Types Of Organic Farming In India & How To Get Started With Sustainable Farming Practices
The population explosion has always been a major challenge in India. Rapid urbanization, better lifestyle, and the increased food consumption pattern today has led to a rise in food demand in the country.
Therefore, increased food output is essential to maintain food security and meet consumer demand. It was precisely for this reason that the Green Revolution was introduced in the 1960s.
Farming saw the adoption of modern methods, technology, and extensive use ofchemical fertilizersand pesticides, to boost crop yield. However, such intensification of agriculture led to the loss ofsoil fertilityand pollution of soil, water, and air and adversely affected human health and the environment.
Today, the quality and safety of food are of paramount importance to the general consumers in India. With growing awareness regarding how foods are grown traditionally, people are now more inclined towards eco-friendly and safe food production practices.
Organic farming has emerged as one of the best choices for farmers as well as consumers, which also utilizes sustainable farming practices. It is growing in popularity due to its nutritional as well as health benefits.
It is worth mentioning that approximately 2.78 million hectares of land are used for organic cultivation in India.
What is Organic Farming?
The term organic or the concept of organic farming was founded by Northbourne in the 1940s. Organic farming can be defined as a cultivation method where no chemical fertilizers, synthetic pesticides, or synthetic compounds are used.
Instead, it promotes sustainable farming practices by using natural fertilizers, biological pest control made from plant or animal waste, organic manure, etc. The main aim is to undo the damage caused by the green revolution and restore ecological balance.
Principles of Organic Farming
The International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements – IFOAM suggests four basic principles on which organic farming is based: Health, Ecology, Fairness, and Care.
- Health –Organic farming should improve soil health, thus sustaining plants, animals, humans as well as the planet.
- Ecology –Organic farming should support natural cycles and living systems and help in sustaining them.
- Fairness –It should be built on strong relationships that encourage fairness concerning the environment, social justice, and fair trade.
- Care –Organic farming should be done with responsibility, considering the environment and future generations.
The main purpose is to promote high-quality food production in vast quantities by boosting soil fertility, reducing pollution, avoiding the use of pesticides and synthetic fertilizers, protecting genetic diversity, and enhancing the natural farming system cycles.
Organic Farming Types
Organic farming is of two types; Pure Organic Farming and IntegratedOrganic Farming.
- Pure Organic Farming –This involves avoiding all unnatural chemicals. Instead, fertilizer and pesticides are obtained from natural sources. It is known as pure organic farming.
- Integrated Organic Farming –This involves an integrated approach towards nutrient management and pest management to meet ecological standards and economic demands.
Read more on Organic Farming:Organic Farming – Taking A Cue From Traditional Indian Agricultural Practices
How To Get Started With Sustainable Farming Practices
Organic farming, irrespective of its type, follows the same techniques and methodologies. Soil management involves the use of natural fertilizers for soil nutrient replenishment after every cropping season.
Weed management discourages the use of chemical weedicides and prefers natural weedicides by mulching or cutting. Additionally, the biological form of pest control is promoted, which is in sync with sustainable farming practices.
The many benefits of organic farming include superior quality and high nutritional food that makes it healthy. It is an environment-friendly way of increasing crop yield.
Moreover, it is considered as a cultivation method that is cost-effective and gives a good return on investment. While it follows sustainable farming practices, some of its disadvantages include limited off-season crops, low agricultural products in the initial years, and inadequate infrastructure.
Therefore, urgent solutions are needed to bolster organic farming and make it more appealing to the larger farming community.
Organica Biotechis one of the leading companies providing advanced agriculture solutions to promote sustainable farming practices. The Magic Gro range of products containing beneficial microbes interacts with soil and boosts plant vigour & crop productivity.
The highly adaptable microbes increase immunity and help in the fight against pathogen attacks and pests. It also increases plant nutrient uptake and assimilation.
To meet the growing food demand in India, use Magic Gro products; it is a plant growth promoterused for organic farming that will boost food production without compromising human health and the environment.
Also, it will help in achieving the goal of sustainable farming practices keeping the future generation in mind.
Also, read:
A Pressing Need To Popularise Organic Farming In Nigeria
Sustainable Agriculture In Bhutan: How Hydroponics And Organic Farming Is The Future
