Farming- The Organic Way

We’ve been hearing about this term for quite a very long time now, but what are they exactly, and why are they such a preferred option for so many?

Organic foods are described as biological food products that are made through natural and environment-friendly resources and methods which obey standards of sustainable farming practices. Being high in essential nutrients and constituents, organic foodstuff is free from Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) and other altered microbes, animals, and plants. Hence, organically produced food is devoid of any detrimental substances that are present in dairy or other farm products.

 In the mid-twentieth century, organic foods became a household name. its popularity and significance became known to all.  Although the origin of organic foods dates back to the 1900s by Sir Albert Howard, F.H King, Rudolf Steiner, and others. They felt that ecologically balanced and naturally occurring farm practices are the way to go. Promoting animal manure, compost, crop rotation, etc. are the methods that should be initiated. Traditional practices and procedures for agriculture were to be used with a  slight moderation and scientific approach. This will lead to higher productivity and better yield.

Advantages of organic farming :

•      Organic farming is safe and does not have any undesirable effects on the ecology or biodiversity as a whole.   

•      It is known to improve soil health and the water table under the soil.
•    Organic farming, as the name suggests, uses natural resources as inputs hence, strives away from all forms of pollution in the environment.
•     The chemical-physical properties of soil are improved alike as nutrient content is increased and soil erosion is prevented.

Organic farming is known to promote sustainable development as well as healthy biodiversity. It also promotes the following strategies:

a)      Weed management: Weeding involves the removal of unwanted plant growths and saplings that grow naturally. It is necessary since they compete with the actual plants for sunlight, nutrition, and space. Under organic farming, chemical weedicides aren’t used hence, alternative practices like mulching, tilling, drip irrigation and manual removal, etc. are used. These strategies have aided the reduction of weed occurrence.

b)     Pest management: The simplest way to control pests is through intervention in the farming methods that include crop rotation, mowing, cutting, water spraying, hand pulling, etc. These days, insect vacuums are generally used to eliminate any kind of pests that might have crept into the plant surface.

c)      Disease management: Plant diseases pose a major threat to crop yield and production. Therefore, protection from any disease is of utmost importance. This ensures proper plant health and higher output from them in the long run. Soil health also plays an important in the prevention of any illness to plants.

Shortcomings of Organic farming:

a)      Organic farming is comparatively, more expensive, than farming through normal methods.

b)     It is susceptible to economic decline.

c)      Organic farming can be a brainstorming decision and requires extensive planning. Hence, it is a futuristic decision.

d)     Farming without chemical pesticides and fertilizers might not produce desired or effective results.

e)     Organic farming might not be understood easily by uneducated farmers who do not have the befitting knowledge regarding such farming methods.

 India can greatly benefit from the sale of organic food, but it needs to pay close attention to market intelligence about which product should grow, where it will be sold, distribution channels, competition, market access, etc.

Currently, there is good awareness among farmers, researchers, and policymakers. are not concerned with organic production but much remains to be done to improve the production, certification, and marketing of natural products. Uttaranchal and other provincial governments have declared their provinces "Organic" states and created special export centers such as the Basmati Export Zone. Therefore, feeding the world's poor and poor and ensuring current and future food security policies, public and private investment and technology, knowledge and capacity building, based on sound ecosystem management, and cooperation between organic farming and food security goals are essential.

Organic farming, if practiced optimally, is a boon for us all.