EXPLORING THE IMPACT OF NATURAL FARMING PRACTICES AND ITS GLOBAL PERSPECIVE: A BIBLIOMETRIC ANALYSIS LITERATURE REVIEW

Abstract

Natural farming is increasingly recognized as a sustainable alternative to conventional agricultural practices, emphasizing chemical-free cultivation methods that enhance soil health, biodiversity, and farm profitability. This study employs a bibliometric analysis to examine global research trends, key themes, and collaborative networks in natural farming. Data were retrieved from the Scopus database, applying systematic inclusion and exclusion criteria to ensure the selection of high-impact scholarly literature. Using R Studio and VOS viewer, the study visualizes co-authorship patterns, keyword co-occurrence, and citation networks to uncover major research areas and influential contributors. The results indicate that India leads global research efforts in natural farming, with strong contributions from European and Asian countries. The analysis highlights key research themes, including soil fertility enhancement, economic viability, climate resilience, and sustainable farming practices. Co-authorship and citation networks reveal well-established collaborations among leading researchers, while emerging studies focus on innovations in organic inputs and conservation techniques. While natural farming presents multiple benefits, its widespread adoption faces challenges such as inconsistent yield performance, knowledge dissemination barriers, and policy limitations. Future research should focus on long-term productivity assessments, digital learning platforms for farmer education, and interdisciplinary studies integrating agronomy, socio-economics, and policy development. Strengthening institutional frameworks and knowledge-sharing mechanisms will be essential in mainstreaming natural farming as a scalable and sustainable agricultural model. This study reinforces the importance of continued research, policy support, and collaborative efforts in advancing natural farming for global food security and environmental sustainability.