No Soil, No Tilling: Gaya Farmers Grow Sugar-Free Potatoes on Straw, Ganoura

• Farmers in Gaya, Bihar, are adopting a zero-tillage method to cultivate potatoes using paddy straw and organic waste (ganoura) instead of soil.
• The Zero Tillage Srividhi Natural Farming technique involves placing potato tubers under a 6-8 inch layer of straw, eliminating the need for plowing.
• This innovative method significantly reduces cultivation costs, labor, and is reported to increase potato yield by 15-20 percent.
• Shrikant Yadav, a farmer, planted the Lady Rosetta variety on 2 bighas, known for chip making and being beneficial for sugar patients.
• The technique, supported by the Agriculture Department and Pran Sanstha, is gaining popularity for its efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and environmental benefits.