Can Farmers Cut Input Costs by Turning Farm Waste Into Natural Farming Inputs?
farmers spend money buying fertilisers and other agricultural inputs every season. Natural farming offers another approach: using resources already available on the farm. Livestock waste, crop residues and local biological materials can be recycled into inputs that support soil fertility and crop production.
ICAR has promoted farm-derived biological inputs as part of natural farming programmes across India. Scientists have trained farmers to prepare formulations such as Jeevamrit, Beejamrit and Ghan Jeevamrit while also encouraging better recycling of crop residues and livestock waste.
Why farm waste can become a useful resource
Crop residues and livestock waste are often treated as materials that farmers need to remove. But many of these resources contain nutrients and organic matter that can return to the soil. Recycling them can reduce waste and support biological activity in farming systems.
ICAR’s natural farming programmes have encouraged farmers to use farmyard manure, compost, green manures and recycled crop residues. Scientists say these practices can improve soil organic matter while supporting long-term soil fertility and nutrient cycling.
Livestock and crop production can support each other when farmers manage farm resources carefully. Animal dung and urine can become raw materials for compost and natural farming formulations. Crop residues can also provide fodder, mulch or material for composting, depending on local farm conditions.
A recent ICAR programme in Goa highlighted how livestock waste can be recycled into value-added organic products. Scientists also discussed how combining livestock with crop production can improve resource recycling and support soil health over time.
Jeevamrit is one of the commonly discussed inputs in natural farming. Farmers prepare it using farm-based materials according to recommended methods. Beejamrit and Ghan Jeevamrit are also promoted in training programmes as biological inputs for seed treatment and soil management.
Farmers should learn the correct preparation method before using these formulations on a commercial scale. The quality of ingredients, preparation process and application method can affect results. Farmers can seek training from Krishi Vigyan Kendras, agricultural universities or recognised natural farming programmes.
Crop residues should not always leave the farm
Farmers often remove crop residues from fields for fodder or other uses. In some situations, residues can also be recycled into the soil or converted into compost. This can return organic material and nutrients to the farming system.
ICAR has promoted crop residue recycling as part of soil health and natural farming programmes. Scientists say incorporating suitable organic materials can support soil organic carbon, microbial activity and soil structure while reducing dependence on external inputs.
The right use depends on the crop and farm. Farmers should not follow one residue-management practice everywhere. Some residues may be more valuable as livestock feed. Others may be useful for mulching, composting or incorporation into the soil.
Green manuring involves growing selected crops and incorporating them into the soil. Leguminous crops such as Dhaincha are widely promoted for this purpose. These crops can add organic matter and support nutrient cycling when managed correctly.
Farmers need to plan green manure cultivation around their crop calendar. The practice requires land and time, which may not suit every farming system. It may work best where farmers have a suitable gap between major crops.
Farmers sometimes assume natural farming removes the need to understand soil nutrient conditions. Soil testing remains useful because farmers need to know what their fields require. A biological input cannot automatically correct every nutrient deficiency or soil problem.
ICAR programmes have repeatedly linked natural farming with soil health management and balanced nutrient use. Scientists encourage farmers to use soil-test information while deciding how to combine organic materials, biofertilisers and other nutrient sources.
Farmers can start by reducing avoidable costs
A farmer does not always need to change the entire production system immediately. Starting with one field or one crop can help compare costs and results. This approach allows farmers to understand which practices work under their own soil and climate conditions.
The government said in July 2026 that studies and farmer experiences under natural farming had reported reduced production costs for many adopters. Under the National Mission on Natural Farming, farmers can also receive specified support for eligible natural farming activities.
Farmers should still maintain records.
They can compare:
- Input costs
- Labour requirements
- Crop growth
- Yield
- Soil condition
- Final profit
These records can show whether a new practice is actually helping the farm.
Composting offers another way to recycle organic material available on farms. Livestock waste, crop residues and other biodegradable materials can be processed into compost when managed properly. The finished material can add organic matter and nutrients to agricultural soil.
ICAR programmes have promoted composting and vermicomposting alongside natural and organic farming practices. These methods can help farmers recycle locally available resources instead of depending entirely on purchased nutrient sources.
Farmers should also consider the labour and time involved. Preparing compost requires regular management. The quantity produced may not meet every nutrient requirement on a large farm, especially where crop production depends on high nutrient demand.
Resource recycling works best as a farm system
The strongest lesson from natural farming is that different farm activities can support each other. Livestock can provide organic material. Crop residues can become compost or mulch. Green manure can add biomass. Soil organisms can help cycle nutrients.
ICAR’s integrated organic farming research has also examined systems where crops, livestock, fish and composting units support nutrient recycling within the farm. A 2025 ICAR study in Meghalaya reported high levels of internal nutrient recycling under such a system.
This model may not suit every farmer. The number of animals, available land, labour and local markets will determine whether an integrated system makes financial sense.
Natural farming practices work differently across India’s diverse farming regions. A method that works well in a livestock-rich village may be harder to adopt where farmers have limited access to dung or organic biomass.
Local resources should guide the decision.
Farmers should ask:
- What materials are available on my farm?
- How much labour is required?
- What does my soil need?
- Can I produce enough inputs?
- Will the practice reduce costs?
These questions can help avoid unnecessary investment.
The growing focus on natural farming reflects increasing interest in reducing unnecessary dependence on external inputs. Farm-based recycling can help farmers make better use of resources they already have while improving organic matter and biological activity in the soil.
The goal should not be to copy another farmer’s system exactly. Each farm has different resources. A farmer with livestock may focus on manure recycling. Another may use green manure or crop residues.