Agriculture is an age-old practice worldwide. But the traditional methods we have been using are pollution-inducing, which is becoming a concern, considering the environment is already in a tight spot.
The following article talks about the new and organic method of farming that can substitute age-old farming practices and help lead towards a healthy life & environment.
What is organic farming?
Organic farming is an agricultural method that uses products and ways that has the following advantages:
- Does not disturb the health of the environment & organisms
- Economically viable
- Contributes to retaining natural resources for future generations without compromising on the need of the present generation.
Under sustainable farming, farmers do not use synthetic products like pesticides, herbicides, etc., to grow crops. Instead, they use natural products like:
- Animal manures
- Natural insect predators and chemicals for weeds
- Green composting
- Crop rotation, etc., to reduce wastage, maintain the farm and ecological sustainability, and provide safe & organic food.
What are the benefits of organic farming?
- Environment
A sustainable agroecosystem helps to create a parallel balance between agriculture and the environment so that we can maintain a healthy ecosystem without degrading the quality of crops. Moreover, since they don’t use synthetic products, higher yields are generated due to the following aspects.
- The biological properties of farming soil are stabilized with suitable enzymes & fertility.
- Air quality improves with less emission of greenhouse gases and efficient energy usage.
- Organic soil has a better water retention capacity that helps in water management.
- Generates less waste helping to optimize pollution.
- Maintain natural landscape & life of all the organisms existing in the habitat.
- Food & health
Demand for organic & safe food is increasing with raising awareness of the nutritious value of organic food. However, traditionally grown plants depend on synthetic fertilizers for nutrients, affecting the health and quality of the soil.
Whereas, in organic farming, plants get nutrients from biological & uncontaminated resources, like manure, composting, etc., which does not degrade the nutritional content or the health of the consumers.
Conventionally grown food has a lesser quality of proteins, fiber, amino acids, or other dry matters than organically grown. Therefore, it is less contaminated with pesticides, fertilizers, waste, & harmful enzymes.
According to various research papers & institutes, organically grown fruits & vegetables contains a double amount of phenols & polyphenolic antioxidants as synthetically grown food helping to fight various disease.
- Economy
With more consumers switching over to organic products due to rising health & environmental concerns, sales of sustainable goods are also exceeding.
As a result, it is becoming an important niche that can help to boost the economy of developing countries to the next level. Some of its benefits are:
- Organic farming generated more employment as it is labor-intensive.
- They have more shelf life as they are grown with fewer chemicals & more antioxidants.
Although organic products are slightly expensive due to high workforce costs, certifications, and lack of government support in this field. However, customers are ready to pay high prices for the excellent & safe quality of food.
Countries like India, UK, USA have taken significant steps to promote organic farming with various regulations and programs. According to the Union Ministry of Agriculture & Farmer’s Welfare, India has covered 30 lakh hectares of land with organic farming. It has the tremendous potential to expand in this field.
Organic International (IFOAM) has also set international certification criteria Principles of Organic Agriculture to regulate, inspire, and educate organic agriculture.
Organic farming is gaining momentum and popularity as it is nature-friendly & a non-conventional technique. Promoting it in India could help to improve the country’s health financially, environmentally, and nutritionally in the future.
