Natural Farming

Natural farming is a farming practice that imitates the way of nature and builds a stronger relationship between the farmer, nature and the soil. It brings the soil and environment back to its original form where nature works for the production. This is the most sustainable way to farm.

Here are the principles that the farmers have to follow - no mulching, no tilling, no weeding, no pesticides and no fertilizer. Instead, natural farming uses a wide range of strategies to develop and maintain biological diversity and replenish soil fertility. It even differs from organic agriculture.

Batticaloa District was once considered as the area that was rich in resources. However, following the war the area failed to yield the same agricultural benefits for the community. When the project was first launched in Vaharai, the community was using conventional and harmful methods of farming with very little knowledge and skills to efficiently utilise natural resources.