Posted by Table of Contents
Introduction
Farming is the intervention of man in the growth cycle of plants, animals, or birds to get utility products of choice at maximum levels and of the highest quality. The growing and caring of plants are called Crop Husbandry, and that of animals is called animal husbandry.
Farming is our most basic activity. It is considered the backbone of the Indian economy. Farming not only nourishes the whole population but also provides a means of livelihood to more than 60 percent of our population. Out history, culture, and community values are embedded in farming. Today when we think of farming, what comes to our mind are long stretches of farmland, farmers tilling the field, pumping water into fields, applying fertilizers or pesticides, plants with so many fruits, tractors with loads of farm produce, crossbred cows, a farm chicken, aquaculture, fish and so on. A more advanced image on this subject will be of the small plantlets in conical flasks or test tubes, what we call Tissue Culture, High Yielding Varieties [ HVY ], Genetically Modified [ GM ] Crops, Green House Farming, and other techniques that increase the crop yields. So all these activities are considered as the products of science that our scientists were able to develop over a period of time and helped the growing population to meet their food requirements.
What Is Organic Farming?
The Word ‘Organic‘, means ‘Living‘, ‘Earth Friendly‘, or ‘Of Plant Or Animal Origin‘. It contrasts with the farming wherein chemical inputs are used. It also denotes the produces that have been produced in accordance with certain norms and standards during the cultivation, handling, processing, and marketing stages. It is certified by a certifying body.
Sometimes the term “Organic Agriculture” is used in place of “Organic Farming“. There is no difference in the meaning of these terms. In general, people consider that it is the kind of agriculture that is based on the application of organic manures, natural inputs, and pesticides of plant origin. For others, it denotes the agricultural systems that follow the principles and logic of a living organism in which all elements [ Soil, Water, Air, Plants, Animals, Farmer, etc. ] are closely linked with each other.
Organic farming includes all agricultural system which promotes production practices that are environmentally, socially and economically sound. It considers local soil health as a key to successful production. By respecting the natural capacity of plants, animals, and the landscape, it aims to optimize quality in all aspects of agriculture and the environment. Thus, Organic Farming helps in attaining eco-friendly and sustainable farm production.
Definitions Of Organic Farming
The coinage of the term ‘Organic Farming‘ is credited to Lord Northbourne. The term is derived from the concept of “the farm as [ Living ] organism” which he describes in his book ‘Look To Land‘ [ 1940 ]. He described organic farming as a holistic and ecologically balanced approach to agriculture.
The term ‘Organic’ is the best thought of as referring not to the type of inputs used, but to the concept of the farm as an organism, in which all the components – the soil minerals, organic matter, microorganisms, insects, plants, animals and humans – interact to create a coherent, self-regulating and stable whole.
To define the concept of organic farming, we may refer to the definition developed by the Codex Alimentarius, on the basis of inputs received from experts from different countries.
According to the Codex, “Organic Agriculture is a holistic production management system which promotes and enhances agro-ecosystem health, including biodiversity, biological cycles, and soil biological activity”. It emphasizes the use of management practices in preference to the use of on-farm inputs taking into account that regional conditions require locally adapted systems. This can be accomplished by adopting cultural, biological, and mechanical methods wherever possible as against the use of synthetic materials.
According to the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements [ IFOAM ], “Organic agriculture is an agricultural system that promotes environmentally, socially and economically sound production of food, fiber, timber, etc. In this system, soil fertility is seen as the key to successful production. Working with the natural properties of plants, animals and the landscape, organic farmers aim to optimize quality in all aspects of agriculture and environment”.
The United States Department of Agriculture [ USDA ] has defined organic agriculture as “an ecological production system that promotes and enhances biodiversity, biological cycles, and soil biological activity. It is based on minimal use of off-farm inputs and relies on on-farm management practices that restore, maintain, and enhance ecological harmony”.
Conceptually all these aspects and dimensions are integrated harmoniously in organic farming and can be operationally defined as “the systematically and functionally integrated and balanced farming system facilitating best yield expressions and substantial automatic regeneration”.
Development Of Organic Farming
Throughout the 1950s, and 60s, the main trust of farming was on increasing crop and animal productivity so as to satisfy the immediate needs of the growing population and to attain food self-sufficiency. Organic Farming was not viewed very favorably by scientists or farmers. By the end of the 1980s and especially in the 1990s, organic farming came to the forefront in response to the growing awareness of environmental conservation issues. Many news organizations were formed by producers, consumers, and other groups interested in an eco-friendly lifestyle more in tune with nature. These organizations draw up their own specifications governing crop production, right from sowing to the final stage of reaching the consumers. It was in the 1990s that organic farming really took off when the production grew up along with the consumer interests in its products all over the world.
Today farmers in developed and developing countries are encouraged to convert their farms to Organic Farms. Organic Farming is one of the fastest-growing sectors of agricultural production and plays an important role as an alternative and safe food production process. It includes all agricultural systems that promote environmentally, socially, and economically sound production practices. This system assures the production of high-quality food while conserving soil fertility and enhancing its fertility.
Role Of International Organization
The formation of the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements [ IFOAM ] in 1972 gave an international framework to the discussion and codification of collective principles and procedures of organic farming. It brings together organizations from all over the world that are involved in organic production, certification, research, education, and promotion. Its specifications and standards are indicative and act as guidelines to the state-of-the-art methods of production and processing of organic products.
FAO and WHO have declared that international guidelines on organically produced food products should be considered important for consumer protection and trade facilitation.
The Codex Alimentarius Commission, an international food standards body jointly formed by FAO and WHO, has developed guidelines for the production, processing, labeling, and marketing of organically produced food. The Codex Guidelines are important for equivalent judgment under the rules of the World Trade Organization [ WTO ].
The Science Of Modern Farming
The Science of Modern Farming enabled much of the developments in present-day Agriculture. In independent India, more food production was needed to meet the growing food demands of the population. This increased demand for food had forced many countries like India to adopt various improved techniques and cultural practices like the use of High-Yielding Variety Seeds, Chemical Fertilizers, and Pesticides to increase farm production. This surge in the production of food grains as a result of adopting HYVs, Chemical Fertilizers, and Pesticides is what we called the “Green Revolution“. The objective behind Green Revolution was the production of more food per unit of land within a short period of time. Chemicals in the form of fertilizers and pesticides play a major role in Green Revolution.
Plants nutrients are drawn up from the soil for growth and development. There are more than 90 elements present in the soil. According to the criteria of Essentiality of Nutrients for plant growth, proposed by Arnon & Stout in 1952, only 16 are considered to be essential for plant growth.
- Out of these, C [ Carbon ], H [ Hydrogen ], O [ Oxygen ], N [ Nitrogen ], P [ Phosphorus ], K [ Potassium ], Ca [ Calcium ], Mg [ Magnesium ], and S [ Sulfur ] are called Macronutrients [ Required in large quantities ].
- And the remaining 7 elements – Fe [ Iron ], Mn [ Manganese ], Cu [ Copper ], Zn [ Zinc ], B [ Boram ], Mo and CI are called Micronutrients or Trace Elements [ Required only in very small quantities ].
- Among the Macro Elements – N, P, and K are called Fertilizer Elements or Primary Nutrients as they are most often applied in the form of synthetic or mineral fertilizers, and Ca, Mg, and S are called Secondary Elements which are applied in smaller quantities than primary nutrients and required subsequent to primary nutrients.
Pest and Disease incidence in plants has become a major hindrance/bottleneck for Crop production. Use of HYVs along with chemical fertilizers has increased the menace by making plants more succulent and thereby attracting more pests and disease-causing pathogens. Toxic chemical Pesticides\Insecticides are used for controlling pests and diseases. Diseases are mainly caused by plant pathogenic fungus, bacteria, or viruses; these are also controlled by chemical fungicides, antibiotics, bactericides, etc. Most of these chemical pesticides are non-biodegradable and are highly toxic in nature.
Prolonged and over dose on these chemicals are hazardous to human health, soil, and the environment. The food we produce now contains the residues of toxic chemicals that are harmful to our bodies. The air that we breathe is not fresh, as it is highly polluted with harmful chemicals. There are also an unusual phenomenon like acid rain. The excess chemical from the field gets washed off by rain, reaches water bodies, and affects aquatic life. Water that is available for drinking purposes also contains traces of that chemicals and they can damage health and internal organs. It is estimated that over 20,000 people die in India every year due to exposure to toxic chemicals. Many new diseases are reported in humans, animals, and plants. The scientists are unable to resolve them.
Ecological imbalance and environmental pollution have adversely affected farming and farm products. This calls for corrective farming practices that can produce a sufficient quantity of food without harming the environment. Here comes the relevance of Organic Farming which is a traditional, viable, low input using and sustainable method of agriculture to produce healthy food. It also helps to reduce environmental pollution and can strengthen the natural resource base. It ensures sustainable farm production.
