1. Organic Farming
Definition
Organic Farming is an agricultural method which excludes the use of synthetically
compounded fertilizers & pesticides, genetically modified organism & livestock food
additives. It relies upon crop rotation, use of crop reduce, manure, biofertilizers and
biological control methods to maintain soil fertility and to control insect weeds & other
pests.
Benefits of Organic Farming
Some of the major benefits from this holistic production system can be listed as
follows:
1) It helps in maintaining environmental health by checking the pollution level. Also
minimises human and animal health hazard.
2) It improves the fertility and several chemical properties of the soil nutrients, reduces
nutrient loss into water bodies and promoting favorable chemical reactions.
3) It also improves the physical properties of the soil for example easy root penetration,
water holding capacity & reduces soil erosion.
4) It reduces the cost of agricultural production and ensures optimum utilization of
natural recourses.
5) It not only saves energy for both machine and animal but also reduces risk of crop
failure.
Limitation of Organic Farming
a) In the initial years, the production is very less, therefore it becomes very difficult for
the farmer economically to bear the initial also involved.
b) Since organic manure is not abundantly available everywhere and on plant nutrient
basis sometimes it become more expensive than the chemical fertilizers.
c) As of now the guidelines for organic farming, the methods of processing,
transportation etc are beyond the reach of ordinary India farmer. As a reason farmers are
less interested in the method of production.
Conclusion
In order to feed the world's population and to ensure the food security, we should adopt
right policies, increase knowledge, capacity building and public & private partnership
and management and harmony between Organic Farming and Food Security goals.
Also, the Organic Farming alone cannot substitute the traditional farming system to feed
the world's growing population, so we can adopt organic farming in targeted crops &
specific areas along with judicious use of chemical fertilizers.
