Organic farming

 Organic farming

Organic farming is an agricultural system that uses ecologically based pest controls and biological derived largely from animal and plant wastes and nitrogen- fixing cover crops.

Organic farming uses fewer pesticides, reduces soil erosion, decrease nitrate leaching into groundwater and surface water, and recycles animal wastes back into the farm. This includes agricultural produce such as grains, meat, dairy, eggs, fibers such as cotton, flowers, and processed food products.

➢ CHARACTERISTICS OF ORGANIC FARMING:

• Organic farming is a holistic production management which maintains long-term fertility of the soil in a safe and natural way. Organic farming maintains earths natural balance and does not harm flora and fauna. Organic farming system rely on crop rotation, crop residue, animal manure, legume, green manure and off farm organic waste.

• Food here is grown without pesticides, synthetic growth hormone, petroleum- based fertilizers and cloning. Food is processed without artificial colors and flavors, artificial preservatives, irradiation and GMO’s.

• The interaction of the root hairs of the trees with the organic manures, increase the activity of the nitrogen-fixing bacteria in the soil. The organic manures also act as a carrier medium for the development of several beneficial micro-organisms such as azospirillum, azotobacter, rhizobium and phosphobacteria.

➢ PRINCIPLES:

The principles of organic farming are as follows:

• No chemical, pesticides or poisons used.

• Small quantities of water used.

• Natural ways of farming

• Soil considered as a living system and not an inert bowl for unloading chemicals

• Fertility of the soil is due to microbes and other organisms

➢ TYPES:

The term organic farming can be used for many systems of agriculture. Traditional farming is that which is not influenced by green revolution.

• Kitchen gardening is a type of organic farming which enables us to grow fresh vegetables at home providing a good use of empty tins, old utensils and clay flower pots.

• Alley cropping is planting trees and crops in alternate rows so that they give mutual benefit to each other.

• Bio- intensive agriculture employs double digging or deep dug beds for intensive garden cultivations.

• Permaculture advocates the planting of perennial three crops and employs the environment in planning farm activities.

➢ BIO-PESTICIDES:

Bio-pesticides is an important group of pesticides that can reduce pesticide risks. The two types are:

1. Biochemical

2. Microbial.

1. BIOCHEMICAL PESTICIDES:

Biochemical pesticides may have a similar structure to and function like, naturally-occurring chemicals and have non-toxic modes of action.

2. MICROBIAL INSECTICIDES:

Microbial insecticides come from naturally-occurring or genetically altered bacteria, fungi, algae, viruses and protozoans.

An example of a microbial pesticide is Bacillus thuringiensis. Biopesticides are safer to humans and the environment than conventional pesticides and they do not present any residue  problems.

Organic manures are the natural products used by the farmers to provide plant nutrients for the crop plants.

TYPES OF ORGANIC MANURES:

1. GREEN MANURING: It is the practice of growing a short duration, succulent and leafy legume crop and ploughing the plant in the same field before they form seeds.

2. COMPOST: a mixture that consists largely of decayed organic matter and is used for fertilizing and conditioning land.

3. VERMITECHNOLOGY: Vermitechnology includes the study and commercial application of technologies that utilise earthworms for degrading waste organic materials for sanitation and agricultural re-use.

4. VERMICULTURE: Vermiculture means artificial rearing or cultivation of earthworms.

➢ ADVANTAGES OF ORGANIC FARMING:

                                         

▪ Protects future generations

▪ Prevents soil erosion

▪ Protects water quality

▪ Keep chemicals off plate

▪ Protect farm workers

▪ Helps small farmers

▪ Supports true economy

▪ Promotes biodiversity

▪ G.E free

▪ Saves energy

▪ Encourage biodiversity

▪ Conserves natural resources

▪ Protects the environment

▪ Encourages animal welfare

▪ Good for the environment

 DISADVANTAGES OF ORGANIC FARMING:

Organic farming has some disadvantages:

• Less food being produced approximately one third lower than those produced in

conventional farming.

• Uncertainties in ensuring farms.

• Farm profits react very sensitively to changes in product prices.

SYEDA SADIYA

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