Organic Farming

Acknowledgement: I would like to sincerely thank Ms. Paramita

Sarkar, my subject teacher, for assigning me the topic Organic
Farming, which gave me the opportunity to learn more about
sustainable agriculture. I also acknowledge Ms. Manisha Kumar, our
Principal, and Ms. Saswati Banerjee, our Vice Principal, for their
leadership and support in facilitating the environment to work on this
project.
This project has been a valuable part of my learning journey, and I am
grateful for the chance to explore the topic in detail.
Finally, I express my heartfelt gratitude to my family, who supported
me throughout this project by providing the necessary resources and
encouragement to complete it successfully. Their help and guidance
were invaluable, and I truly appreciate their constant support.
Introduction: Organic farming is 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.1 During the mid-19th century,
artificial fertilizers came into existence. These fertilizers were
cheaper, more powerful, and easier to transport in bulk.
Contemporarily, the pesticide industry also saw significant
advancements in chemical pesticides. They became so popular that
the decade came to be known as the “pesticide era”.2
Though these new agricultural techniques were positive in short-
term, they had long-term negative effects. It caused soil compaction,
erosion and declines in overall soil fertility, along with health
concerns about toxic chemicals entering the food supply.3 Along with
times, understandings about this increased leading soil biologists to
seek ways to remedy these side effects while still maintaining higher
production. In 1921, the founder and pioneer of the organic
movement Albert Howard and his wife Gabrielle Howard founded an
Institute of Plant Industry to improve the traditional farming methods
in India.4
Currently many governments are encouraging organic farming among
its farmers not because of supply-driven organic movement, but a
demand-driven one. This indicates the consciousness rising not only
among producers, but also the customer. Modern access to scientific
knowledge forces people to step out and dig deep into their daily
activities, among which food plays an integral role. These learned
choices by the consumers and proper cooperation from the
government is gradually pushing our way to sustainability. One major
example in this sector is China. According to Australian reports,
“China is at the onset of an organic agricultural revolution.” From
2000 to 2006, China has secured the second position from 45th
position in terms of number of hectares under organic farming.5
Other than China, Australia ranks 1 on the list with 53 million
hectares under organic farming. While on the other hand, United
States holds the rank 1 in terms of share of global retail sales of
organic food, with 39 percent share.6
Types: Organic farming is mainly divided into two main types based
on the extent it applies the principles off organic farming:
 Integrated Organic Farming: It is a farming system where high-
quality organic food, animal feed, fibre, and renewable energy
are produced by using resources such as soil, water, air, and
nature as well as regulating factors to farm sustainably and with
as few polluting inputs as possible.7 [modified]
o Emphasis is placed on:
 A holistic systems approach involving the entire as
the basic unit,
 The central role of agro-ecosystems,
 Balanced nutrient cycles, and
 The welfare of all species in animal husbandry.7
o Nutrients and Pest Control: Major nutrition analysis of the
soil is the basis for accessing nutrient needs (except
Nitrogen). Special care is needed for using Nitrogen, as
nitrogen leeching and evaporation has environmental
consequences. Nitrogen requirements must be covered by
Leguminosae, to the largest possible extent while
preventing the danger of leeching.7 Their ability to fix
atmospheric nitrogen reduces fertilizer costs for farmers
and gardeners who grow legumes, and means that
legumes can be used in a crop rotation to replenish soil
that has been depleted of nitrogen.8 Excess of Phosphate
must be avoided as little amount of Phosphate are
sufficient to cause over-enrichment of surface-waters.
Enhancement of activity of pertinent soil organisms (e.g.
mycorrhiza) is highly encouraged instead of direct
Phosphate fertilisers. Other than that, use of artificial
pesticides should be limited based on their toxicity,
selectivity and persistence.7
 Pure Organic Farming: Pure organic farming is a strict approach
that avoids synthetic chemicals, fertilisers, and pesticides.
Instead, it relies solely on natural manures and biopesticides to
support crop growth and manage pests. This method fosters a
healthy, balanced ecosystem, enhancing soil fertility and
preserving biodiversity.9 Its key features include:
o No Synthetic Input: It prohibits the use of synthetic
pesticides, fertilizers, and genetically modified
microorganisms (GMOs). Instead, it relies on organic
methods like crop rotation, composting, and biological
pest control.
o Certification: Farms practising pure organic farming often
seek certification from reputable organic certifying
agencies. This certification provides assurance to
consumers that the product meets stringent organic
standards.
o Soil Health Focus: Soil health and fertility is maintained by
various practices like cover cropping, green manure, and
minimal soil disturbance. Building and maintaining
healthy soil is fundamental success of this approach.
o Biodiversity: Embracing biodiversity is a core principle of
pure organic farming. Diverse crop rotations,
intercropping, and the preservation of natural habitats
promote ecosystem resilience and reduce the risk of pest
and disease outbreaks.10
Advantages: There are several advantages of organic farming. Some
of which are listed below:11
 Environmental benefits:
o Minimum use of synthetic pesticides and fertilizers
reduces chemical runoff and groundwater contamination.
o Organic practices such as crop rotation, use of green
manure, and composting, improve soil structure and
fertility. This increases the organic matter content of the
soil, promoting a healthy and diverse soil microbiome.
o It supports biodiversity conservation by avoiding
synthetic chemicals and promoting diverse cropping
systems.
 Health benefits:
o Foods grown by organic farming often contains higher
concentration of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.
o Organic foods typically have lower levels of pesticide
residues and antibiotics.
o Farmer health is greatly improved through reduced
exposure to toxic chemicals.
 Economic and Social Benefits:
o Organic farming tends to support small-scale and family
farms, which are crucial for maintaining the social fabric
and economic stability of rural communities.
o Moreover, organic farming often involves direct
marketing strategies, such as farmers' markets and
community-supported agriculture (CSA) programs, which
further integrate farmers into their local communities and
promote local food systems, organic farming creates
employment opportunities in various sectors
Disadvantages: Though organic farming posses significant benefits, it
also has several limitations, which serves as a setback.
 Yield Gaps: Compared to conventional farming, organic farming
has lower yields. Organic farming methods often result in
reduced productivity due to absence of synthetic fertilizers and
pesticides, which can affect food security and profitability.11
 Certification and Standards: Certification cost is a challenging
factor for organic farming. The process of organic certification
can be expensive and bureaucratic, which act as a barrier for
small-scale farmers who lack the resources to navigate these
complexities.12
 Market and Economic Challenges: Higher prices for organic
products often limit access for lower-income consumers. The
price premium associated with organic foods can make them
less affordable, thereby restricting their market to wealthier
segments of the population.13
 Knowledge and Research Gaps: There is a significant gap in
research related to organic farming methods and their
optimization. Insufficient funding and focus on organic
agriculture research can hinder the development of innovative
practices and technologies.14
Conclusion: Organic farming is a promising effort for a cleaner and
greener world. Though there are several setbacks, the effects of
organic farming are mostly positive. This approach offers numerous
benefits for the environment, human health, and rural economics. It
decreases pollution, increases biodiversity, checks climate change
and boosts rural economy. Not only that, it also focuses on long term
economic benefits rather than short term gains for the farmers, as it
accounts for soil health.
Organic farm products have great market potential for future, as
people are gradually becoming health conscious with the increase in
scientific temperament. Though currently the premium prices of the
products make it available only to the affluent community of the
society, research and development in this field may lower this price
within the range of the commons.
This will gradually shape our civilisation as more responsible and
productive, compared to previous generations. This approach though
has setbacks, is expected to take turn as one of the largest global
industries. This increases the sustainability and reliability of farming
methods, making healthier and nutritious food available to the
masses.
Bibliography: I would like to thank the following sources for helping
me in the completion of my project as well as making my project
more factual:

 1: Gold, Mary. "What is organic production?". National

Agricultural Library. USDA. Archived from the original on 7
August 2007. Retrieved 1 March 2014.
 2: Horne, Paul Anthony (2008). Integrated pest management
for crops and pastures. CSIRO Publishing. p. 2. ISBN 978-0-643-
09257-0.
 3: Stinner, D.H (2007). "The Science of Organic Farming". In
William Lockeretz (ed.). Organic Farming: An International
History. Oxfordshire, UK & Cambridge, Massachusetts: CAB
International (CABI). ISBN 978-1-84593-289-3. Retrieved 30
April 2013.
 4: Joseph Heckman, A History of Organic Farming: Transitions
from Sir Albert Howard's War in the Soil to the USDA National
Organic Program
 5: John Paul, China’s Organic Revolution| School of Geography
& Environmental Studies, University of Tasmania, Australia
 6: Global organic farming: leading countries 2022 | Statista
 7: Integrated Production: Principles and Technical Guidelines
(3rd Edition, 2004) ISBN 92-9067-163-5
 8: Sprent, Janet I. (2009). Legume Nodulation: A Global
Perspective. Ames, Iowa: Wiley-Blackwell. p. 12. ISBN 978-1-
4051-8175-4. (preview available at Google Books)
 9: Physics Wallah > Home > Commerce > Organic Farming-
Meaning, Types, Advantages, Importance, Limitation
 10: https://agrinextcon.com/pure-and-integrated-organic-
farming/
  11: Plant Science Archives: Exploring Organic Farming:
Advantages, Challenges, and Future Directions (ISBN 2518-
6965)
 12: Reganold, J. P., & Wachter, J. M. (2016). Organic agriculture
in the twenty-first century. Nature Plants, 2, 15221.
 13: Rodale Institute. (2011). The farming systems trial:
Celebrating 30 years. Rodale Institute.
 14: Scialabba, N. E. H., & Hattam, C. (2002). Organic agriculture,
environment and food security. FAO
I would also thank the following sources for providing me with
interactive images:
 Unsplash
 Research Gate
 Bloom Ranch
 IndiaMART
 Adobe Stocks