How to start banana (matooke) growing in Uganda

 

What is natural farming?

Natural farming is referred to as the "Natural way of farming" and was established by a Japanese philosophy and farmer Masanobu Fukuako, he called it a "do nothing farming" because it’s about letting nature do the work of preserving and maintaining itself without much human interference. It’s a chemical free and low budget agricultural method that mostly relies on natural on farm materials . This method ensures no use of external in puts like fertilizers and pesticides

In countries, like India, virdabha a great region in growing cotton in central India, natural farming is helping farmers to cut cost by using clay pot in puts, cow based compost and ancestral methods for cotton resilience. 

The major core principles of natural farming

Natural farming is more than" a do nothing farming, method it’s a philosophy. Though it differs slightly across culture and climates some core principles remain consistent. 

No chemical or synthetic in puts

Chemical or synthetic in puts are not applied in the natural way of farming, instead they are replaced with natural fertilizers like compost, cow dung, chicken manure or fermented microbial solutions

Minimal soil disturbance

Natural farming ensures soil stability and structure no tilling and plowing which helps in preserving soil structure and supporting its microbial life

Mulching and cover cropping 

Covering of top soil with dry grass or leaves is also a natural way of farming it helps in maintaining the moisture in soil from direct sun light and in controlling soil erosion

No weeding by tillage

Weeds are manually up rooted or by applying natural cover crops instead of weeding by tillage that disturbs the soil structure and formation

Use of local resources

In natural way of farming, local resources like cow dung, mulches water sources and more, all can be used to make natural fertilizers and pesticides which are soil and nature friendly

Inter cropping and bio diversity

Planting multiple crops together is also another principle in do nothing farming plants like maize and beans share nutrients and yield stability 

Benefits of natural way of farming

Environmental preservation

The soil structure remain intact, ensures soil health, it conserves the water and it also helps in enhancing biodiversity. 

Health

Natural way of farming produces foods that are chemical free and rich in nutrients, safe and healthier for both consumers and the farmer, the system protects them from harmful synthetic substances. 

Economic 

Economically natural way of farming needs low input to start and maintain since all materials used in this system they are natural made and the system can produce improving profits over time. 

In conclusion

In the modern world where the global market is piled up with chemical foods, the ancient way of preserving nature by "farming by the way of nature" is the way forward, for chemical free foods vegetables and fruits, boosting people’s lives with healthy foods but also preserving nature and the living soil.