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Farmers practising natural farming in Andhra Pradesh are being encouraged to grow flowering plants that support pollinators and beneficial insects.

The initiative focuses on using pollinator and biodiversity flower kits in horticultural farms. ICAR-Directorate of Floricultural Research, Pune, and the Andhra Pradesh Department of Horticulture organised a training programme for farmers in Krishna district on August 18 and 19, 2026.

Many horticultural crops depend partly or fully on insects for pollination. Bees, butterflies and other pollinators move pollen between flowers. This process can support fruit and seed formation.

Farm practices that reduce flowering plants around fields can limit food sources and habitats for these insects. The programme in Andhra Pradesh focused on increasing awareness about pollinators, beneficial insects and farm biodiversity among natural farming practitioners.

For farmers, this means looking beyond the main crop. The plants growing around and between crop fields can also influence the wider farm ecosystem.

Flower kits can provide food for useful insects

The pollinator and biodiversity flower kits contain flowering plants selected to support insects. These plants can provide nectar and pollen for pollinators. They may also support beneficial insects that are part of the farm ecosystem.

ICAR’s programme focused on the role of flowering plants in improving biodiversity and supporting productivity in horticultural cropping systems. Farmers can use suitable flowering plants along field boundaries, in selected strips or in other spaces where they do not compete heavily with the main crop. The choice of plants needs to match local conditions.

Natural farming often focuses on reducing dependence on synthetic inputs. But reducing chemical use alone does not automatically create a healthy farm ecosystem. Farmers also need to maintain soil health, crop diversity and habitats for useful organisms.

Flowering plants can become one part of this approach. A farm with different types of vegetation may provide more resources for insects than a large area growing only one crop. This can become particularly relevant in horticultural farms where pollination plays a role in production.

Not every insect in a field damages crops. Some insects prey on pests or play other useful roles in agricultural ecosystems. Farmers who understand this difference may avoid removing all insects from a field without identifying their role.

The training programme in Krishna district specifically covered the importance of beneficial insects along with pollinators and flowering plants. This knowledge can help farmers make better decisions about pest management.

A farmer may need to control a damaging pest while protecting insects that support pollination or naturally limit other pests.

The right flowers will depend on local conditions

Farmers should not assume that every flowering plant will work in every crop system.

The selection should consider:

• Local climate
• Main crop
• Flowering period
• Water availability
• Farm size
• Local pollinator species

The timing of flowering can also matter. A diverse mix that flowers at different times may provide food for insects over a longer period. Local horticulture departments and agricultural experts can help farmers select suitable species for their area.

Biodiversity can become part of crop planning

The Andhra Pradesh programme shows a growing effort to bring biodiversity into everyday farming decisions. Farmers usually plan land around crops, irrigation and inputs. Pollinator-friendly farming adds another question. What plants and insects does the farm support?

This does not mean farmers must turn every field into a flower garden. The approach can involve using selected spaces and integrating suitable flowering plants into the existing farm system.

The flower-kit approach gives farmers a simple starting point for improving farm biodiversity. Instead of treating pollinators as something outside the farm, farmers can create spaces that support them.

The next step will be to study how farmers use these flower kits over time and whether they improve pollinator activity and crop productivity under local conditions. For natural farmers, the main value is practical. A diverse farm can support more than the main crop. It can also support the insects that contribute to the production system.