Project Methodology
A randomized controlled trial was designed as part of a five-year longitudinal study (2022–2027) comparing outcomes between natural farming adopters and non-adopters through surveys conducted three times a year, enabling high-frequency tracking of agricultural, environmental, and socio-economic indicators. DIA led data collection for the third round of year two and the first round of year three, between September and December 2024. The survey captured cropping patterns across the Kharif and Rabi seasons; for the control group, fertilizer, herbicide, and pesticide use and expenditure; and for the treatment group, production and application costs of natural organic fertilizers. It also gathered data on farming practices and reasons for crop failure.
Impact
The study systematically compares the economic, social, and environmental outcomes of natural farming against conventional, chemical-based farming systems. By applying a rigorous research design across three annual survey rounds, it aims to generate robust, evidence-based insight into how natural farming affects farm-level profitability, household well-being, soil health, input use, biodiversity, and climate resilience. These findings are intended to inform the continued design and scale-up of the APCNF programme across Andhra Pradesh’s farming communities.