Shillong, Oct 21: A field trial conducted by the Andhra Pradesh Community-Managed Natural Farming (APCNF) programme in Mukhla Shohshrieh village of Meghalaya’s West Jaintia Hills district has recorded over 58% higher paddy yield under natural farming than under conventional farming using synthetic inputs.
The experiment tested the indigenous 300 Jrong paddy variety under both farming methods. The natural farming plot performed better in plant height, tiller production, grain count and overall yield.
From a 25-square-metre plot, natural farming produced 13.22 kg of paddy, compared to 8.34 kg from the conventional plot.
The natural farming plot recorded an average plant height of 139 cm, against 110.2 cm under conventional farming. It also produced 15 tillers per hill, compared to six in the conventional plot.
Each panicle in the natural farming plot contained an average of 147 grains, while the conventional plot recorded 128 grains per panicle.
The findings highlight the potential of natural farming in Meghalaya’s hill terrain, where agricultural practices need to suit local soil and climatic conditions.
The trial also adds to efforts to assess farming methods that reduce dependence on synthetic inputs while supporting soil health and crop resilience.
The APCNF programme is a women-led natural farming initiative of the Andhra Pradesh government. Its framework is being adapted across 22 Indian states and promotes low-input farming through farmer-to-farmer learning and community resource networks.
The results from Mukhla Shohshrieh offer encouraging evidence of natural farming’s potential. However, further trials across different locations, seasons and growing conditions would help establish whether similar yield gains can be consistently achieved across Meghalaya.
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The post Going back to roots: Natural farming delivers 58% higher paddy yield in Meghalaya trial appeared first on Hub News.