader assessment of the lender's past performance, during which Aucamp did not hesitate to criticize previous lending practices that undermined the bank's reputation and reduced market confidence. He suggested that Land Bank had previously issued loans without proper vetting, negatively impacting the bank, much like any investment. This led short-term financial institutions to withdraw their funding due to a loss of trust in Land Bank.

Nevertheless, Aucamp made it clear that he fully supports the current management and the institution's transformation strategy. He stated that life is defined not by mistakes, but by how they are corrected, and expressed his willingness to provide full support for the changes at Land Bank.

Fostering a spirit of cooperation, Aucamp also stressed the mixed financing scheme as a vital tool for stimulating growth, insisting on the importance of transferring state-leased land and issuing title deeds in close partnership with the Department of Land Reform and Rural Development.

In response to the minister, Mfanbo confirmed that the demand for sustained financial support remains high across the country, especially among producers recovering from livestock losses. He also highlighted the progress made in stabilizing operations and restoring market confidence, despite past instances of the bank defaulting on obligations.

Mfanbo reported that they have made significant strides since the default in terms of re-entering the market to support the sector. He acknowledged that they previously struggled with distributing funds under the mixed financing scheme, but this issue has been resolved through grassroots work.

However, Mfanbo noted that providing widespread debt relief is constrained by how the bank itself secures funding. He explained that the old Land Bank received stable government support, which allowed the bank to offer cheap financing and conduct restructuring. Now, since they borrow money from other financial institutions to lend to farmers, they cannot grant a payment deferral to a farmer if they themselves do not receive one.