Organic Farming
What is organic farming?
Organic farming system in India is not new and is being followed from ancient time. 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”.
India is rich in bio-diversity, and serving as center for origin of many plant species and livestock. Over the generation, particularly after so called green revolution, cropping pattern has changed and people replaced traditional crops by cash crops and primary importance has given to monoculture. In fact it has created imbalance in the ecosystem.
The present day agriculture is more of mono-culturing mind. The available subsidy is only for the cost intensive external inputs like chemical based fertilizer, pesticides that have made the farming system as less diversified. This is resulted in loss of fertility of the soil, reduction in the concentration of microorganism, death of natural enemies, and resurgence of pests and outbreak of diseases that has made the eco-system more vulnerable to externalities. The irreversible damage which is caused in the eco – system is manmade, and the chemical agriculture is fully depending on external inputs and productivity oriented. Reviving organic farming is need of the hour and a holistic approach has to be evolved with the objective of attaining the sustainability in agriculture through organic way of farming. Mobilizing the small and marginal farming community , strengthening the internalized input resources which includes Biomass production, organic manure utilization, and establishment of community seed banks in villages, backward and forward linkages to the organic produce are the key elements which are going to decide the future of Organic agriculture.
Ecological farming practices which can maximize the local resource use. Many of these practices are based on indigenous knowledge and focus on building soil biological productivity. Non Pesticide Management, (NPM) Organic farming practices, Community Seed Banks, live hedge fencing , soil moisture management etc have already proven to be useful.
So we advice and encourage the farmers to practice organic farming.
Organic Farming
Organic farming is an agricultural system which originated early in the 20th century in reaction to rapidly changing farming practices. Certified organic agriculture accounts for 70 million hectares globally, with over half of that total in Australia. Organic farming continues to be developed by various organizations today. It is defined by the use of fertilizers of organic origin such as compost manure, green manure, and bone meal and places emphasis on techniques such as crop rotation and companion planting. Biological pest control, mixed cropping and the fostering of insect predators are encouraged. Organic standards are designed to allow the use of naturally occurring substances while prohibiting or strictly limiting synthetic substances. For instance, naturally occurring pesticides such as pyrethrin and rotenone are permitted, while synthetic fertilizers and pesticides are generally prohibited. Synthetic substances that are allowed include, for example, copper sulfate, elemental sulfur and Ivermectin. Genetically modified organisms, nanomaterials, human sewage sludge, plant growth regulators, hormones, and antibiotic use in livestock husbandry are prohibited. Organic farming advocates claim advantages in sustainability, openness, self-sufficiency, autonomy/independence, health, food security, and food safety.
Organic agricultural methods are internationally regulated and legally enforced by many nations, based in large part on the standards set by the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM), an international umbrella organization for organic farming organizations established in 1972. Organic agriculture can be defined as "an integrated farming system that strives for sustainability, the enhancement of soil fertility and biological diversity while, with rare exceptions, prohibiting synthetic pesticides, antibiotics, synthetic fertilizers, genetically modified organisms, and growth hormones". Since 1990, the market for organic food and other products has grown rapidly, reaching $63 billion worldwide in 2012.25 This demand has driven a similar increase in organically managed farmland that grew from 2001 to 2011 at a compounding rate of 8.9% per annum. As of 2019, approximately 72,300,000 hectares (179,000,000 acres) worldwide were farmed organically, representing approximately 1.5 percent of total world farmland.
Organic Farming Process
Organic farming and food processing practices are wide-ranging and necessitate the development of socially, ecologically, and economically sustainable food production system. The International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM) has suggested the basic four principles of organic farming, i.e. the principle of health, ecology, fairness, and care (Figure 1). The main principles and practices of organic food production are to inspire and enhance biological cycles in the farming system, keep and enhance deep-rooted soil fertility, reduce all types of pollution, evade the application of pesticides and synthetic fertilizers, conserve genetic diversity in food, consider the vast socio-ecological impact of food production, and produce high-quality food in sufficient quantity (IFOAM, 1998).
According to the National Organic Programme implemented by USDA Organic Food Production Act (OFPA, 1990), agriculture needs specific prerequisites for both crop cultivation and animal husbandry. To be acceptable as organic, crops should be cultivated in lands without any synthetic pesticides, chemical fertilizers, and herbicides for 3 years before harvesting with enough buffer zone to lower contamination from the adjacent farms. Genetically engineered products, sewage sludge, and ionizing radiation are strictly prohibited. Fertility and nutrient content of soil are managed primarily by farming practices, with crop rotation, and using cover crops that are boosted with animal and plant waste manures. Pests, diseases, and weeds are mainly controlled with the adaptation of physical and biological control systems without using herbicides and synthetic pesticides. Organic livestock should be reared devoid of scheduled application of growth hormones or antibiotics and they should be provided with enough access to the outdoor. Preventive health practices such as routine vaccination, vitamins and minerals supplementation are also needed (OFPA, 1990).
Organic Agriculture and Sustainable Development
The concept of sustainable agriculture integrates three main goals—environmental health, economic profitability, and social and economic equity. The concept of sustainability rests on the principle that we must meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
The very basic approach to organic farming for the sustainable environment includes the following (Yadav, 2017):
Long-term economic viability can only be possible by organic farming and because of its premium price in the market, organic farming is more profitable. The increase in the cost of production by the use of pesticides and fertilizers in conventional farming and its negative impact on farmer’s health affect economic balance in a community and benefits only go to the manufacturer of these pesticides. Continuous degradation of soil fertility by chemical fertilizers leads to production loss and hence increases the cost of production which makes the farming economically unsustainable. Implementation of a strategy encompassing food security, generation of rural employment, poverty alleviation, conservation of the natural resource, adoption of an export-oriented production system, sound infrastructure, active participation of government, and private-public sector will be helpful to make revamp economic sustainability in agriculture (Soumya, 2015).
India Organic
India Organic is a certification mark for organically farmed food products manufactured in India. The certification mark certifies that an organic food product conforms to the National Standards for Organic Products in 2000. Those standards ensures that the product or the raw materials used in the product were grown through organic farming, without the use of chemical fertilizers, pesticides, or induced hormones. The certification is issued by testing centres accredited by the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA). under the National Program for Organic Production of the Government of India. Even though the standards are in effect since 2000, the certification scheme and hence the certification mark came into existence in 2002.
Organic Farming Association of India
Organic Farming Association of India (OFAI) is a pan Indian organisation for organic farmers. It claims to be the biggest network for organic farmers. The organisation organize various conferences, conventions and events to promote organic farming. The organisation also hosted "Organic World Congress" in 2017. The event was attended by the President of India and several ministers.
Future Prospects of Organic Farming in India
India is an agriculture-based country with 67% of its population and 55% of manpower depending on farming and related activities. Agriculture fulfils the basic needs of India’s fastest-growing population accounted for 30% of total income. Organic farming has been found to be an indigenous practice of India that practised in countless rural and farming communities over the millennium. The arrival of modern techniques and increased burden of population led to a propensity towards conventional farming that involves the use of synthetic fertilizer, chemical pesticides, application of genetic modification techniques, etc.
Even in developing countries like India, the demand for organically grown produce is more as people are more aware now about the safety and quality of food, and the organic process has a massive influence on soil health, which devoid of chemical pesticides. Organic cultivation has an immense prospect of income generation too (Bhardwaj and Dhiman, 2019). The soil in India is bestowed with various types of naturally available organic nutrient resources that aid in organic farming (Adolph and Butterworth, 2002; Reddy, 2010; Deshmukh and Babar, 2015). India is a country with a concrete traditional farming system, ingenious farmers, extensive drylands, and nominal use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides. Moreover, adequate rainfall in north-east hilly regions of the country where few negligible chemicals are employed for a long period of time, come to fruition as naturally organic lands (Gour, 2016).
Indian traditional farmers possess a deep insight based on their knowledge, extensive observation, perseverance and practices for maintaining soil fertility, and pest management which are found effective in strengthening organic production and subsequent economic growth in India. The progress in organic agriculture is quite commendable. Currently, India has become the largest organic producer in the globe (Willer and Lernoud, 2017, 2019) and ranked eighth having 1.78 million ha of organic agriculture land in the world in 2017 (Sharma and Goyal, 2000; Adolph and Butterworth, 2002; Willer and Lernoud, 2019). Various newer technologies have been invented in the field of organic farming such as integration of mycorrhizal fungi and nano-biostimulants (to increase the agricultural productivity in an environmentally friendly manner), mapping cultivation areas more consciously through sensor technology and spatial geodata, 3D printers (to help the country’s smallholder), production from side streams and waste along with main commodities, promotion and improvement of sustainable agriculture through innovation in drip irrigation, precision agriculture, and agro-ecological practices. Another advancement in the development of organic farming is BeeScanning App, through which beekeepers can fight the Varroa destructor parasite mite and also forms a basis for population modelling and breeding programmes (Nova-Institut GmbH, 2018).
Inhana Rational Farming Technology developed on the principle ‘Element Energy Activation’ is a comprehensive organic method for ensuring ecologically and economically sustainable crop production and it is based on ancient Indian philosophy and modern scientific knowledge. The technology works towards (1) energization of soil system: reactivation of soil-plant-microflora dynamics by restoration of the population and efficiency of the native soil microflora and (2) energization of plant system: restoration of the two defence mechanisms of the plant kingdom that are nutrient use efficiency and superior plant immunity against pest/disease infection (Barik and Sarkar, 2017).
Farming Namazhwar
G. Nammalvar (Tamil : கோ. நம்மாழ்வார், 6 April 1938 – 30 December 2013) was an Indian green crusader, agricultural scientist, environmental activist and organic farming expert best known for his work on spreading ecological farming and organic farming. He led the protest against the methane gas project started by Great Eastern Energy Corporation proposed in the Cauvery delta region of Tamilnadu. Nammalvar was the author of several Tamil and English books on natural farming, natural pesticides & natural fertilizers and was featured in magazines & television programs.
The history of organic farming movement in Tamil Nadu starts with Nammalvar. He always said it is no use trying to teach a farmer. Instead, one should make the farmer understand the issue. He never stopped learning from them himself and had become a vast repository of farming practices and knowledge that he shared with whoever was interested. He never pushed ideas down anyone’s throat. Each farm is unique according to the farmers’ understanding and the conditions, Nammalvar would say. He would keep experimenting with what he learned from the farmers, refined this knowledge and then gave it back to them.
One of his sayings was: “Farming is not a way of producing crops to make money. It is a way of living, and a way of living that is possible even in the 21st century.” He trained hundreds of farm youths as trainers and helped many farmers to be master trainers—all this without government support.
Nammalvar gave up his trousers and shirt and always dressed in a simple way, wearing the same kind of clothes the farmers wore. Sometimes when he would arrive, dirty with travel, someone would give him a new set of clothes and get the old ones washed and ready for his next visit. He learned to speak simply, too, so that he got his message across. Simple sentences with Tamil proverbs, telling real stories that touched the heart of his listeners. He could keep scientists and agriculture experts also spellbound. He travelled extensively and spent most nights in buses. One evening Nammalvar suddenly asked: “What would you like written on your graves?” All of us said different things. When his turn came, he took a little time and then said: “This is what I want written. ‘Here sleeps peacefully a man who disturbed some people’s sleep’.” Yes, he now sleeps after rousing thousands from their sleep. He made his whole life a mission of speaking about the ills of chemical farming and the need for organic farming for nearly four decades.
Once a reporter asked, early in Nammalvar’s crusade, if he was sure farmers would switch to or ganic. He replied: “I don’t mind if they do not change now. My work is to tell the truth and sow the seeds. Some seeds germinate quickly if the field is good. Others will take weeks and some will take years. I am sure my seeds are good seeds and will germinate surely even after decades.” That has happened. As a result, almost all the political parties have listed support to organic farming in their election manifesto. This silent revolution was sown by him.
The last time I met him was on December 29 at a book release function in Thanjavur. He was very weak so we all pleaded with him not speak. But he refused and said people were there to listen to me. He spoke for more than an hour. After the meeting we urged him to rest for a few days. But he was insistent on continuing his campaign against the gas project in the Cauvery delta. He died the next day in a hamlet called Pisini near Atthipatti in Pattukkotai block. He leaves a vacuum that none can fill.
The revolt of Nammalvar, who was inspired by the Japanese thinker and farmer, Masanabu Fukuoka, was at the peak of the Green Revolution, when chemical-intensive agriculture was the norm. His views about sustainable agriculture, especially the use of organic manure and judicious use of water, had few takers then.
However, the world woke up to the perils of unsustainable development practices including chemical intensive agriculture in 1970s and its ripples were felt in Tamil Nadu as well. By then, Nammalvar had started touring among farmers to promote sustainable farming practices.
He founded an NGO called ‘Vanagam’ for giving training in organic farming. Most of the organic farmers in the state have been connected with Vanagam. He travelled widely across the world to observe agricultural practices in different ecological systems and imbibed the lessons in his talks and writings. He wrote extensively in Tamil in the layman’s language and, later, when TV became influential, he would regularly appear on talk shows to educate people on organic agriculture. In fact, he inspired many youth to take up agriculture.
Recognizing his extensive work in the field of agriculture, Gandhigram Rural Institute, Dindigul, honoured Nammalvar with a doctorate in 2007.
Dr G Sivaraman of Poovulagin Nanbargal, who had worked with him closely for years, said Nammalvar sowed the first seeds of organic agriculture in the state. He fought to conserve nature. He was the inspiration behind many movements and organizations that worked for a new ecological revolution. He was the guiding spirit and a father figure for us, Sivaraman said.
Poovulagin Nanbargal had formed Safe Food Alliance (SFA) with the guidance and support of Nammalvar ayya. “We have reached the people as well as the government with his help. He had organized many protests against BT Brinjal as well,” Sivaraman added.
Govt schemes, promoting organic farming in India
Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY)
The scheme promotes cluster based organic farming with PGS certification. Cluster formation, training, certification and marketing are supported under the scheme. Assistance of Rs.50,000 per ha /3 years is provided out of which 62% i.e., Rs. 31,000 is given as incentive to a farmer towards organic inputs.
Capital investment Subsidy Scheme (CISS) under Soil Health Management Scheme
100% assistance is provided to State Government / Government agencies for setting up of mechanized fruit/vegetable market waste/ Agro waste compost production unit up to a maximum limit of Rs.190.00 Lakh /unit (3000 Total Per Annum TPA capacity). Similarly, for individuals/ private agencies assistance up to 33% of cost limit to Rs 63 lakh/unit as capital investment is provided.
National Mission on Oilseeds and Oil Palm (NMOOP)
Financial assistance@ 50% subsidy to the tune of Rs. 300/- per ha is being provided for different components including bio-fertilizers, supply of Rhizobium culture/Phosphate Solubilising Bacteria (PSB)/Zinc Solubilising Bacteria (ZSB)/ Azatobacter/ Mycorrhiza and vermi compost.
For more details visit
https://pgsindia-ncof.gov.in/pkvy/Index.aspx
https://www.nabard.org/content.aspx?id=592
https://nmoop.gov.in/
http://tnhorticulture.tn.gov.in/horti/tnhorticulture/organic
