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WHAT IS ORGANIC FARMING? – ORGANIC FARMING DEFINITION
Organic farming is a technique that involves the cultivation of plants and raising
animals in a natural way. The use of organic materials in this process avoids
synthetic materials to maintain soil fertility and ecological balance, reducing
pollution and waste.
The introduction of chemicals in agriculture has betrayed many to what they
can do. The crop broke. Initially, the soil was healthy. Losses from fertilizers were
ignored. Pests have not developed resistance to chemicals. In view of a
revolution in agriculture, technology has spread around the world.
Nowadays, many people work wonders in organic farming. It is after realizing
that traditional farming methods have many health-related problems such as
cancer, pollution, soil and water degradation, and animal affection.
In other words, organic farming is an agricultural method of growing and
nourishing crops without the use of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides. In addition,
no genetically modified organisms are allowed.
It relies on ecologically balanced agricultural principles such as crop rotation,
green manure, organic waste, organic pest control, minerals, and rocks.
Organic farming uses pesticides and fertilizers if they are considered natural and
avoids the use of various petrochemical fertilizers and pesticides.
HOW IS ORGANIC FARMING DONE?
Organic farming methods combine traditional farming methods with scientific
knowledge of the environment and some modern technologies based on
naturally occurring biological processes. Although traditional agriculture uses
synthetic pesticides and water-soluble synthetic pure fertilizers, organic farmers
are prohibited from using natural pesticides and fertilizers. Pyrethrin is an
example of a natural insecticide that is found naturally in chrysanthemum
flowers.
Crop rotation, green manure and compost, organic pest control, and
mechanical farming are the main methods of organic farming.
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These measures use the natural environment to increase agricultural
productivity: legumes are planted to fix nitrogen in the soil, natural insect
predators are encouraged, crops to confuse pests and renew soil is rotated,
and natural materials such as potassium bicarbonate [39] and used to control
mucous disease and weeds. Genetically modified seeds and animals are
excluded.
Although the use of highly soluble synthetic based fertilizers and bio-pest control
instead of organic pesticides is biologically different from the use of carbon
based fertilizers, organic farming and large scale conventional farming are not
entirely different. Many of the methods developed for organic farming have
been borrowed from more conventional farming. For example, integrated pest
control is a multinational strategy that uses a variety of biological methods to
control pests, but in conventional farming, only synthetic pesticides are included
as a last resort.
benefits of organic farming
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF ORGANIC FARMING?
Compared to traditional farming, organic farming uses fewer pesticides,
reduces soil erosion, reduces the flow of nitrate into groundwater and surface
water, and recycles animal waste into the farm. These benefits are offset by
higher food costs to consumers and lower yields in general. It has been found
that the overall yield of organic crops is 25 percent lower than that of
traditionally grown crops, although this can vary greatly depending on the type
of crop. The challenge for future organic farming is to maintain its ecological
benefits, increase yields, and reduce costs as it faces the challenges of climate
change and the growing world population.
WHAT ARE THE TYPES OF ORGANIC FARMING?
Organic farming is divided into two types, namely:
i. Integrated organic farming
ii. Pure organic farming
Pure organic farming means avoiding unnatural chemicals. In this cultivation
process, all fertilizers and pesticides can be obtained from natural sources such
as bone meal or blood feed.
Integrated organic farming involves the integration of pest control and nutrient
management to meet environmental and economic needs.
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WHAT ARE SOME EXAMPLES OF ORGANIC FOOD?
Fruits and vegetables: Organic fruits and vegetables do not look like they were
prepared using chemical pesticides. Organic fruits may contain wormholes or
other imperfections, but they are chemical and pesticide-free.
In order to meet the biological standards of the United States Department of
Agriculture (USDA) for fruits and vegetables, they must meet specific
requirements for each type of crop and product. Organic crops are grown on
land free of banned chemicals (chemicals) for three years.
According to the National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service, all
products have production requirements such as seed resources, soil fertility,
planting, irrigation, pest control, disease, nematodes, viruses, weeds, crops, and
storage.
Meat and milk: According to the Minnesota Institute for Sustainable Agriculture
(MISA), the rare Cretfield-Jacob disease occurs every year in the United States.
Eating organic beef, chicken, pork and other meats is a healthy option.
The USDA describes how organic meat and milk are classified and controlled in
accordance with the February 13, 2010 San Francisco Chronicle, the
Department of Agriculture shortened the definition of what’s considered
organic meat in 2010. In 1977, the FDA banned animal blood, poultry litter, a
human waste product, and brain and medulla spinalis tissue.
According to the National Biological Program, records should be kept to prove
the identity of all animals that biologically control all biological livestock
activities. This suggests tracking all organic livestock from birth to slaughter. Feed
mills should be inspected and authorized. Organic feeds don’t contain
antibiotics, hormones, butcher products, pesticides, and rats. Organic livestock
can only be slaughtered in certified biological slaughterhouses. Most
significantly, organic livestock should be fed and given a biological certificate
for the remainder of their lives.
Pet food : Organic pet food is subject to the identical standards of production
and meat, consistent with the University of Minnesota, so as for the USDA to
use the organic label to pet food products, the merchandise must be
manufactured through Certified Organic Activities. Pet food manufacturers must
obtain certification to display the “USDA Organic” logo on their products. The
National Organic Program and also the USDA regulate the diet of organic pets.
Baby foods : Organic baby foods are made using organic ingredients regulated
by the USDA and also the National Organic Program. While these products are
organic certified, some use ingredients that pediatricians question. On May 19,
2008, a brand new York Times article reported that Similac Organic Formula, a
preferred organic baby product, was sweetened with sugar or sucrose. While
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these substances are considered safe and approved by the USDA, some
pediatricians are concerned that the sweet formula may damage enamel and
cause rapid weight gain.
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ORGANIC AND NON-ORGANIC
FOODS?
Organic foods are not genetically modified and do not contain any chemical
food additives or solvents, in addition to not employing synthetics throughout
the manufacturing process. The difference between organic and non-organic
(traditional) food is how the food is manufactured. For example, it is made
without ingredients like, vegetables, fruits, eggs, milk and meat.
Non-organic foods contain chemicals and are genetically modified to suit the
regional and the environmental preferences. When synthetic chemicals are
placed on a crop or product to stimulate its growth, it is referred to as non-
organic. Pre-cooked/ready-to-cook meals, processed foods, commercial
cuisine, baked goods, and frozen foods are all non-organic foods.
HOW ARE ORGANIC FOODS REGULATED?
Organic products must be regulated by the central under the Organic Products
Regulation and suits Canadian Organic Standards (COS).
Organic foods that meet these standards may use the Canadian Organic logo
on their packaging.
WHAT ARE the benefits OF ORGANIC FARMING?
Reduces external costs of farming
The use of synthetic pesticides and fertilizers can cause side effects within
the local environment. For instance, there’s concern about declining bee
numbers because of increased use of toxic pesticides.
Bees are important for the well – being of the planet’s habitat. Organic farming
helps keep bees and insects aloof from pesticides and provides more pollen
from the bottom, which isn’t maintained as a monoculture. Currently used toxins
can sleep in the environment for up to 1,000 days, and this proves to be very
harmful to the pest population.
Based on the principle of efficient use of resources
Organic farming is to reuse resources, rather than importing chemical fertilizers
from abroad, organic farming seeks to enhance the soil through crop rotation
using animal manure, compost and natural by-products.
Soil and environment are typical good
Concerns are raised that traditional farming methods could lead on to a
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gradual decline in soil quality. The soil never infiltrates or allows the
organic touch re-integrate to happen. As a result, farmers depend on heavy
fertilizers and sometimes heavy mechanical rotation to supply nutrients. Lack of
organic matter also increases the danger of soil drought. Conventional farming
has long neglected soil quality and is causing storage problems for future
generations. Organic farming provides a long-term solution for soil maintenance.
Healthier Food
Organic food that grows in additional organic soils has high levels of
micronutrients.
Healthier Animals
In traditional farming, animals are kept within the reach and given antibiotics.
This large-scale use of antibiotics ends up in increased immunity. In organic
farming, antibiotics are allowed only if the animals are sick.
Potential benefits
Currently, the demand for organic food is growing faster than supply.
Countries just like the UK and US should import organic food from abroad.
(Often developing economies) Some biological methods are costlier (labor-
intensive weed control) but cost-saving (chemical prices)
Economical
Organic farming doesn’t require expensive fertilizers, pesticides and HIV seeds to
grow crops. Therefore, there aren’t any additional costs.
Good return on investment
The farmer can get good return on the investment by using cheap and
native inputs.
High Demand
There is a large demand for organic products in India and round the world,
which generates more revenue through exports.
Eco-friendliness
The cultivation of organic products is free from fertilizers and fertilizers so it’s not
harmful to the environment.
WHAT ARE THE DISADVANTAGES OF ORGANIC FARMING?
More time involved
It takes three years to convert to organic farming, and therefore the farm needs
valuable testing and control to satisfy organic standards. During this era, the
farmer cannot sell the produce organically, so that they get a high price and
not pay a high price.
Potential for failure
Such crops will beshielded from pests and diseases which cannot be managed
by biological methods.
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Unskilled means
The main problem of organic farming is that the inadequacy of basic facilities
and lack of product marketing.
Short time period
Organic products have more defects and shorter life than chemical products.
Limited production
Off-season crops are limited and options in organic farming are limited.