Zero Tillage: Revolutionizing potato farming and empowering women in South Asia

In a world grappling with climate change and food insecurity, finding sustainable crop growth methods is more critical than ever. For smallholder farmers in Asia, potatoes have long been a staple source of food and income. However, traditional farming practices, particularly potato cultivation, are labor-intensive and often unsustainable. Now, with the introduction of zero tillage and mulching, there is hope for a method that increases crop yields and empowers women farmers. 

“Conservation agriculture is essential for sustainable farming,” says David Ramirez of the International Potato Center (CIP). “We need to stop physically damaging the soil.”  

One innovative practice leading this change is zero tillage, where farmers plant crops without disturbing the soil. Instead, potatoes are placed on the ground beneath a layer of straw mulch, a byproduct of the rice harvest. This simple yet transformative approach has far-reaching benefits for the land and farmers.

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