UNIT-1 ORGANIC FARMING

What is organic farming?

Organic farming system in India is not new and is being followed from ancient time.

Organic farming is a food production system that avoids synthetic chemicals and
instead relies on natural, sustainable methods such as crop rotation, natural fertilizers, and
beneficial insects to manage pests and diseases. Organic farming also considers the impact of
farming on the environment and works to protect biodiversity, conserve water and reduce soil
erosion.

It is a method of farming system which primarily aimed at cultivating the land and
raising crops in such a way 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 (bio-fertilizers) to release nutrients to crops for increased sustainable
production in an eco-friendly pollution free environment.

As per the definition of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) “organic
farming is a system which avoids or largely excludes the use of synthetic inputs (such as
fertilizers, pesticides, hormones, feed additives etc) and to the maximum extent feasible rely
upon crop rotations, crop residues, animal manures, off-farm organic waste, mineral grade rock
additives and biological system of nutrient mobilization and plant protection”.

FAO suggested that “Organic agriculture is a unique production management system

which promotes and enhances agro-ecosystem health, including biodiversity, biological cycles
and soil biological activity and this is accomplished by using on-farm agronomic, biological
and mechanical methods in exclusion of all synthetic off-farm inputs”.

Need of organic farming

• With the increase in population our aim should not only to stabilize agricultural
production but to increase it further in sustainable manner.

• The scientists have realized that the ‘Green Revolution’ with high input use has reached
a plateau and is now sustained with diminishing return.

• Thus, a natural balance needs to be maintained at all cost for existence of life and
property.

• The obvious choice for that would be more relevant in the present era, when these
agrochemicals which are produced from fossil fuel and are not renewable and are
diminishing in availability.

• It may also cost heavily on our foreign exchange in future.

The key characteristics of organic farming include

• Protecting the long-term fertility of soils by maintaining organic matter levels,

encouraging soil biological activity, and careful mechanical intervention.

• Providing crop nutrients indirectly using relatively insoluble nutrient sources which are
made available to the plant by the action of soil micro-organisms

• Nitrogen self-sufficiency through the use of legumes and biological nitrogen fixation, as
well as effective recycling of organic materials including crop residues and livestock
manures.

• Weed, disease and pest control relying primarily on crop rotations, natural predators,
diversity, organic manuring, resistant varieties and limited (preferably minimal) thermal,
biological and chemical intervention

• The extensive management of livestock, paying full regard to their evolutionary

adaptations, behavioural needs and animal welfare issues with respect to nutrition,
housing, health, breeding and rearing

• Careful attention to the impact of the farming system on the wider environment and the
conservation of wildlife and natural habitats
Components of Organic Farming:

1. Use of Manure: Manure is the organic alternative for chemical fertilizers like NPK, Urea,
etc. Unlike these fertilizers, manure improves soil properties, regulates pH of the soil, supplies
nutrients to the soil, improves water holding capacity and texture of the soil. It provides
nutrients to the soil microorganisms, which in turn provide fixed Nitrogen and Phosphorus for
the plant, removing the dependency for fertilizers.

2. Biofertilizers: Biofertilizers are the living microorganisms that enhance the growth of plants
by providing them fixed Nitrogen, absorbing water, and minerals. These include soil bacteria
and fungi.

3. Bio-pesticides: These are organisms or plant properties, which can be used to selectively
inhibit the feeding or growth of particular species of pests of a crop. It prevents harm to other
insects which might be helpful in pollination.

4. Management of cropping systems: Practicing organic farming with different cropping

patterns can provide dual benefits for the farmers and the environment.

Principles of Organic Farming by IFOAM (International Federation of

Organic Agriculture Movement

The four principles of organic agriculture are as follows:

1. Principle of health

• Organic Agriculture should sustain and enhance the health of soil, plant, animal, human
and planet as one and indivisible.

• This principle points out that the health of individuals and communities cannot be
separated from the health of ecosystems - healthy soils produce healthy crops that boost
the health of animals and people.
• Health is the wholeness and integrity of living systems. It is not simply the absence of
illness, but the maintenance of physical, mental, social and ecological well-being.
Immunity, resilience and regeneration are key characteristics of health.

• The role of organic agriculture, whether in farming, processing, distribution, or

consumption, is to sustain and enhance the health of ecosystems and organisms from the
smallest in the soil to human beings. In particular, organic agriculture is intended to
produce high quality, nutritious food that contributes to preventive health care and well-
being. In view of this it should avoid the use of fertilizers, pesticides, animal drugs and
food additives that may have adverse health effects.

2. Principle of ecology

• Organic Agriculture should be based on living ecological systems and cycles, work with
them, emulate them and help sustain them.

• This principle roots organic agriculture within living ecological systems. It states that
production is to be based on ecological processes, and recycling. Nourishment and well-
being are achieved through the ecology of the specific production environment. For
example, in the case of crops this is the living soil; for animals it is the farm ecosystem;
for fish and marine organisms, the aquatic environment.

• Organic farming, pastoral and wild harvest systems should fit the cycles and ecological
balances in nature. These cycles are universal but their operation is site-specific. Organic
management must be adapted to local conditions, ecology, culture and scale. Inputs should
be reduced by reuse, recycling and efficient management of materials and energy in order
to maintain and improve environmental quality and conserve resources.

• Organic agriculture should attain ecological balance through the design of farming
systems, establishment of habitats and maintenance of genetic and agricultural diversity.
Those who produce, process, trade, or consume organic products should protect and
benefit the common environment including landscapes, climate, habitats, biodiversity, air
and water.

3. Principle of fairness

• Organic Agriculture should build on relationships that ensure fairness with regard to the
common environment and life opportunities.

• Fairness is characterized by equity, respect, justice and supervision of the shared world,
both among people and in their relations to other living beings.
• This principle emphasizes that those involved in organic agriculture should conduct human
relationships in a manner that ensures fairness at all levels and to all parties - farmers,
workers, processors, distributors, traders and consumers. Organic agriculture should
provide everyone involved with a good quality of life and contribute to food sovereignty
(A food system where the people who produce, distribute and consume food also control
the mechanisms and policies of food production and distribution) and reduction of poverty.
It aims to produce a sufficient supply of good quality food and other products.

• This principle insists that animals should be provided with the conditions and opportunities
of life that match with their physiology, natural behavior and well-being.

• Natural and environmental resources that are used for production and consumption should
be managed in a way that is socially and ecologically acceptable and should be held in
trust for future generations. Fairness requires systems of production, distribution and trade
that are open and equitable and account for real environmental and social costs.

4. Principle of care

• Organic Agriculture should be managed in a precautionary and responsible manner to

protect the health and well-being of current and future generations and the environment.

• Organic agriculture is a living and dynamic system that responds to internal and external
demands and conditions. Practitioners of organic agriculture can enhance efficiency and
increase productivity, but this should not be at the risk of health and well-being.
Consequently, new technologies need to be assessed and existing methods reviewed.
Given the incomplete understanding of ecosystems and agriculture, care must be taken.

• This principle states that precaution and responsibility are the key concerns in
management, development and technology choices in organic agriculture. Science is
necessary to ensure that organic agriculture is healthy, safe and ecologically sound.
However, scientific knowledge alone is not sufficient. Practical experience, accumulated
wisdom and traditional and indigenous knowledge offer valid solutions, tested by time.
Organic agriculture should prevent significant risks by adopting appropriate technologies
and rejecting unpredictable ones, such as genetic engineering. Decisions should reflect the
values and needs of all who might be affected, through transparent and participatory
processes.

Scenario of Organic Farming in India

• The International Federation for Organic Agriculture Movement (IFOAM) 2018

survey shows that India stands 1st in the number of farmers or producers practising organic
 farming and 9th among the top 10 countries with the largest land area under organic
farming.
• India is home to almost 600 thousand organic producers.
• The crops cultivated by organic farming in India are rice, wheat, pulses, spices, tea and
coffees, herbal and medicinal plants, cotton, oilseeds, many fruits, dry fruits and
vegetables.
• Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Karnataka are the states with the largest
certified organic farming land covered in India.
• A total of 1.7 million MT of the above-mentioned crops were produced in 2017-18 in
India.
• The export volume during the same year stood at almost 4.6 lakh MT to countries like the
USA, Canada, the EU, South Korea, Japan, Australia, Israel, etc.

Scope and Importance of Organic farming in India

• Organic farming in India is gaining popularity due to its health benefits and environmental
sustainability. India is the world’s second-largest food producer, and organic farming is a
way to produce high-quality, chemical-free, and nutrient-rich food without harming the
environment.
• The Indian govt. has been promoting organic Agri farming in the country through various
schemes and initiatives.
• In 2003, the National Program for Organic Production (NPOP) was launched to develop
and promote organic agriculture in the country.
• The program provides guidelines for organic farming and certification of organic products.
The organic farming market in India is expanding rapidly, and the demand for organic food
products is increasing.
• According to a report by research as well as markets, the organic food market in India is
expected to grow at a maximum annual growth rate of 25% between 2020 and 2025.
• Organic farming in India faces various challenges, such as a lack of awareness among
farmers, insufficient infrastructure and low yield.
• However, with the government’s support and increasing consumer awareness, organic
farming in India is expected to grow in the coming years.

Benefits of organic farming

• Improved soil health: Organic farming practices emphasize building healthy soils
through crop rotation, cover cropping, and composting. These practices help prevent soil
erosion and build soil fertility, leading to healthier soil.
• Reduced pollution: Organic farming practices reduce pollution from agrochemicals like
pesticides and synthetic fertilizers that can leach into water supplies and damage
ecosystems.
• More nutritious food: Studies have found that organically grown food contains more
specific vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants than conventionally grown food.
• Biodiversity: Organic farming encourages biodiversity by avoiding synthetic fertilizers
and pesticides that can harm beneficial insects, birds, and other wildlife.
• Reduced carbon footprint: Organic farming practices can help reduce the food system’s
carbon footprint by avoiding synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, which require energy and
other resources to produce.

Major Problems and Constraints for Organic Farming in India

• Lack of Awareness: 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.
The organic matter is spread during the months when the right moisture level is absent on
the soil. The whole manure turns into wastes in the process. The required operation is of
course labour intensive and costly, but it is necessary to obtain the desired results.
• Lower yields: Organic farming typically results in lower outcomes than traditional
farming methods, making it challenging to meet the demand for food.
• High input cost: 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 like extra
labor needed for weeding, pest control and crop rotation.
• Vulnerability to pests and diseases: Organic farming is more vulnerable to pests and
diseases because of the lack of pesticides and herbicides.
• Soil health: Organic farming is also more dependent on soil health, which can be
challenging to maintain over time.
• Weather dependent: Organic farming is also more dependent on the weather, which can
significantly impact crop yields.
• 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.
• 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.

Differences between Organic Farming and Conventional Farming

Differentiating Factor Conventional Farming Organic Farming

Before seeds are sown Conventional Farmers Organic farmers prepare the
fumigate the farm using land and enriches the soil by
harsh chemicals to kill any sprinkling natural fertilizers
naturally existing pathogens like shellfishes, manures or
or weeds and fertilizes the bone meals.
soil using petroleum-based
fertilizers.
Before planting seeds Conventional Farmer soaks Organic farmer does not soak
the seeds in fungicides and the seeds in chemicals nor
pesticides to protect them irrigates them with water
from insects and pests. loaded with chemicals. They
Chemicals are added to the depends on natural rain and
irrigation water to prevent during dry months depends
insects from damaging the on stored rainwater.
planted seeds.
To get rid of weeds Conventional Farmer uses Organic farmer physically
weedicides to remove the removes the weeds out of the
weeds. farm, although it would be
very labor-intensive. Further,
he could use a flame weeder
to exterminate weeds or use
animals to eat away the
weeds.
During consumption Any person consuming the The absence of chemical
products from the application makes the food
conventional farmers would safe for consumption which
absorb the pesticide and is why people are going
weedicide into the body, organic in record numbers
which could lead to diseases today.
like cancer.