Organic Farming: A Step Towards Sustainable Development

Organic Farming: A Step Towards Sustainable Development

Organic farming is the method of doing farming with the help of different techniques such as green manure, Animal Husbandry, Bio-fertilizers, and pest control. This agriculture form of doing crop/plant cultivation is by using organic manures which are Eco-friendly manures that support the life of the soil and other useful organisms in the soil. This is a modified and changed practice in developing countries, where farmers use animals for tilling the land and manures prepared by dung and other waste material of animals. It assists the crop yield and quality of production. Many developed countries use synthetic chemicals to protect from insects, pests, and other plant diseases. Excessive use of chemicals may give high yield for some time and protects the plants but the continuous use of the chemical in farming, useful organisms in soil become inactive and the insects or pests and other diseases gain resistance to the chemicals and later the chemicals may not show its effect on the pests, insects and other harmful organisms to the crops. An Organic farming system in some developing countries like India is not new and is being followed from ancient days. Microbes that release nutrients to soil and support the crop growth and product yield without any environmental pollution are known as Biofertilizers.

The population of the world is increasing from time to time and there would be a requirement of the food production to feed the world but to meet the requirement sustainably. Now it’s time that every country must practice organic farming and should avoid the use of harmful chemicals. Soil fertility is decreasing with the use of synthetic chemical and the harmful organisms are gaining resistance towards synthetic chemicals and these chemicals are harmful to the animals and the ecosystem. Products like fruits, crops, seeds are imported and exported from various countries, therefore in some countries, food products are banned to import due to high chemical content which would affect the health by consuming it.

The major task of organic farming is to produce chemical-free food and to maintain the fertility of the soil for a long time. Employment is also generated to the people who are dependent on the agriculture sector like weeding, composting, and strip farming.

Methods of Organic Farming

It includes multiple methods that are eco-friendly and by practicing it the fertility of the soil is conserved for a long time. There are various methods in organic farming some of them are Crop rotation, use of green manures, biological pest control and composting, these also employ agriculture labors.

Employment to agriculture labors

Automation is leading to unemployment in today’s world and as result machinery is replacing manpower but with organic farming, it provides employment because many techniques are used, from the preparation of manure to cop harvesting requires manpower.

Crop rotation

Crop rotation is a technique of growing different crops in the same area according to the seasons and it is practiced to avoid agriculture pests and to maintain soil fertility.

Green manures

Green manures are the plant leaves and waste material of plant which cover the soil and stuffed into soil and become as a nutrient to the soil and increase the soil fertility.

Vermicomposting

Vermicomposting is a process of composting using different worms like white worms, earthworms, and red wrigglers for preparation of compost with a mix of kitchen waste and other vegetable waste.

Biological pest control

Living organisms are used to protect plants from pests without synthetic chemicals.

Advantages of Organic Farming

It is an important form of doing agriculture which has many benefits such as:

Nutrition

Crops yield with the help of organic farming is rich in nutrients and it is free from harmful chemicals, it also increases the nutrients in the soil so the grown crop is healthier to consume.

Free from chemicals

Chemicals are not used to control pests and other harmful plant diseases in organic farming, which causes cancer and other diseases to the consumers. But organic farming is free of toxic chemicals.

Quality food

Organic food is having quality with good nutrients and it tastes better than the food grown by using synthetic chemicals and the quality of food is determined by its taste.

Long Time Store

Crops and food prepared with the help of organic farming can be stored for a longer period due to its production that is free from harmful chemicals, it also increases the nutrients in the soil so the grown crop is healthier to consume.

Low input cost

Expenses incurred on agriculture are low with organic farming because it needs animals to till the land, manures which are easily available and they can prepare their own, and the biofertilizers are prepared with low cost.

Limitations

Organic farming has some demerits to discuss:

Time Taking Process: Organic farming is a time taking process in getting the result, which makes the farmers neglect this kind of farming.

More Manpower Requirement: It requires more labor force and should have regular observation compared to conventional farming.

Training Required: Organic farming is a skill-based work and farmers should be trained from time to time according to the seasons and the condition of the crops.

Low productivity: It is the major problem in organic farming compared to conventional farming, but in the conventional form of agriculture the fertility of the soil is decreasing from time to time with excess use of chemicals.