A Gujarat delegation visiting Guntur district to study the Andhra Pradesh Community-managed Natural Farming (APCNF) model has appreciated the visible transformation in farmers’ fields, particularly the shift from chemical farming to natural farming, increased crop diversity and biodiversity, improved soil health and enhanced income opportunities.

The 10-member delegation visited several natural farming models implemented by Rythu Sadhikara Samstha (RySS) and interacted with farmers.

“The transformation we witnessed on the ground, from chemical farming to natural farming, reflected in healthier crops, greater biodiversity, diverse cropping systems and improved income opportunities, clearly demonstrates the strength of the APCNF approach,” the delegation said.

The team first visited Vijay Kumar’s POP model at Pidaparthi, where around 35 crop and plant varieties are cultivated on 30 cents of land, generating a monthly income of ₹13,000 to ₹15,000. The delegation appreciated the favourable microclimate and the presence of beneficial insects.

It also visited Ratnakumari’s A-Grade okra model, which had more than 10 intercrops and banana plantations along the borders. Compared with a neighbouring chemical-farming field, the natural farming plot had healthier plants and fewer visible symptoms of virus incidence and leaf curling.

At Munnangi, the delegation visited Mastan Bhi’s five-acre natural farming paddy compact block and observed low weed pressure. Officials explained the use of Azolla for weed suppression and soil enrichment. The team also examined sticky plates, pheromone traps and L-shaped bund plantations used for pest monitoring and promoting biodiversity.

At Atthota, the delegation interacted with farmer Bapayya and appreciated his efforts to conserve indigenous paddy varieties and traditional seeds.