In today’s time where peoples are falling to chronic disease easily, who would like to risk their life with the harmful pesticides and fertilizers? But there is a way to rescue ourselves from these life threatening chemicals and that is Organic Farming.
Organic farming system in India is not new and is being practiced from thousands years ago. It is a method of farming system which primarily aimed at cultivating the land and raising crops in such a way, where the fertilizers, pesticides etc. are obtained from plant residues and animal products for increased sustainable production in an eco-friendly pollution free environment.
What is Organic Farming?
“Organic farming is a system of farming or Agriculture which avoids the use of synthetic inputs ( such as fertilizers, pesticides, hormones, feed additives and the maximum extent feasible rely upon crop rotations, crop residues, animal manures, off farm organic waste and biological system of nutrient mobilization and plant protection.” -United States Department of Agriculture(USDA)
“Organic Farming is the method of crop and livestock production which involves not to using pesticides, fertilizers, genetically modified organisms, antibiotics and growth hormones.”
Main Objectives of Organic farming
To improve drawbacks of Green Revolution.
To improve rapidly degrading soil fertility status for long
term.
To reduce increased input cost of cultivation.
To reduce increased environment pollution.
To solve health problems due to using intensively
chemicals in crop production.
To ensure that water stays clean and safe.
Reducing high energy use and emissions of green house
gases.
To control pest and diseases without harming the
environment.
Effective use of resources which farmers have already.
Types of Organic farming
(1). Pure Organic Farming:- It involves the use of organic manures and bio-pesticides with complete avoidance of inorganic chemicals and pesticides.
(2). Integrated Organic Farming:- It involves Integrated Pest Management and Integrated Nutrient Management. In this farming type you can grow crops from natural resources, further having the complete nutritive value and management of the insect pest.
Principles of Organic Farming (1). Principles of health:- Organic Farming must contribute to be and well being of soil, plants, animal, human and the Earth. (2). The principle of ecological balance:- We must model on living ecological systems. Moreover the method of farming must fit the ecological balance and cycles.
Methods/Techniques of Organic Farming
(1). Crop Rotation:-
It is the method of growing various kind of crops in the same area, according to different season in a sequential way. Here land is fixed but crop is rotated year after year. It helps to check the erosion, improves soil fertility and stabilize income.
(2). Green Manuring:- Refers to the dying plants or crops which are uprooted and turned into soil to make the mact as organic matter and make source of nutrients for the soil to increase its quality.
Ex.- Crotolaria juncea, cowpea and other leguminous crops.
(3). Composting:– Compost is highly rich in nutrients and act as organic material which is use as manuring in crops. It can be made by farm waste, vegetables , food waste and crop residues.
(4). Mulching:- It is a process of covering the soil by any type of medium (crop residues, polythene etc.) It checks evaporation on soil surface and provides more favourable conditions for the best growth of the plant.
Why India needs Organic Farming?
The main reason farmers state to farm organically istheir concern about working with chemicals in conventional farming systems.
As many farm chemicals require energy intensive manufacturing processes that rely heavily on fossil fuels, there is an issue with the amount of energy used in agriculture , organic farmers find their method of farming to be profitable and personally rewarding.
Advantages of Organic Farming
Organic farming helps to prevent environmental degradation and can be used to regenerate degraded areas.
Organic manure produce an ideal condition in the soil for high yields and good quality of crops.
They reduce the need for purchased inputs.
They improve the soil chemical properties such as supply and retention of soil nutrients and promote favorable chemical reactions.
Organically grown plants are more resistant to disease and insect and hence only a few chemical sprays or other protective treatment are required poison-free.
Creates job opportunities for the peoples.
It leads to reduction in farm waste as the is recycled and used form.
Disadvantages of Organic Farming
It requires more workers for managing the Organic Farming, so it become more costly. It requires more knowledge of making and using effectively organic manures and other practices. More time requires for obtain results of Organic Farming. Food illness may happen more often. Organic food is more expensive because farmers do not get much out of their land as conventional farmers do. Due to low yields, Organic farming can’t produce enough food for the world’s population needs to survive.
Status of organic farming in India
India holds a unique position among 172 countries who practicing organic agriculture. India produced around 1.35 MT (2015-160 of certified organic products which includes all varieties of food products. The production sector is not limited to the edible sector but also produces organic cotton fiber, functional food products etc. In the year 2015, India ranked first in the terms of the number of organic producers among over 170 countries and 9th in the terms of area under organic agriculture. India ranked 11th in organic product export in 2015. India is the home of 30% of total organic producers in the world but accounts for just 2.59% (1.5 Mha)of the total organic cultivation. There are limitations like availability of practical guidelines, communication gap with small and marginal farmers and lack of comprehensive approach for integration of technological knowhow, better marketing options etc. which led to lesser farmer’s participation in large scale demonstration.
Sikkim: World’s First Organic State
Sikkim presented a model in front of the world by becoming the first ever organic state in the world. India’s “100% Organic State” Sikkim has won the “Oscar for Best Policies” conferred by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) for the world’s best policies promoting agro-ecological and sustainable food systems. Sikkim won the Future Policy Award 2018, beating the 51 nominated policies from 25 countries. Sikkim became the first state in India officially announce to adoption of organic farming in the year 2003 to ensure long term sustainability of soil fertility, protection of environment and ecology, healthy living and decreasing the risk of health aliments. In 2003 Sikkim stopped imports of chemicals fertilizers in the state and since then the cultivable land there is practically organic and farmers of sikkim are traditional users of organic manure.