The huge expenditure being incurred on pesticides and chemically manufactured fertilisers has turned farming into a non-profitable venture, said organic farming expert Subhash Palekar, adding that agriculture could be profitable if farmers used environmental-friendly methods. Speaking at a meet on 'Zero Budget Natural Farming' at the AU Convocation Hall on Monday, Palekar said the government could help farmers with an initial investment to ease the process. More than 6,000 farmers from all over the country participated in the event organised by a group of environmentalists from the state. Elaborating on the issue, Palekar said cow dung and urine could be combined with jaggery to prepare the natural fertiliser 'Jeevamrutam', which helps enhance the process of photosynthesis, thereby improving the crop yield. Apart from this, the fertiliser also protects crops against 300 varieties of pests, including root and stem borers. Urging the government to lend a helping hand to farmers by providing the funds for the initial investment, Palekar said the government would earn quick returns and farmers would be independent of loans provided by the government or private banking agencies. Palekar said the government should also play a key role by helping farmers market the produce by providing subsidised transport, market yards and also by directly purchasing the produce for schemes such as mid-day meals. M Pavan Kumar, one of the organising members of the event, said, "We believe that by adopting this method, we will not only be able to sell healthy food products and provide financial security to our farmers, we can also help revive the local diary industry, which in many parts of India is becoming non-profitable." Elaborating on the need to improve dairying standards, Pavan Kumar said, "We are all aware of the fact that cross-breeding has failed miserably in most parts of India and is also wiping out many local strains that would have normally thrived. Take for example the Ongole breed, which is highly suitable for tilling the soil and can also produce enough milk. If this breed were to be used to provide the catalyst that we are talking about, we can infuse fresh lease of life into the dying dairy industry." Speaking to TOI, newly turned agriculturist, retired Lt Colonel Emani Raman Prasad and his marine engineer partner C Sreeshanth said they found the workshop very interesting and were thrilled by the positive response of the state government that helped mobilise the event. "If they can help us take it forward from here, agriculture will see good days in AP," said Sreeshanth.