When Cyclone Montha crossed the coastal belt of Andhra Pradesh with wind speeds reaching 110 km per hour, large portions of agricultural land were left damaged. Thousands of farmers in coastal districts witnessed flattened fields, uprooted banana plantations and paddy crops washed out by heavy rainfall. However, amid this widespread destruction, one striking observation has brought renewed national attention to natural farming practices.
Different Outcomes in the Same Village
In Suggunalanka village of Bapatla district, two banana farmers experienced dramatically different levels of crop loss. Both cultivated the same variety, “Bontha arati,” both sowed during the same period, and both were only days away from harvest. Yet the cyclone destroyed more than 600 plants on one acre in the chemically-managed farm, while the adjoining natural farming plot saw only 47 damaged plants. The total loss came to nearly 5 percent in the natural field versus over 60 percent in the chemical-based field.
For local farmers, the contrast was a moment of shock and learning. Videos and photographs of the two fields went viral among farmer networks, agronomists and natural farming advocates across Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. Many visited the site to verify the difference for themselves. The conclusion was clear: the natural farming model had allowed crops to withstand gale-force winds that flattened crops grown with fertilisers and chemicals.
Why Natural Farming Survived the Cyclone
Agriculture experts point to multiple factors for this resilience. Natural farming practices increase soil organic matter, helping the soil hold moisture and provide stronger root anchorage. Without chemical fertilisers, the plants grow sturdier and less water-heavy, reducing stem breakage. Farmers using chemical fertilisers often report softer stems and higher susceptibility to extreme wind.
In Bapatla, these differences became visible in real time. The natural farming banana plants remained firmly rooted, while neighbouring plants collapsed like dominoes. Farmers say mulching and soil aeration also helped absorb heavy rainfall, preventing waterlogging and root damage.
Previous Cyclones Showed Similar Patterns
This was not the first time natural farming fields performed better in cyclonic winds. During Cyclone Michaung between December 3 and 5, 2023, two paddy fields in Guntur district showed similar contrasts. The chemically-grown crop lodged entirely under high winds, while the natural farming crop remained upright. A similar story emerged during Cyclone Phethai in 2018.
These repeated patterns have convinced many farmers to rethink chemical-dependent agriculture. Several have now contacted the natural farming community seeking training and seed support, hoping to avoid future losses.
Farmers Turn to Low-Cost and Climate-Resilient Methods
For small and marginal farmers, natural farming brings two major benefits: lower cost of cultivation and climate resilience. Without chemical fertilisers, farmers reduce input costs drastically. They also access better market rates for naturally grown crops. What surprised most, however, was that these methods also protected crops against cyclonic winds.
Farmers in cyclone-prone coastal belts say they are now re-evaluating long-term strategies. With climate change increasing the frequency of extreme weather events, traditional knowledge and soil-based agriculture are becoming essential, not optional.
Interest Growing Across Andhra Pradesh
Following the Montha cyclone impact, farmer groups, NGOs, and agricultural departments have shown increased interest in field research and demonstration visits. Many believe this could push a gradual agricultural transition across cyclone-affected coastal districts.
The success story in Bapatla has now become a conversation point statewide. For farmers who lost entire crops in a single night, the natural farming model presents a possible safeguard against unpredictable weather.
