Page 94 - Scientech 2016-17

Organic farming - Dr. Arvind Singh

Banaras Hindu University
The need of the hour Varanasi

Organic farming is a system of farming which does not use any form of chemical fertilizers or
other agro-chemicals and is dependent entirely on organic sources for crop nutrition and crop
husbandry. The main objective of organic farming is to develop a sustainable agriculture system,
which conserves environment, maintain soil fertility and ensures adequate food production.
Organic farming is also known as ‘Eco-farming’ and ‘Natural farming’. In this farming system
the maintenance of soil fertility and the control of pests and diseases are achieved through the
enhancement of biological processes and ecological interaction.

Organic farming has several advantages over conventional farming. This system of farming
reduces pollution hazard and less energy is used. Since no chemical pesticides, hormones
and antibiotics are used, residues from these substances are no longer a danger for human
health. Organic food fetches more prices than the produce obtained from conventional
agriculture. Furthermore, organic farming is less mechanized than conventional farming.

What are the principles of organic farming?
Organic farming practices are governed by a number of principles which are as follows:
(1) To maintain the soil fertility in long term without any effect on flora and fauna.
(2) To ensure production of food of high nutritional quality without pesticide residues.
(3) To conserve soil and water resources.
(4) To promote and enhance the use of renewable sources in farming practices.
(5) To mitigate environmental pollution arising owing to fertilizer and pesticide based
conventional farming system.
(6) To ensure protection and conservation of biological diversity.
(7) To sustain the genetic diversity of the agricultural system including the protection of
plant, livestock and wildlife habitat.
(8) To encourage and enhance biological cycles including microorganisms.
(9) To promote sustainable production and cultivation process in the long run; and
(10) To maintain the ecological stability.

Why organic farming is the need of the hour?
Conventional farming practices heavily based on use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides,
have created problems of land degradation, environmental pollution, deforestation, genetic
erosion, seepage and water logging, lowering of ground water tables, inter-crop disparities,
emergence of several diseases, pest multiplication, pest resurgence and resistance. Land
degradation includes soil erosion, soil salinity, soil alkalinity, soil acidity and loss of soil
fertility while the environmental degradation includes soil, water and air pollution.

Excessive uses of nitrogenous fertilizer in conventional farming decreases the potassium
content of crops. Similarly excessive potash treatment decreases valuable nutrients in foods,
such as ascorbic acid and carotene. The use of superphosphate leads to copper and zinc

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