Organic Farming

Relevance: G.S Paper: III: Indian Agriculture 

It is a method of farming system which primarily aimed at cultivating the land and raising crops in such a way, as 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 (biofertilizers) 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) study team on organic farming “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”.

Characteristics of Organic Farming: –

• Securing the long haul fruitfulness of soil by keep up natural issue levels, empowering soil organic movement and cautious mechanical mediation.

• Providing crop supplements in a roundabout way utilizing moderately insoluble source which are made accessible to the plant by the activity of soil smaller scale – creatures

• Self-adequate in nitrogen through utilization of vegetables and natural nitrogen obsession what’s more, compelling reusing of organics materials including crop build ups and domesticated animals’ composts.

• Weed illness and vermin control by depending basically on harvest turns, characteristic predators’ assorted variety, natural manuring, safe assortments, and restricted warm, organic and substance mediation.

• Extensive administration of domesticated animals, paying full respects to their developmental adjustments, conduct need and creature welfare issues regarding nourishment, lodging, well-being, reproducing and raising.

• Careful regard for the effect of the cultivating framework on the more extensive condition and the preservation of untamed life and characteristic environments Protecting the long-haul ripeness of soil by keep up natural issue levels, empowering soil natural movement and cautious mechanical mediation.

• Providing crop supplements in a roundabout way utilizing moderately insoluble source which are made accessible to the plant by the activity of soil smaller scale – life forms

• Self-adequate in nitrogen through utilization of vegetables and organic nitrogen obsession what’s more, successful reusing of organics materials including crop deposits and domesticated animals’ fertilizers.

• Weed infection and vermin control by depending basically on yield turns, normal predators’ decent variety, natural manuring, safe assortments, and constrained warm, natural and compound intercession.

• Extensive administration of animals, paying full respects to their transformative adjustments, conduct need and creature welfare issues as for sustenance, lodging, well-being, reproducing and raising.

• Careful thoughtfulness regarding the effect of the cultivating framework on the more extensive condition and the protection of untamed life and normal natural surroundings.

Principle of organic Agriculture:

• The Principle of health
• The Principle of Ecology
• The Principle of Fairness
• The Principle of Care

Sustainable Agriculture and organic farming

• Sustainable agriculture integrates the main goal to sustain biodiversity enhance the quality of nature resources, economic profitability and social equity.
• Organic agriculture provides high nutrient food to human beings and animals for their wellbeing.
• Raising awareness, increasing market requirement,
• nurturing the attitude of the producer to become organic,
• increasing research and Government support has resulted into good development in organic agriculture
• In 2016, Sikkim became 1 st organic state of India

6 Basic Methods of Organic Farming

1. Crop Diversity:Now a days a new practice has come into picture which is called -Polyculture- in which a variety of crops can be cultivated simultaneously just to meet the increasing demand of crops. Unlike the ancient practice which was -Monoculture- in which only one type of crop was cultivated in a particular location.
2. Soil Management: After the cultivation of crops, the soil loses its nutrients and its quality depletes. Organic agriculture initiates the use of natural ways to increase the health of soil. It focuses on the use of bacteria that is present in animal waste which helps in making the soil nutrients more productive to enhance the soil.

   3. Weed Management:-Weed-, is the unwanted plant that grows in agricultural fields. Organic agriculture pressurizes on lowering the weed rather than removing it completely.

   4. Controlling other organisms:There are both useful and harmful organisms in the agricultural farm which affect the field. The growth of such organisms needs to be controlled to protect the soil and the crops. This can be done by the use of herbicides and pesticides that contain less chemicals or are natural. Also, proper sanitization of the entire farm should be maintained to control other organisms.

   5. Livestock: Organic farming instigates domestic animals use to increase the sustainability of the farm.

   6. Genetic Modification: Genetic modification is kept away from this kind of agricultural set up because organic farming focuses on the use of natural ways and discourages engineered animals and plants.

 Actual Challenge faced by INDIA is Policy regarding organic farming

Some of the policy initiatives to promote organic farming and exports include

• Development of an organic regulation for exports by the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA)
• Removal of quantitative restriction on organic food exports
• Providing subsidies to farmers under the Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY) in partnership with the state government
• Other schemes such as the Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North Eastern Region

The study highlights five key issues faced by organic farmers that are affecting their livelihood and income –

1. The supply chain is underdeveloped and small and mid-sized farmers located in hilly regions and tribal belts find it extremely difficult to access the market.

• There is a shortage of pack houses and refrigerated vehicles, which leads to spoilage.
• Companies mostly source from farmers in regions with a well-developed supply chain and only a few of them are sourcing from the North-eastern states and tribal belts, despite their high potential in organic farming.
• Government does not give organic farm farmers a steady market. In a number of cases, the middlemen take away most of the profits and farmers are not able to earn a premium price.
• Direct linkages to processors and retailers could have helped farmers to get a better price, but farmers lack the right linkages and hence have to depend on middlemen and mandis

2. While the government is subsidising farmers under the Participatory Guarantee System (PGS) for India, which is a self-certification process supported through the PKVY scheme, these farmers are not allowed to export.

• In fact, the APEDA has made it mandatory to have a third-party certification for exports.
• Unless farmers under PGS India are allowed to export, they cannot earn the premium price.

3. As a farmer converts his/her land from conventional chemical-based farming to organic farming, there is a risk of loss in yield due to the withdrawal of chemical inputs and high yielding varieties of seeds.

• A number of countries, such as the United Kingdom, have carefully designed subsidies to compensate for the yield loss during the conversion period. However, in India, there is no such subsidy.
• In the case of organic, the cost of laboratory testing and third-party certification is high and subsidy can definitely help. A number of states, such as Gujarat, Karnataka and Sikkim, have already set up their third-party certification bodies. Other states may also do the same.
• Further, a majority of the government budget and subsidies are targeted towards chemical-based inputs and, in many states, less than 2% of the budget is allocated to organic farming. Given India’s low rank is Sustainable Developmental Goals Index, it is important for the government to allocate more funding to organic farming and sustainable agriculture practices.

4. The biggest challenge faced by organic farmers is the lack of an organic policy for the domestic market and imports.

• In the absence of regulation on labelling standard for organic production and logo, it is not possible to distinguish an organic product from a conventional product. This has led to fraudulent practices and genuine players are not getting the premium, which the consumers of organic products are willing to pay.
• While the absence of a policy makes it difficult to punish fraudulent players, the government cannot enforce punishment on the basis of a voluntary certification process. Therefore, over 79% of the farmers opined that the certification process should be mandatory and the government should help farmers under PGS India to get the mandatory certification once their land is converted to organic.
• In fact, over 91% of survey participants pointed out that there should be a uniform logo for organic, which will help in product identification. The study further highlighted that if the right policy measures are taken, then organic farming is expected to grow at 20% in the next five years and the farmers will see a rise in their income

5. There is a serious shortage of good quality organic inputs, which increases the risk of loss of yield.

• The available organic fertilisers are much below the required quantity, and there are a number of spurious players in the market too. Similarly, there is a shortage of good quality organic seeds. Some inputs companies have taken initiatives to go for third party certification. However, there is need for a policy on input standardisation.
• Further, different varieties of crops are grown in different regions of the country, and they are faced with different issues related to pest infestation and soil quality. Hence, there is a need for more crop-specific and region-specific research and development on organic inputs.
• Farmers need access to equipment such as netting and poly houses to protect their crops against insects. Fruit flies have led to destruction of crops such as oranges in the state of Sikkim. Here, we can learn from the government of Bhutan, which provides equipment at subsidised rates—and the same can be replicated by Indian government as well.

NEED OF THE HOUR- TRAINING FARMERS

Organic farming should begin with training the most important people behind the big picture: the farmers.

• Farmers need to be informed about the latest technological and scientific developments in this area.
• Incorporating organic tools and techniques into their daily operations in an efficient and effective manner will require ongoing training.
• Farmers will need to be weaned off quick-fix chemical methods and reintroduced to our long-lost indigenous knowledge. They need to be trained afresh on aspects such as soil building, pest management, inter-cropping, and compost and manure preparation.
• Agronomists must be deployed in the field to monitor the quality of produce and give timely advice to farmers.
• Certification programmes such as the Indian government’s National Centre for Organic Farming (NCOF) and Participatory Guarantee Scheme (PGS) need to be made mandatory.