Organic Farming – Discovering
natures pathways
Organic farming is defined as production of
crop, animal, and other products without the
use of synthetic chemical fertilizers and
pesticides, transgenic species, or antibiotics
and growth-enhancing steroids, or other
chemicals.
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 is the new name given to traditional farming, which involve doing
agriculture or farming in a natural or organic way without the use of inorganic methods.
Before the 1920’s majority of farming was organic in nature as at that time agricultural
advancements in the form of synthetic fertilizers, pesticides had not yet been introduced.
Farmers used natural means or methods to feed the soil and control the pests.
Organic agriculture considers the medium- and
long-term effects of agricultural interventions
on the Agro-ecosystem . It aims to produce
food while establishing an ecological balance to
prevent soil fertility or pest problems.
Advantages of organic farming: Disadvantages of organic farming:
• Farmers can reduce their production • Organic food is more expensive because
costs because they do not need to buy farmers do not get as much out of their land
expensive chemicals and fertilizers. as conventional farmers do. Organic
• Healthier farm workers. products may cost up to 40% more.
• In the long term , organic farms save • Production costs are higher because farmers
energy and protect the environment. need more workers .
• It can slow down global warming. • Marketing and distribution is not efficient
• Fewer residues in food. because organic food is produced in smaller
• More animals and plants can live in the amounts.
same place in a natural way. This is • Food illnesses may happen more often.
called biodiversity. • Organic farming cannot produce enough
• Pollution of ground water is stopped. food that the world’s population needs to
survive. This could lead to starvation in
countries that produce enough food today.
How can an organic farm be sustainable?
• Organic agriculture reduces non-
renewable energy use by decreasing
agrochemical needs (these require
high quantities of fossil fuel to be
produced).
• Organic agriculture contributes to
mitigating the greenhouse effect and
global warming through its ability to
sequester carbon in the soil.
Governments at local and national levels should use Sikkim is the only Indian state to
Organic Agriculture as a strategy for rural have become fully organic so far. A
development, involving rural communities and majority of the states have only a
consumers in their decisions. small part of their net sown area
Local authorities can create positive conditions for under organic farming.
developing Organic Agriculture in their region. This
can be achieved by:
Organizing daily and weekly farmers’ markets in cities
Providing local and organic food in public canteens
(schools, hospitals, etc.)
Promoting the establishment of eco-agrotourism
Educating younger generations on the close links
between agriculture, ecology and their daily food.
Thank you !!
