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Natural farming in India is steadily gaining traction across different crop categories like tubers, oilseeds, and spices, thanks to its environmentally sustainable approach. In tuber cultivation—covering crops like potatoes, sweet potatoes, yams, and colocasia—the method promotes organic inputs, crop rotation, and soil health preservation without the use of synthetic chemicals. Natural composts, green manures, and biofertilizers nourish the soil, while homemade biopesticides and pest deterrents help manage common pests and diseases. Techniques such as mulching and moisture conservation further support ideal soil conditions,
improving both the quality and yield of tubers.
For oilseeds such as groundnut, sesame, mustard, and sunflower, natural farming enhances soil fertility using organic manures, decomposed crop residues, and locally made biofertilizers. Treating seeds with cow urine or herbal solutions enhances germination and protects against diseases. Practices like intercropping and crop diversification help disrupt pest life cycles and improve soil texture. Pest control relies on natural, plant-based sprays like neem and garlic, reducing dependency on chemical pesticides while preserving beneficial insect populations.
In the case of spices such as turmeric, cardamom, coriander, and black pepper, natural farming methods offer considerable benefits. The use of vermicompost and green manuring boosts micronutrient availability essential for healthy growth. Mulching helps retain soil moisture, especially in hilly areas. Pests and diseases are controlled using herbal preparations like Panchagavya and Agniastra, which enhance plant resistance and reduce infection rates. These eco-friendly methods lead to the production of high-quality, chemical-free spices and support biodiversity and sustainability.

Natural farming for vegetable cultivation is steadily gaining popularity in India due to its eco-friendly methods, affordability, and health benefits. This system
excludes the use of synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, and genetically modified seeds, instead relying on time-tested ecological techniques and locally sourced inputs. Common vegetables grown under this method include tomato, brinjal, okra, chilli, leafy greens, and gourds.
The focus of natural farming is on enriching soil health and encouraging microbial activity, which supports healthy plant development. Inputs like Jeevamrit—a blend of cow dung, cow urine, jaggery, gram flour, and soil—boost soil microbes and improve nutrient absorption. Beejamrit is applied to seeds to guard against soil-borne pathogens. Mulching using dry leaves or plant residues helps maintain moisture, regulate soil temperature, and reduce weed growth, thereby creating ideal conditions for vegetable growth.
Pests are managed using natural remedies like Agniastra, Brahmastra, and herbal formulations made from neem, garlic, ginger, and chillies. These treatments are environmentally safe and do not harm beneficial insects or soil fauna.
Practices such as crop rotation and intercropping with legumes help enrich the soil with nitrogen and interrupt pest cycles. Seasonal vegetable planting tailored to local climate and soil conditions improves resilience and reduces the need for inputs. Raised beds and drip irrigation are often employed to improve water efficiency. While yields

Technology Scouting and Innovations in Technology Incubation
Technology scouting and innovations in technology incubation have a symbiotic relationship, fuelling each other for the benefit of budding startups and the broader technology ecosystem. Let’s dive deeper into their individual roles and how they interact:
Technology Scouting
Technology Scouting is the process of discovering, analyzing and evaluating new or existing technologies that will help them with their innovation process. In simple terms, it is a process for companies to find the necessary technology outside the company.
Hunting for promising technologies: Scouts actively search for emerging technologies, patents, research advancements, and market trends across various sectors.
Evaluating potential and fit: They assess the technical feasibility, market potential, and compatibility with the needs of incubators and their supported startups.
Connecting innovators and ventures: Scouts bridge the gap between technology creators (researchers, inventors, startups) and potential users (incubators, established companies).
Fuelling innovation pipelines: Technology scouting helps incubators access a wider range of technologies and ideas, enriching their portfolio and diversifying the innovations supported.

Natural farming is gaining prominence in India as a sustainable and environmentally friendly method for cultivating cereals and pulses. This approach eliminates the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, instead depending on ageold practices, natural biological processes, and locally sourced organic materials. Crops like rice, wheat, millets, pigeon pea, chickpea, green gram, and black gram are key staples in the Indian diet, and natural farming offers a promising route to enhance both environmental health and farmer well-being.
At the core of natural farming is the focus on soil health, maintained through techniques such as mulching, crop rotation, and the use of traditional inputs like jeevamrit, beejamrit, and ghanjeevamrit. These mixtures—prepared using cow dung, urine, jaggery, pulse flour, and local soil—boost microbial activity, improving nutrient absorption and resistance to disease. Cereals benefit from proper soil moisture through waaphasa (aerated soil) and mulching, while pulses, which naturally fix nitrogen, thrive without synthetic additives.
Weeds are controlled manually or with natural solutions like agniastra, and pests are managed using plant-based formulations and cow urine sprays. Intercropping cereals with pulses enhances soil fertility, deters pests, and optimizes land usage. Farmers in states such as Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Karnataka have reported better soil health, lower input costs, and increased climate resilience through natural farming. As consumer interest in pesticide-free grains and pulses rises, farmers are also experiencing better market prices. With growing institutional support and public awareness, natural farming is emerging as a strong alternative for promoting food security, environmental sustainability, and rural development in India.

Technology Promotion
The activity of promoting the transfer of technology by creating opportunities, advertising and organizing technology events.
Promotion is a marketing tool, used as a strategy to communicate between the sellers and buyers. Through this, the seller tries to influence and convince the buyers to buy their products or services. It assists in spreading the word about the product or services or company to the people. The company uses this process to improve its public image. This technique of marketing creates an interest in the mindset of the customers and can also retain them as a loyal customer.
Promotion is a fundamental component of the marketing mix, which has 4 Ps:
1. Product (Warranty, features, variety, quality, design, packaging, brand name)
2. Price (List price, discounts, payment terms, credit)
3. Place (channels, coverage, Types of promotion locations, transportation, inventory)
4. Promotion (advertising, self-marketing/personal, sales promotion, public relations, direct marketing, trade shows, events).

Basics of Technology Incubation
Technology incubation is a fascinating process that fosters the growth of innovative startups and businesses with high-potential technology. It provides a supportive environment and resources for early-stage companies to develop their ideas, validate their business models, and navigate the challenges of commercialization.
Here’s a breakdown of the key aspects of technology incubation: What happens in a technology incubation?
Pre-incubation: Startups with promising ideas can receive initial guidance and support to refine their concepts and develop a business plan.
Incubation: Selected startups gain access to shared office space, mentorship from experienced professionals, networking opportunities, and access to funding sources.
Post-incubation: Graduated startups continue to receive support in areas like marketing, legal advice, and investor relations as they scale their businesses.
Benefits of Technology Incubation
Reduced risks: Startups can test their ideas and validate their market potential before investing significant resources.
Access to resources: Incubators provide vital resources like office space, equipment, and software, reducing the financial burden on startups.

Water conservation and efficient irrigation are key components of natural farming in India, especially in light of challenges like erratic rainfall, declining groundwater, and unsustainable water practices. Natural farming minimizes the use of external inputs, including water, and promotes ecological balance. Traditional knowledge, combined with sustainable farming principles, helps farmers use water wisely while preserving soil moisture and improving its waterholding capacity.
A primary focus in natural farming is maintaining soil health, which directly influences its ability to retain water. Organic matter from cow-based inputs such as Jeevamrutha and compost enhances soil texture and porosity, enabling better
water absorption. This results in less frequent irrigation needs, allowing crops to grow even with limited water. Mulching is widely used in this approach. Covering the soil with organic materials like straw or crop residue helps reduce evaporation, moderate soil temperature, prevent weeds, and preserve moisture. This is particularly effective in dry areas or seasons with low rainfall.
Rainwater harvesting is another vital aspect. Farmers are encouraged to build farm ponds, bunds, and trenches to capture and store rainwater. These methods help recharge groundwater and provide a backup during dry periods, reducing drought vulnerability. Natural farming discourages water-intensive methods like flood irrigation. Instead, it promotes efficient techniques like drip irrigation, which targets water delivery to plant roots, and pitcher irrigation, where buried clay pots gradually release water—both minimizing waste.

Technology Assessment and Refinement
What is Technology Assessment?
Technology assessment serves as a method or tool for forecasting future technological needs. It helps in envisioning or predicting potential technological developments required by users and in identifying areas where existing technologies can be improved. In agriculture, evaluating a technology means understanding its worth or effectiveness. This evaluation can be done by researchers, farmers, or other relevant stakeholders. The knowledge obtained from such evaluations is essential for creating new technologies, improving existing ones, and ensuring their successful adoption by end users.
The approach to technology assessment varies depending on who is conducting the evaluation, the purpose behind it, and the specific characteristics of the technology being assessed. It is commonly defined as the organized and intentional use of knowledge, skills, and experience to carry out a task or deliver a service that contributes to the well-being of society.
Technology Assessment: Definition and Objectives
According to Strasser (1972), technology assessment is a structured approach to planning and forecasting that identifies various options and associated costs. It considers not only economic factors but also environmental and social impacts, both internal and external to the technology being evaluated. The assessment places emphasis on analyzing both the positive and negative consequences of technologies. As such, institutions involved in the development, refinement, and dissemination of agricultural technologies have a significant stake in conducting technology assessments.

Natural nutrient management in India marks a transition from synthetic fertilizers to sustainable, eco-friendly approaches that focus on improving soil fertility, crop yield, and environmental integrity. Rooted in traditional Indian agricultural wisdom, these practices are regaining importance due to their compatibility with natural farming principles, minimal reliance on external inputs, and enhancement of soil microbial activity.
A key method is the use of Jeevamrut, a fermented culture made using cow dung, cow urine, jaggery, pulse flour, and soil from field bunds. This mixture significantly boosts microbial activity in the soil, facilitating nutrient availability and decomposition of organic matter. It is applied directly to the soil or as a foliar spray and is known for improving nitrogen fixation and phosphorus release.
Ghanjeevamrut, a dry, solid variant of Jeevamrut, is used as a base application before sowing. It delivers a slow release of nutrients and is ideal for areas facing water shortages or crops requiring prolonged nourishment.
Panchagavya, another traditional bio-input, is a blend of five cow-derived products—milk, curd, ghee, urine, and dung—alongside banana, coconut water, jaggery, and water. Used mainly as a growth promoter, Panchagavya enhances germination, root development, and crop immunity, and is often applied as a foliar spray.
Green manuring using legumes such as sunhemp, dhaincha, and cowpea contributes significantly by adding organic nitrogen to the soil. These crops also improve soil aeration, structure, and moisture retention when incorporated into the soil.

Intellectual property (IP) encompasses creations of the human intellect, including inventions, artistic and literary works, as well as symbols, names, and designs. Intellectual property rights (IPR) are legal mechanisms thaprovide creators with exclusive rights to use, manage, and profit from their creations. These rights help protect the interests of innovators and promote continued creativity and innovation.
Intellectual Property Rights refer to the legal entitlements granted to individuals or organizations over their creative and intellectual works, such as patents, trademarks, and copyrights. These rights grant exclusive control or usage privileges for a specific duration, often creating a temporary monopoly. While the concept of intellectual property began to take shape in the 19th century, it was only during the 20th century that it was formally integrated into global legal frameworks.
Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) safeguard the creations of the human mind, such as inventions, artistic and literary works, brand names, logos, designs, and images used in commerce. These rights help foster innovation by allowing creators and inventors to benefit economically from their work.
Key Points
1. Intellectual Property Rights are legal protections acquired by creators or owners of intellectual works.
2. Intellectual property encompasses intangible assets that result from human creativity and thought.

Basics of Technology Commercialization
Technology, a ubiquitous force shaping our world, can be understood from various angles. Here’s a breakdown of its definition, functions, and the fascinating process of its advancement.
Definition
At its core, technology is the application of scientific knowledge for practical purposes. It’s not just about gadgets and gizmos; it encompasses a vast array of systems, processes, and tools that we use to transform the world around us and solve problems. This includes everything from the humble wheel to the intricate workings of artificial intelligence.
Functions
Technology serves a multitude of functions, broadly categorized into:
Simplifying tasks: From automated manufacturing to self-driving cars, technology automates and streamlines processes, saving time and effort.
Enhancing communication and connection: From the internet to social media, technology bridges geographical barriers and fosters global interaction.
Expanding our knowledge and understanding: Scientific instruments, telescopes, and advanced data analysis tools enable us to explore the universe, delve into the microscopic world, and gain deeper insights into various fields.

Natural soil health management plays a crucial role in ensuring longterm productivity, resilience, and environmental sustainability. One of the key practices in natural farming for maintaining soil health is the use of Jeevamrutha, a fermented microbial culture prepared using cow dung, cow urine, jaggery, pulse flour, and a small quantity of local soil. When applied to fields, Jeevamrutha acts as a catalytic agent that stimulates biological activity in the soil, promoting the growth of beneficial microbes that enhance nutrient cycling and improve soil fertility. It is typically applied once every 15 days to maintain microbial balance.
Another important technique is mulching, where dry or green plant biomass is spread over the soil surface. Mulching helps retain soil moisture, reduces erosion, and regulates soil temperature. As the mulch decomposes, it adds organic matter to the soil, improving soil texture, aeration, and water-holding capacity. Mulching also supports the proliferation of earthworms and soil microbes, which are essential for a healthy soil ecosystem.
Crop rotation and intercropping are practiced to maintain soil fertility and disrupt pest and disease cycles. By alternating deep-rooted and shallow-rooted plants, nutrients are used efficiently and naturally replenished. Intercropping with legumes enriches the soil with nitrogen through biological nitrogen fixation, further supporting soil health.
Natural farming avoids or minimizes tillage to prevent disturbance of the soil’s natural structure and microbial life. Minimal tillage helps maintain soil aggregates and protects the habitats of soil-dwelling organisms, ensuring the soil ecosystem remains intact.

Natural farming in India is based on core principles that advocate for harmony with nature, self-reliance, and ecological sustainability. More than a farming system, it represents a holistic philosophy that mirrors natural ecosystems in agricultural practices. Inspired by India’s traditional wisdom and promote prominently by Subhash Palekar through Zero Budget Natural Farming (ZBNF), it stands as a low-input, environmentally responsible alternative to chemicaldependent agriculture.
No external input is a fundamental principle of this approach. Farmers are encouraged to avoid chemical fertilizers and pesticides, instead utilizing resources available on the farm—such as cow dung, cow urine, compost, and herbal preparations—to maintain soil fertility and manage pests. This closed-loop system reduces reliance on market-purchased inputs and encourages farm-level self-sufficiency.
Soil regeneration is another key tenet, viewing the soil as a living system teeming with beneficial microbes. Techniques such as organic mulching, maintaining soil cover, and applying Jeevamrutha (a mixture made from cow dung, cow urine, jaggery, and pulse flour) enrich the soil microbiome. These practices improve soil structure, moisture retention, and nutrient availability, leading to healthier crops.
Seed treatment in natural farming avoids chemical coatings. Instead, Beejamrutha—a preparation made from cow dung, cow urine, lime, and native soil—is applied to seeds before sowing. This enhances seedling health, protects against disease, and promotes vigorous early growth, rooted in natural protection.
Natural pest management uses plant-based deterrents rather than synthetic chemicals. Preparations like neem oil, garlic extract, and Agniastra (made from cow dung, cow urine, tobacco, and chili) are applied to control pests. These reduce chemical residue in crops and help preserve beneficial insects and overall biodiversity.

Natural farming in India is deeply rooted in ancient agricultural traditions that prioritized ecological balance and sustainability long before chemical-based farming became widespread. Traditionally, Indian farmers relied on natural cycles, indigenous seeds, animal manure, and mixed cropping to maintain soil fertility, preserve water resources, and enhance biodiversity—principles that form the core of present-day natural farming.
The modern natural farming movement drew global inspiration from Masanobu Fukuoka, a Japanese farmer and philosopher who developed the “do-nothing” method. His philosophy advocated no plowing, no chemical use, and minimal human intervention, which resonated strongly with India’s Vedic agricultural practices. In India, Subhash Palekar further revived and adapted this approach into Zero Budget Natural Farming (ZBNF), a system using local materials such as cow dung, urine, and crop residues. ZBNF emerged as a grassroots response to the ecological damage and financial burdens caused by Green Revolution methods.
Natural farming has since gained international attention. Countries like South Korea, Brazil, and the Philippines have embraced similar ecological practices to address soil degradation and input costs. The FAO and other global bodies also support agroecological methods that mirror natural farming for sustainable food systems.

India achieved food security through the adoption of high-yielding seed varieties, chemical fertilizers to boost soil nutrition, and pesticides to protect crops. However, this progress came at an environmental cost, including excessive fertilizer use that harmed both human and ecological health.
Natural farming, or prakritik kheti in Hindi, represents a traditional yet evolving approach to agriculture that promotes ecological balance, self-reliance, and sustainability. It is deeply embedded in India’s agricultural legacy, where for centuries, farming was done without synthetic chemicals or mechanization. Today, it is gaining renewed importance as a viable alternative to input-intensive farming, offering solutions to challenges like soil depletion, falling groundwater levels, rising costs, and environmental degradation.
Natural farming operates on the belief that nature is inherently self-sustaining. It avoids the use of chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and GMOs, instead relying on natural, locally sourced inputs to boost soil health and crop yield. This method emphasizes collaboration with nature rather than domination over it. Subhash Palekar’s “Zero Budget Natural Farming” (ZBNF) model, based on low-cost and chemical-free techniques, has been especially appealing to small and marginal farmers.
Soil health is central to natural farming. Techniques like mulching with crop waste, applying jeevamrit (a fermented solution of cow dung, urine, and natural additives), and treating seeds with bijamrit are widely used. These enhance soil microbes and improve its capacity to retain water and nutrients. Natural farming also promotes biodiversity through intercropping, crop rotation, and the use of indigenous seeds.

Introduction
Wild marigold (Tagetes minuta) is also famous as African marigold and mint marigold, valued for its higher content and superior in essential oil quality among all the cultivated species undergenusTagetes. Marigold/Genda (Tagetes species) are mostly grown for scented flowers for utilization in functions all over the world. The flowers and leaves are of different varieties, which are identified by their distinct odouriferous oil.
Origin
It is inhabitant to the grasslands of temperate region in South America and now become widespread throughout the world. In India, it has been customized in the North-West Himalayas up-to an altitudes ranging from1000-2500 meters in H.P., U.P. and J&K. Now-a-days, Tagetes minuta is considered as an extensive weed in South Europe, Africa, South Asia, Australia, and Madagascar (Chalchat et al., 1995). It is found growing naturally as a noxious
weed in the wild and arable farming systems. The high demand of its essential oil may leads into reduction of the wild resources, thus it is essential to start systematic cultivation in sub-tropical to temperate agro-climatic zones all over the world, mainly in the region of Indian subcontinent (Singh et al., 2003).

Introduction
Vetiver/Khas is a fibrous, perennial and aromatic root crop spread over Indian subcontinent. The genus Vetiveria is derived from its Tamil name ‘Vettiver’. It occurred largely in wet and damp environments over marshy lands in south-east Rajasthan and Haryana. Also found in river banks of western, central and northern U.P. up-to 1200 m elevation in the Himalayan foothills, T.N., Karnataka, Kerala and some parts of central India. Besides India, it is also widely grown in Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Haiti, Vietnam and Brazil for its fragrant volatile oil (Guenther, 1972). This species along with its unique xerophytic characteristics of tolerating prolonged drought, also survives under long seasonal flooding; extreme temperature and sustainability over a wide range of soil salinity and alkalinity. The South Indian types are rich in oil percent, but content more of hydrocarbons and less oxygenated constituents, thus inferior to North Indian types having higher percentage of oxygenated compound and very high quality odour value. It belongs to family Graminae or Poaceae.
Uses
• Spongy and fibrous roots are commonly used for making cooler pads, floor mats, door screens emitting sweet fragrance with cooling effect in hot summer season when sprinkled with water as roots retain its delightful odour for a long period.

Introduction
Basil/Tulsi is a popular name given to any aromatic herb that belongs to genus Ocimum and family Lamiaceae (Labiatae). The word ‘basil’ was derived from Greek word ‘Basilica’ which means the royal plant. It comprises over 160 species spread over the tropical, sub-tropical, and warmer part of temperate regions of both the hemisphere ranging from sea level to 2000 m height with their diversity met in West Africa. Tropical Africa has maximum diversity with 59 species, followed by sub-tropical region of South Africa with 19 species and India with 9 species only.
 

Introduction
Among flowers, the rose enjoys the greatest adorable position over the world. In real sense, rose almost hypnotised the man most by its colour and fragrance. Apart from its aesthetic value, the roses are of high economic benefits, and religious significant. Besides, it finds it place in art and culture from times immemorial. The rose thus merits pride of place as the ‘Queen of flowers’.
Origin
The damask rose is originated in ancient Persia (now Iran), and later on spreading over Europe and Northern Africa. Further, widespread farming of R. damascena for rose oil manufacturing began in Turkey and Bulgaria. Many countries of the world grow scented roses for extraction of the volatile essential oil. The genus Rosa grows wild in many parts of the temperate and sub-temperate regions. The major growing countries are Bulgaria, France, Italy, Turkey, Russia, China and India. Bulgaria is the principle European country for supply of rose oil to the world market. Among different species, Rosa centifolia Linn. is largely grown in France and Italy, whereas Rosa
damascena Mill. in Turkey, Bulgaria, Russia and Persia. Rosa damascena Mill. was first introduced successfully in middle east countries during 1680, resulting in the establishment of entire area as ‘Valley of flowers’. It belongs to family rosaceae.

Introduction
Patchouli is known as patcholi in Hindi, patche tene in annada, patchapan or patcha in Marathi, patchilla in Malayalam, pacchilai in Tamil. It is a hardy perennial herb well-adjusted against the hot and humid climatic situations. Patchouli is an aromatic herb of immense importance due to presence of essential oil extracted from shade dried leaves. It possessed a powerful sweetness and spicy fragrance. Patchouli has tremendous business potential owning to its unique fragrance properties in the global market. Its oil easily blends with other essential oils giving strong base as fixative properties in preventing evaporation and promoting tenacity. Worldwide, Indonesia is considered as the chief patchouli oil producer.
Origin
Pogostemon cablin Benth. is natural to Philippines but also found growing wild in many countries of South Asian region. The word ‘cablin’ is derived from ‘cabalam’, a local name in the Philippines. Presently, it is not only cultivated on commercial scale in India but also in Indonesia, Singapore, China, Malaysia, Brazil, West Africa, Seychelles, Vietnam and West Indies.