The Ultimate Cheat Sheet on What is Organic Farming?

An agricultural method known as "organic farming" makes use of biological pesticides and fertilizers derived from plant or animal waste. The practice of organic farming was developed as a response to the harm that synthetic fertilizers and chemical pesticides were causing to the environment. 

Stated differently, organic farming represents a novel approach to farming or agriculture that restores, preserves and enhances the natural equilibrium.

A sustainable farming system that makes use of nitrogen-fixing cover crops, biological fertilizers mostly made from plant and animal waste, and ecologically based insect treatments. 

With many ecological advantages, modern organic farming was created in reaction to the damage that conventional agriculture's use of chemical pesticides and synthetic fertilizers was causing to the environment.

The Background of Organic Farming

Early in the 20th century, Sir Albert Howard, F.H. King, Rudolf Steiner, and others developed the ideas behind organic agriculture. They felt that using animal manures (which were frequently converted into compost), cover crops, crop rotation, and biologically based pest controls produced better farming practices.

As an agricultural researcher working in India, Howard was greatly influenced by the sustainable and traditional farming methods he saw there and pushed for their adoption in the West. Advocates like J.I. Rodale and his son Robert, who published Organic Gardening and Farming magazine and several books on organic farming in the 1940s and beyond, helped to further promote these approaches.

The release of Rachel Carson's book Silent Spring, which revealed the depth of the harm that pesticides were causing to the environment, in the 1960s increased consumer demand for organic food.

Sales of organic food have been rising since the late 20th century. The organic industry has grown as a result of increased environmental consciousness as well as worries about the health effects of pesticide residues and eating genetically modified (GMO) crops. Retail sales in Europe exceeded $52 billion (€45 billion) in 2019, while sales in the United States climbed from $20.39 billion in 2008 to $47.9 billion in 2019.

Food grown organically typically costs more than food grown traditionally. Organic food can range in price from less than 10% less than conventionally farmed produce to more than 100% more, depending on the product, the season, and supply and demand constraints.

Organic Farming's Significance

1. The main objective of organic farming is to create businesses that are environmentally friendly and sustainable.

2. A growing population would require not just stabilizing agricultural output but also growing it further in an environmentally friendly way. The high input "Green Revolution" has reached a peak and is now being sustained with diminishing returns in the form of declining dividends, as scientists have acknowledged.

3. For life and property to exist, a natural equilibrium must be preserved at all costs.

4. Agrochemicals that come from fossil fuels are not renewable and are getting harder to get. It might eventually have a significant negative impact on our foreign exchange.

Fundamentals of Organic Agriculture

The following tenets form the foundation of organic farming. It needs to:

1. Conserve the environment, reduce pollution, minimize soil erosion and degradation, maximize biological productivity, and preserve biological variety within the system.

2. By creating the ideal environment for soil biological activity, you can preserve soil fertility over the long term.

3. In locally organized agricultural systems, recycle materials and resources and rely on renewable resources.

4. Give animals the attention they need to stay healthy and satisfy their behavioral demands.

5. As you prepare organic products, place special emphasis on handling and processing techniques that will preserve the products' critical features and organic integrity throughout the whole manufacturing process.

Different Organic Farming Methods

Organic farming can be classified into two categories:

1. Organic farming that is integrated 

2. Purely organic farming 

Pure organic farming excludes the use of any artificial chemicals. All of the fertilizers and herbicides used in this farming procedure come from natural sources like bone or blood meal.

To meet ecological demands and criteria, integrated organic farming integrates pest and nutrient management.

Benefits of Growing Organic Food

1. Affordable

Crop planting in organic farming does not involve the use of costly pesticides, fertilizers, or HYV seeds. Consequently, there are no additional costs.

2. Strong Return on Investment

By using locally available and less expensive inputs, a farmer can increase the return on investment.

3. Elevated Demand

India and other countries have a significant demand for organic products, which increases export revenue.

4. Nutritive

Organic items are healthier, tastier, and more nutrient-dense than ones made with chemicals and fertilizers.

5. Ecologically Friendly

Growing organic food does not damage the environment because it uses no chemicals or fertilizers.

The Drawbacks of Farming Organically

1. Unable to do

The main problem with organic farming is that there is insufficient infrastructure and product promotion.

2. Reduced Output

In the early years, the amount of products produced by organic farming was lower than that of chemical products. Thus, it is challenging for farmers to support large-scale production.

3. Reduced Shelf Life

Compared to chemical products, organic products are more prone to faults and have a shorter shelf life.

4. Restricted Output

In organic farming, there are fewer choices and restrictions for off-season crops.

Pest Control with Insects

In organic farming, the where and when of pest presence is predicted in advance, and planting dates and locations are modified appropriately to minimize major pest issues. Increasing the number of helpful insects—whose larvae eat the eggs of pests—is the primary method of battling dangerous pests.

Creating borders (host crops) surrounding fields planted with combinations of blooming plants that the beneficial insects especially enjoy is essential to establishing a population of these insects.

After that, beneficial insects are periodically released into the fields, where the host crops act as their base of operations and gradually draw in more helpful insects. Neem pesticides and other naturally derived or approved organic insecticides are employed when beneficial insects are unable to control a pest epidemic. 

Low persistence in the environment and low toxicity to humans and other animals are the two most crucial requirements for approved organic pesticides. The National Organic Standards set these standards.

Managing Diseases in Organic Farming

Plant diseases are a major factor in crop yield and quality decreases in low-input and organic farming systems. Crop resistance to specific diseases can be increased by applying crop rotation and providing crops with a balanced supply of macro- and micronutrients. 

Thus, healthy soil that is teeming with beneficial organisms is one of the main benefits of organic farming. These beneficial bacteria, fungi, and microorganisms control the bad bacteria and fungi that cause illness.

Conclusion

It is, therefore, crucial to practice organic farming, which is a comprehensive production management approach that supports and improves the health of the agroecosystem, including biodiversity, biological cycles, and soil biological activity. 

Numerous studies have demonstrated that organic farming yields can surpass conventional agriculture yields. 

Notable variations were also observed in soil health indicators, which were higher in the organic farms and included nitrogen mineralization potential, microbial abundance, and microbial diversity. 

Additionally, organic farms' improved soil health led to a significant decrease in the prevalence of pests and diseases. The focus on integrated farming systems on a small scale has promise for reviving rural economies.