Pawan Kalyan grows mangoes, tomatoes in his farm house in Hyderabad. Telugu star shares details about his 'zero budget natural farming' method to cultivate vegetables. How to grow vegetables with no chemicals?

Leading Telugu movie star Pawan Kalyan has a keen interest in farming. The Tholi Prema actor regularly spends time at his farmhouse on the outskirts of Hyderabad, where he himself grows a range of products, including tomatoes, mangoes, leafy greens, and fruits that grow according to the season, according to a report published in The Times of India.

Vijay Ram, an expert in sustainable and green farming who collaborated with Kalyan while developing an organic vegetable farm, has reportedly been impressed by the actor's dedication to agriculture. According to him, Kalyan learnt farming on his own and prefers to remain closely involved in every stage of the process. He takes part in activities ranging from preparing and ploughing the soil to sowing seeds and watering the crops, choosing to handle much of the agricultural work himself.

The actor reportedly follows the zero-budget natural farming approach developed by agriculturalist Subash Palekar. The method focuses on natural farming practices and minimising dependence on costly external inputs and synthetic chemicals.


Kalyan also maintains a functional gosala, or cowshed, at his farm. He is said to have a deep affection for his cattle and looks after them with the same care he would give to members of his family.

An old social media post from 2015 also highlighted his interest in natural farming. At the time, the Badri actor shared an image of himself applying fertiliser to seeds while preparing the soil. He explained that he was using Jeevamrutham, a natural farming preparation, as part of the Zero Budget Natural Farming method associated with Subash Palekar to grow vegetables on his farm.

More recently, Kalyan, who serves as Andhra Pradesh's Deputy Chief Minister and also holds the Forest and Environment portfolio, discussed agricultural practices during a meeting with senior officials from the Forest and Horticulture Departments at the State Secretariat in Velagapudi.

During the meeting, he stressed the importance of encouraging farmers to grow a wider variety of horticultural crops and incorporate intercropping into their agricultural practices. Cultivating multiple plant varieties together, he noted, can help farmers make more productive use of their land while also supporting environmental conservation.

He further emphasised the need to educate farmers about limiting their dependence on synthetic fertilisers. Reducing the excessive use of chemical inputs, he said, can contribute to better soil health and help preserve biodiversity.

What Is Zero Budget Natural Farming Method?

Developed by Indian agriculturalist Subhash Palekar, the zero-budget natural farming method helps farmers grow crops using local resources so as to keep production costs low. According to an article published on Organic Mandya, it is a is a method of sustainable farming. By substituting natural inputs made from locally produced cow products for chemical fertilisers and insecticides, it reduces production expenses. Some of the natural fertilisers used to grow crops are:

Manure from Cow Dung

Enhances the structure of the soil and promotes microbial life.

Gau Mutra, or cow urine

used to create formulas that encourage development.

The Jeevamrutha

increases soil fertility and nutrient availability.

Ghanajeevamrutha

gives plants long-term sustenance.