College of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. SAC 302, Organic farming – Lecture 4

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. Previous Next End

Organic farming Previous Next End

Organic farming Need Increase in population make compulsion to stabilize agricultural production, but to, increase it further, in sustainable manner. Natural balance needs to be maintained at all cost for existence of life and property. 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. Previous Next End

organic farming Key characteristics 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. Previous Next End

organic farming Key characteristics 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.

organic farming Key characteristics The extensive management of livestock, paying full regard to their evolutionary adaptations, behavioral 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. Previous Next

ORGANIC FARMING PRINCIPLE Previous Next End

organic farming Four principles 1. Principle of health Organic Agriculture should sustain and enhance the health of soil, plant, animal, human and planet as one and indivisible. Healthy soils produce healthy crops that foster the health of animals and people. Health is the wholeness and integrity of living systems. 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. Previous Next End

organic farming 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. Organic management must be adapted to local conditions, ecology, culture and scale. Previous Next End

organic farming Principle of ecology 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. Previous Next End

organic farming 3. Principle of fairness Organic Agriculture should build on relationships that ensure fairness with regard to the common environment and life opportunities. 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 Previous Next End

organic farming Principle of fairness It aims to produce a sufficient supply of good quality food and other products. Natural and environmental resources that are used for production and consumption should be managed in a way that is socially and ecologically just 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. Previous Next End

organic farming 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. This principle states that precaution and responsibility are the key concerns in management, development and technology choices in organic agriculture. Previous Next End

organic farming Basic Steps of Organic Farming Organic farming approach involves following five principles: 1. Conversion of land from conventional management to organic management 2. Management of the entire surrounding system to ensure biodiversity and sustainability of the system 3. Crop production with the use of alternative sources of nutrients such as crop rotation, residue management, organic manures and biological inputs. 4. Management of weeds and pests by better management practices, physical and cultural means and by biological control system 5. Maintenance of live stock in tandem with organic concept and make them an integral part of the entire system End

Organic Farming and Its Importance. There are several established approachable to eco friendly farming system. A common thread on all school is an emphasis on biological system to supply fertility and pest control rather than chemical inputs.

The most widely recognized alternative farming system The most widely recognized alternative farming system. Modern organic evolved as an alternative to chemical agriculture in the 1940s, largely in response to the publication of J.I Rodale in the U.S Lady, Eve Balfour in English, and Sir Albert Howard in India. In 1980, U.S.D.A released a landmark report on organic farming.

The Defined Organic Farming as: Is defined as the production system in which avoids or largely exclude the use of synthetically compounded fertilizers, pesticide, growth regulator and livestock feed additives. To the maximum extent feasible organic farming system realy upon crop rotations, crop residues, animal manures, legumes, green manure, off- farm organic wastes and aspects of biological pest control insets, pest weeds etc.

Organic farming methods are widely used in underdeveloped and developing countries, largely because of ecomics and a lack of chemicals. However, they are becoming more widely accepted in developed countries as a reaction or factory conditions

Problems of Present Day Agriculture: The Green revolution technology, particularly in India, led to many fold increase in food grains production, but has made demands on water, fertilizer and farm power.

The effect of intensive cropping has resulted in deteriorating soil tilth and decreased organic matter content high level of chemical inputs is increasing pollution hazard and result further degradation of soil health, the increased use of agro- chemical is polluting water and atmosphere and thus effect on crop production, and animal and reflect on human health

Some Important Problems are: 1. Soil degradation. 2 Some Important Problems are: 1. Soil degradation. 2. Decreasing soil fertility. 3. Water and environmental pollution.

4. Water management problems like: a) Problem of brackish ground water 4. Water management problems like: a) Problem of brackish ground water. b) Runoff and flooding. c) Salinization Problem. d) Low irrigation efficiency.

Why Organic Farming not Adopted on Large Scale Why Organic Farming not Adopted on Large Scale? Cause of low adoption: 1. Chemical are easy to use and less costly. 2. The benefit of organic practices is not seen immediately.

3. Large quintiles of organic inputs are required. 4 3. Large quintiles of organic inputs are required. 4. Difficult to get organic fertilizer. 5. Unorganized market for organically grown produce. 6. Preference to consume organic food is yet not established.

7. Economic loss to transition (from traditional agriculture to organic agriculture). 8. No experimental evidence on the cost benefit ratio of organic farming. 9. Government effort to propagate. 10. Scientific research is also scare

There are at least three options available in organic farming they are: 1. Pure organic farming. 2. Integrated green revolution farming. 3. Integrated farming system.( IFS).

1. Pure Organic Farming: This excludes the use of inorganic manures and biological pest control methods. It all the NPK requirement is to be supplied in the form of organic either as farm or town compost or green manure, the quantity of organic required will be huge. But large potential of organic resources remains untapped in the country.

Nearly 750 millions tones of cow dung, 250 millions tones yielding crop varieties and hybrid and mechanization of labour are retained. But much greater efficiency on the use of these inputs is obtained to limit damages to the environment and human health.

For this purpose, some organic techniques are developed and combined with the input technology in order to create integrated system such as ‘Integrated nutrient management ‘ ( INM), ‘Integrated pest management ‘and biological control method, which reduce need or chemicals. Modern biotechnology is also employed to developed higher yielding, pest resistant crop varities

2. Integrated Farming System: The third option in Organic farming is the low input organic farming, in which the farmers have to depend on local resources and ecological process, recycling agricultural wastes and crop residues.

The Following Categories have been Suggestion: 1 The Following Categories have been Suggestion: 1. External quality freedom from pest and disease damage freshness and colour. 2. Technological quality: Improved properties of storage and processing.

3. Nutritional / physiological quality: Increased content of valuable nutrient and other agricultural chemical residues. . 4. Environment quality of the system of production, with regard to the organization of crop and livestock and management of farm resources, in such a way that they harmonize rather than conflict with natural system

This system merits consideration on the ground that most of the ills of modern day agriculture are avoided. Use of agro chemical is forbidden. There is emphasis on build up or organic matter in the soil, there by activating biological activity. Soil is treated as a living organism.

Maintenance of favorable soil structure and development and use of crop rotation that improve soil fertility, control pests and disease, pest and diseases, pests and weeds are adopted. The major difference between organic and conventional farming is the almost exclusive reliance of the organic farmer on organic matter for supply of nutrients

As a consequence of conventional agricultural practices, soil erosion and air pollution may occur. Eroded soils run into reservoirs, clogging water ways, etc, thereby existing an off farm impact. In areas where soils are heavily fertilized soils omit 2 to 10 times as much nitrous oxide as unfertilized soils and pasture

Conservation of wild life habitat and rural landscape to agricultural use may lead to loss of biodiversity and degradation of landscape an off farm impact having long term consequence on productivity and sustainability. In view of the impact that conventional agricultural practices have, what is needed is an ecomically and environmentally efficient agriculture.