Prospects and Application of Traditional Microbial Formulation “Jeevamrutha” for Sustainable Climate-resilient Agriculture
摘要
The agriculture sector is crucial for global food security and livelihoods. However, it is increasingly threatened by climate change, including shifting weather patterns and rising temperatures. To mitigate this, the adoption of climate-resilient agriculture has been proposed. Among the proposed climate-resilient strategies, natural farming, which emphasizes regenerative practices and the use of local resources, has gained prominence. In India, traditional bioformulations, such as “jeevamrutha”, has widely adopted among farmers practicing natural farming. Jeevamrutha, prepared from locally available organic materials, is rich in diverse beneficial microbes, enzymes, and metabolites that support soil and plant health. Studies report its ability to improve soil physico-chemical and biological properties, helps in mitigating environmental stresses like drought and salinity. Despite these benefits, a comprehensive synthesis on the potential application of jeevamrutha in climate-resilient agriculture is still lacking. Therefore, this review synthesizes the existing evidence regarding the effects of jeevamrutha on soil fertility and plant growth and development. The findings are then discussed within the broader context of climate-resilient agriculture to assess its potential application as a sustainable microbial formulation to mitigate climate-related impacts on agriculture. This work also develops a future path of research and identifies challenges in incorporating jeevamrutha within the sustainable farming systems, thereby building a sustainable climate-resilient agriculture system.
Graphical Abstract