Most failures in natural farming do not come from the method itself. They come from how the transition is handled.
Across India, many farmers try natural farming with genuine hope, only to abandon it after one or two seasons. When this happens, the conclusion is often that natural farming does not work. In reality, what failed was not the system, but the approach to switching.
At Terragaon Farms in Birbhum, West Bengal, we have observed these patterns repeatedly, both in our own learning phase and while interacting with other farmers. The same mistakes appear across regions, crops, and land sizes.
This article documents the most common mistakes farmers make when switching to natural farming in India and explains why they happen and how to avoid them under real small farm conditions.
Trying to change everything in the first season
The most frequent mistake is attempting a full conversion immediately.
Farmers stop all chemical inputs overnight, change cropping patterns, introduce new practices, and expect the system to stabilize within one season. Soil that has depended on chemicals for years cannot recover instantly.
Abrupt withdrawal without soil protection often stresses crops and reduces yield sharply. This creates panic and loss of confidence.
Natural farming works better when changes are phased. Reducing chemical inputs gradually while improving soil cover and organic matter allows biology to recover without shocking the system.
Replacing chemical inputs with purchased organic inputs
Many farmers stop using chemical fertilisers but start buying vermicompost, bio fertilisers, organic pesticides, and commercial microbial products.
This shifts dependency rather than removing it. Costs remain high and results are inconsistent, especially on small land.
Natural farming is not about switching brands. It is about reducing purchases. When farmers continue spending heavily on inputs, profitability and stability do not improve.
The soil does not need expensive products. It needs protection, moisture, organic matter, and time.
Ignoring mulching and soil cover
Skipping mulching is one of the costliest mistakes.
Some farmers focus on sprays and inputs while leaving soil exposed. Bare soil heats up, dries quickly, and loses biological activity. Under these conditions, even good practices show poor results.
Mulching is not optional in natural farming. It is foundational. Farmers who mulch consistently see faster soil recovery, lower weed pressure, and better moisture retention.
Without soil cover, natural farming struggles to show results.
Expecting yield increase before cost reduction
Another common error is measuring success only through yield.
In natural farming, cost reduction usually appears before yield improvement. Fertiliser, pesticide, and irrigation expenses decline first. Yield stabilizes later.
Farmers who judge natural farming only by first season output often conclude failure prematurely. Profitability is about net outcome over time, not peak production in one season.
Choosing high risk crops during transition
Switching to natural farming with high input, high risk crops often leads to disappointment.
Cash crops and varieties that depend heavily on external nutrients struggle during transition. Crop stress increases and learning becomes expensive.
Natural farming transitions work best with short duration crops, legumes, and locally adapted varieties that tolerate nutrient fluctuation.
Crop choice during the first two seasons can decide whether a farmer continues or quits.
Overusing natural sprays and inputs
Some farmers believe more application means faster results.
Excessive use of jeevamrit, botanical sprays, or microbial solutions does not accelerate soil recovery. It can create imbalance, waste labour, and increase cost.
Natural farming rewards consistency, not intensity. Small, regular practices aligned with soil conditions work better than frequent interventions.
Ignoring observation and relying on schedules
Chemical farming trains farmers to follow fixed schedules. Spray this on day ten. Apply fertiliser on day twenty.
Natural farming requires observation instead of rigid timing. Soil moisture, crop colour, pest behaviour, and weather patterns guide action.
Farmers who continue following fixed schedules often miss early signals and react late. Observation is a skill that must be relearned.
Underestimating labour and family capacity
Natural farming changes labour patterns.
In the learning phase, time investment increases. Mulching, composting, and observation require attention. Farmers who underestimate this often feel overwhelmed.
Natural farming becomes easier over time, but only if systems are designed around available labour. Overstretching family capacity leads to burnout and abandonment.
Expecting certification or premium markets immediately
Some farmers switch to natural farming expecting instant premium pricing.
Markets do not change overnight. Certification takes time and money. Local trust builds slowly.
Natural farming should be financially viable even without premium prices. Premium markets, where available, should be treated as a bonus rather than a requirement.
Ignoring local adaptation
Blindly copying methods from videos, books, or other regions often leads to failure.
Soil type, rainfall, temperature, crop choice, and labour availability vary widely across India. Practices must be adapted locally.
Natural farming succeeds when farmers adjust methods to their land rather than forcing uniform models.
Learning without community or guidance
Transitioning alone increases mistakes.
Farmers who learn in isolation often repeat avoidable errors. Interaction with nearby practitioners, field visits, and shared learning reduce risk.
Natural farming is knowledge intensive in the beginning. Community shortens the learning curve.
Final thoughts
Most failures in natural farming are not failures of nature. They are failures of transition planning.
At Terragaon Farms, progress came only after slowing down, observing more, spending less, and allowing soil to recover at its own pace.
Natural farming is not fragile. Expectations are.
When farmers switch patiently, reduce dependency gradually, protect soil consistently, and learn through observation, natural farming becomes not only possible but resilient.
Avoiding these common mistakes does not guarantee success, but it dramatically improves the odds of staying with the system long enough for it to work.
