Organic farming is an agricultural system that works in harmony with nature. It largely excludes the use of synthetic inputs (such as fertilizers, pesticides, hormones, feed additives etc.) and rely upon crop rotation, crop residues, animal manures, off-farm organic waste, mineral grade rock additives and biological system of nutrient mobilization and plant protection.
Organic farming in India has been followed since ancient times. It primarily aims at cultivating the land and raising crops in such a way, as to keep the soil alive and in good health by use of organic wastes (crop, animal and farm wastes, aquatic wastes) and other biological materials along with beneficial microbes (biofertilizers) to release nutrients to crops for increased sustainable production in an eco-friendly and pollution-free environment.
ORGANIC FARMING
Organic farming can be defined as an agricultural process that uses biological fertilizers and pest control acquired from animal or plant waste. Organic farming was actually initiated as an answer to the environmental sufferings caused by the use of chemical pesticides and synthetic fertilizers. In other words, organic farming is a new system of farming or agriculture that repairs, maintains and improves the ecological balance.
Key characteristics of organic farming:
It relies on traditional techniques such as crop rotation, green manure, compost and biological. It is accomplished by using farm agronomic, biological and mechanical methods in exclusion of all synthetic off farm inputs.
It protects the long term fertility of soils by maintaining organic Matter levels and encouraging soil biological activity. It often involves vermiculture and vermicomposting
The biological processes, driven by mycorrhiza, allow the natural production of nutrients in soil throughout growing season.
Legumes are planted to fix nitrogen into the soil. It allows nitrogen self-sufficiency through biological nitrogen fixation.
It allows effective recycling of organic materials .
Natural insect predators are encouraged which can be specific for certain pests or of broad-range.
Crop Rotation supports a wider range of beneficial insects, soil micro-organisms, and hence, protects species from going extinct.
A key characteristic of organic farming is the rejection of genetically engineered plants and animals.
Hardier plants are generated through plant breeding rather than genetic engineering.
Advantages of organic farming over other forms of farming:
It improves soil health and fertility.
It requires careful use of water resources hence lead to conservation of water.
Good animal husbandry
Using natural pesticides (biological control)
Recycled crop wastes
Green manures and legumes
Increasing genetic diversity
Use of resistant crops increased employment
Cost-effective farming
Economical- In organic farming no expensive fertilizers, pesticides, HYV seeds are required for the plantation of crops. Therefore, no extra expense.
Good return on Investment- With the usage of cheaper and local inputs, a farmer can make a good return on investment.
High Demand– There is a huge demand for the organic product in India and across the globe, generating more income through export.
Nutritional- As compared to chemical and fertilizer utilized products, organic products are more nutritional, tasty, and good for health.
Environment-Friendly-The farming of organic product is free of chemical and fertilizers, so it doesn’t harm the environment.
Advantages of organic farming
Disadvantages of Organic Farming:
Incompetent –The major issue of organic farming is the lack of Inadequate infrastructure and marketing of the product.
Less production-The organic farming products are lesser in the initial years as compared to the chemical product. So, the farmers find it difficult to accommodate large scale production.
Shorter shelf-life-Organic products have more flaws and shorter shelf life than the chemical product.
Limited production-Off-season crops are limited and have fewer choices option in organic farming.
Types of Organic Farming
Organic farming is divided into two types, namely:
Integrated organic farming
Pure organic farming
Pure organic farming means avoiding all unnatural chemicals. In this process of farming, all the fertilizer and pesticide are obtained from natural sources such as bone meal or blood meal.
Integrated organic farming includes the integration of pest management and nutrients management to achieve ecological requirements and economic demands.
Major Problems and Constraints for Organic Farming in India
Lack of Awareness:
The most important constraint felt in the progress of organic farming is the inability of the government policy making level to take a firm decision to promote organic agriculture. Unless such a clear and unambiguous direction is available in terms of both financial and technical supports, from the Centre to the Panchayat levels, mere regulation making will amount to nothing .Use of bio-fertilizers and bio pesticides requires awareness and willingness on the part of the farming community. Knowledge about the availability and usefulness of supplementary nutrients to enrich the soil is also vital to increase productivity. Attention on the application of composts/organic manure is also lacking.
Output Marketing Problems:
It is found that before the beginning of the cultivation of organic crops, their marketability and that too at a premium over the conventional produce has to be assured. Inability to obtain a premium price, at least during the period required to achieve the productivity levels of the conventional crop will be a setback.
Shortage of Bio-mass:
Many experts and well informed farmers are not sure whether all the nutrients with the required quantities can be made available by the organic materials. Even if this problem can be surmounted, they are of the view that the available organic matter is not simply enough to meet the requirements.
Inadequate Supporting Infrastructure:
In spite of the adoption of the NPOP during 2000, the state governments are yet to formulate policies and a credible mechanism to implement them. There are only four agencies for accreditation and their expertise is limited to fruits and vegetables, tea, coffee and spices. The certifying agencies are inadequate.
High Input Costs:
The small and marginal farmers in India have been practicing a sort of organic farming in the form of the traditional farming system. They use local or own farm renewable resources and carry on the agricultural practices in an ecologically friendly environment. However, now the costs of the organic inputs are higher than those of industrially produced chemical fertilizers and pesticides including other inputs used in the conventional farming system.
Marketing Problems of Organic Inputs:
Bio-fertilizers and bio-pesticides are yet to become popular in the country. There is a lack of marketing and distribution network for them because the retailers are not interested to deal in these products, as the demand is low. The erratic supplies and the low level of awareness of the cultivators also add to the problem.
Higher margins of profit for chemical fertilizers and pesticides for retailing, heavy advertisement campaigns by the manufacturers and dealers are other major problems affecting the markets for organic inputs in India.
Low Yields:
In many cases the farmers experience some loss in yields on discarding synthetic inputs on conversion of their farming method from conventional to organic.
Restoration of full biological activity in terms of growth of beneficial insect populations, nitrogen fixation from legumes, pest suppression and fertility problems will take some time and the reduction in the yield rates is the result in the interregnum. It may also be possible that it will take years to make organic production possible on the farm.
Conclusion:
With the increasing awareness of consumers about the safety and quality of organic foods, long-term sustainability of agricultural system and accumulating proofs of being equally productive, the organic farming is going to be adopted by more number of farmers. The domestic as well as international market is expanding at a much faster rate in recent times. Seeing the economic, social, health and environmental benefits of organic farming, the Government of India has supported it in a big way.
India is home to 30 per cent of the total organic producers in the world, but accounts for just 2.59 per cent (1.5 million hectares) of the total organic cultivation area of 57.8 million hectares, according to the World of Organic Agriculture 2018 report. Sikkim is first organic state in India in 2018 it also having so many problems at the starting so govt need to give financial supports to the farmers to overcome all issues.
Picture Credits: food.ndtv.com
