IPPC-2019, Hyderabad, India: Symposium Proposal

Title of the symposium:

Plant Health Management through Climate Resilient Natural Farming

A brief background (250 words):

A pioneering climate resilient Natural Farming initiative was taken up as a movement in the
state of Andhra Pradesh, India. It is a holistic alternative to the present paradigm of high cost
chemical input-based agriculture. Natural Farming also addresses the negative impacts of
climate change. Natural Farming principles are in harmony with the principles of agro-
ecology / sustainable agriculture, a worldwide movement. The FAO recently urged all
countries to move towards the adoption of Agro-ecology to meet the twin goals of global
food security and conservation of the environment.

The looming threat of climate change may further exacerbate the crop losses due to pests.
Concerted efforts are required to establish Agro-ecosystem Analysis (AESA) based plant
health management (PHM) ultimately to replace chemical pesticides. Some of the sustainable
practices in Natural Farming are microbial seed coating through cow urine and dung based
formulations (beejamrutham); application of a concoction made with cow dung, cow urine,
jaggery, pulse flour, water and soil to enhance soil microbiome (jeevamrutham); cover crops
and mulching, or covering soil with crop residues to create favourable micro-climate and fast
build up of soil humus, play a vital role in promotion of soil health; uptake of nutrients by
plants and increase in the above and below ground biodiversity, which ultimately, enhances
inherent capacity of the plants to withstand pest attack and suppresses the pest population
through increased parasitoids, predators and microbials. Vesicular Arbuscular Mycorrhizal
(VAM) fungi promotes the crop growth and agro-ecosystem sustainability and Plant Growth
Promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR) increase the availability of nutrients to the host plant and
also in mitigating pathogenic stresses. Natural faming practice encourage farmers to use land
races or local varieties. In case of severe infections or infestations, botanical concoctions and
cow-based preparations can be used to manage crop pests.

This symposium is to create a platform to the stakeholders globally to showcase; deliberate

and to scale-up the adoption of these climate resilient practices to protect the eco-system.

Scientific section (Select from seven IPPC 2019 Thematic Areas):

Climate change: The emerging challenge

(Plant protection to mitigate effects of climate change)

Name of organizer/co-organizers

1
Organisers:

RySS (Rythu Sadhikara Samstha

Zero Budget Natural Farming
Govt. of Andhra Pradesh, Guntur, AP. India

Lead speakers (Oral presentation, 30 min): Two

List of speakers (Oral presentation, 10 min): 12

Duration of the Symposium: 4 hours

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