To meet global food needs while mitigating environmental issues, many nations and farm owners have adopted organic farming practices. In 172 nations today, there are 2.3 million certified organic farmers. More notably, the amount of agricultural land dedicated to organic agriculture is steadily increasing. Nonetheless, organic farming accounts for only 1% of overall agricultural land. The possible explanation for such a low presence of organic farmland is that organic farmers typically grow their harvests on relatively small surfaces than conventional farmers. Increasing health awareness results in more demand for organic products. This gave rise to entirely new sectors and industries like organic chain stores, green grocery delivery, and, most notably, sustainable food.
Conventional agriculture relies mainly on artificial fertilizers and toxins, among other things, which access the supply of food, invade water resources, danger livestock, pollute soil, and severely damage natural ecosystems.
Organic farming, on the contrary, strives to accomplish farming objectives without the use of fertilizers and pesticides by employing methods like crop rotation, organic manure, green waste, and biological pest prevention. This is an improved agricultural method because it produces safe and nutritious food while having no harmful effects on the environment.
Understanding organic farming
Organic farming is a method that avoids or limits the utilization of synthetically sourced fertilizers, pesticides, genetically engineered organisms, growth regulators, and livestock chemical additives. Crop rotations, the utilization of agricultural residues, livestock manure, nuts and seeds, organic manure, off-farm bio-waste, organic fertilizers, mineral-bearing rock formations, and elements of biological control are used to the greatest possible extent to sustain soil health and tilth, and control pest, weeds, and other insect infestation.
Benefits of organic farming
In recent years, an expanding amount of farmers have expressed a lack of enthusiasm for farming, and those who previously cultivated have relocated to other areas. Organic farming is a method of increasing self-sufficiency or food and nutritional security. Vast inputs of artificial fertilizers and synthetic pesticides heavily pollute the water and land. This has severe adverse hazards, which include topsoil loss, decreased soil quality, ground and surface water contamination, and genetic variation loss. Organic farming is thus important because it is a comprehensive production management method that encourages and improves agro ecosystem wellness, which includes biodiversity, ground biological activity, and biological cycles.
Several research findings have proven that methods of organic agriculture can produce better yields than traditional farming. Significant differences in soil health factors, like microbial diversity and abundance and nitrogen mineralization potential can also be noticed in organic agriculture.
Organic farms' improved soil health contributed to a significantly lower pest and incidence of diseases. Small-scale integrated agriculture systems can help revive rural regions and economic systems.
Advantages of organic farming
Economical: No pricey fertilizers, synthetic chemicals, or HYV seeds are needed for crop planting in organic farming. As a result, there is no additional cost.
Excellent return on equity: A farmer can start making a high rate of return by using lower-priced and domestic inputs.
High demand: Organic products are in high demand all over the world, generating additional revenue through export.
Organic foods are much more nutritious, tasty, and healthy when especially in comparison to chemical and fertilizer-based products.
Environmentally friendly: Organic agriculture is free of harmful chemicals and fertilizers, so it has no negative impact on the environment.
Is conservation agriculture organic?
Conservation agriculture and organic farming both use crop rotation to keep a balance among agricultural production and resources as well as protect the fertility of the soil. The main distinction between the two types of farming is that organic farmers use a plough or soil tillage, whereas conservation farmers use natural fundamentals and do not disturb the soil.
Tillage is used by organic farmers to eliminate weeds without the use of inorganic fertilizers. Conservation agriculture farmers, on the contrary, plant seeds through a stable soil cover.
Organic farming nutrient management
In organic farming, it is critical to work continuously to create nutritious soil which is plentiful in organic matter and contains all of the nutrient content that the plants require. To increase soil fertility, a variety of methods such as organic manures, manure inclusion, and organic fertilizers can be utilized. These natural references not only add nutrients to the soil, but they also assist in preventing weed growth and boost organic matter in the soil, which feeds soil microbes.
Soil with a high percentage of organic matter prevents erosion, holds more water, and therefore demands less irrigation. Natural minerals required by plants for growth and to enhance soil consistency could also be incorporated. To maintain the pH of the soil, soil amendments such as lime are incorporated. However, heavy metals in soil remediation and water should be kept to a minimum. The majority of natural manure used is reprocessed by-products of other industry sectors that would normally be discarded. Based on availability and crop viability, a variety of organic fertilisers/amendments, as well as fungus and bacteria bio-fertilizers, may be utilized in organic farming.
When did the Organic Farming Movement begin?
As the world's population started to rapidly expand, the demand for more sustainability in agriculture became evident. Unsustainable farming practices, which are solely focused on increasing yields, exacerbate global problems such as:
Changes in the climate
Biodiversity loss
Erosion of soil
Pollution of essential natural resources such as land and water
The Fundamentals of Organic Farming
Each nation has strict regulations regarding organic farming. Nonetheless, there are certain principles that all organic farmers follow. These are the following:
According to the principle of health, organic farming is meant to safeguard and improve the well-being of all life forms. This involves both soil microbes and humans.
The ecological principle states that organic farming must prevent and improve the environment, including the landscape, weather, natural ecosystems, biodiversity, air, soil, and water.
The fairness principle seeks to provide environmentally and socially suitable management of natural resources, in addition to an adequate supply of high-quality food and goods.
The care principle emphasizes preventative measures and responsibility as the main priorities in organic farm management.
Organic farming combines traditional farming methods with innovative scientific research and modern agricultural innovations. Manuring and biological soil disinfestation are two examples. Various Organic Farming Practices Each nation regulates organic farming regulations and laws separately. As a result, different kinds of techniques are incorporated into various forms of organic farming.
Although, there are certain popular organic farming practices shared by the majority of organic farmers:
Crop rotation is a technique for preserving soil fertility and improving crop protection against pests.
Organic nutrient management focuses on increasing organic matter in soils by manuring, incinerating, or mulching.
Growing crop yields is a good practice for managing pest insects and weeds, trying to prevent land degradation, and improving soil nutritional quality.
Many traditional farming techniques are still used today. Organic agriculture blends the best of old-aged, more traditional agricultural practices with advanced scientific expertise. So, should farm owners transition to organic agriculture or modernize via conventional farming methods? The answer is dependent on several factors. These consist of the category of the farm in the discussion, its site, the harvest in question, and its intended use.
Will Organic Farming Replace Conventional?
Consumer concern about organic food production and the impact of modern farming practices on the ecosystem, particularly animal welfare, is growing daily.
Bhutan is an excellent example of the transition to organic farming. Bhutan, with a population of only 700,000 people, the majority of whom are farmers, has emerged as the world's first nation to convert entirely to organic farming.
Down the road Organic farming is a conventional concept in India, with farmers preparing their land by not employing chemicals, relying primarily on by-products, cow dung, composts, and so on.
This is also consistent with the promotion of sustainable farming to eliminate hunger, ensure food security, and improve nutrition. As a result, with increased consciousness and capacity-building adherence to international standards, Indian organic farmers would soon be reaffirming their righteous place in global Agri trade.
Nishika Singh
She's a writer by profession and an avid supporter of sustainable living in real time. She's passionate about poetry, yoga and living in the moment. Writing is her sanctuary and she continues to live by it.
