ORGANIC FARMING :Principles of organic farming.
ORGANIC FARMING :
1 Definition
Organic farming “is a production system which avoids or largely excludes the use of synthetically compounded fertilizers, pesticides, growth regulators, and livestock feed additives. To the maximum extent feasible, organic agriculture systems rely upon crop rotations, crop residues, animal manure, legumes, green manure, off-farm organic wastes, mechanical cultivation, mineral bearing rocks, and aspects of biological pest control to maintain soil productivity, tilth, to supply plant nutrients, and to control insects, weeds, and other pests”. (USDA,1980). The concept of the soil as a living system which must be “fed” in a way that does not restrict the activities of beneficial organisms necessary for recycling nutrients and producing humus is central to this definition. “Organic agriculture is a holistic production management system which promotes and enhances agro-ecosystem health, including bio-diversity, biological cycles and soil biological activity. It emphasizes the use of management practices in preference to the use of off-farm inputs, taking into account that regional conditions require locally adapted systems. This is accomplished by using wherever possible, agronomic, biological, and mechanical methods, as opposed to using synthetic materials, to fulfill any specific function within the system”(Codex, 1999).
2. Principles of organic farming
1. To produce food of high nutritional quality in sufficient quantity.
2. To interact in a constructive and life enhancing way with all natural systems and cycles.
3. To encourage and biological cycles with in the farming system, involving micro-organisms, soil flora and fauna, plants and animals and careful mechanical intervention.
4. To maintain and increase long-term fertility of soils.
5. To promote the healthy use and proper care of water, water resources and all life therein.
6. To help in the conservation of soil and water.
7. To use, as far as is possible, renewable resources in locally organized agricultural systems.
8. To work, as far as possible, within a closed system with regard to organic matter and nutrient elements.
9. To work, as far as possible, with materials and substances which can be reused or recycled, either on the farm or elsewhere.
10.To give all livestock conditions of life which allow them to perform the basic aspects of their innate behavior.
11.To maintain all forms of pollution that may result from agricultural practices.
12.To maintain the genetic diversity of the production system and its surroundings including the protection of wild life habitats.
13.To allow everyone involved in organic production and processing a quality of life confirming to the UN Human Rights Charter, to cover their basic needs and obtain an adequate return and satisfaction from their work, including a safe working environment.
14.To consider the wider social and ecological impact of the farming system.
15.To produce non-food products from renewable resources,which are fully degradable.
16. Weed, disease and pest control relaying primarily on crop rotation, natural predators, diversity, organic manuring, resistant varieties, and limited (preferably minimal) thermal, biological and chemical intervention.
17.To create harmonious balance between crop production and animal husbandry.
18.To encourage organic agriculture associations to function along democratic lines and the principle of division of powers.
19.To progress towards an entire production, processing and
distribution chain which is both socially just and ecologically responsible.
3 Relevance of organic farming
Interest in organic agricultural methods is growing, especially in areas where the present modern farming system has unleashed many agro-ecological and environmental problems both on and off the farm, which threaten food security. The following are some examples:
a) Degradation of soil quality (structured & fertility)
b) Pollution of soil, water and food with pesticides and nitrates
c) Health effects on farmers, farm workers, farm families, rural communities (apart from concerns about the non-intended effects of pesticides on human beings in general,sound use of pesticides requires a technical knowledge which is often lacking in developing countries)
d) Resistance of pests to pesticides
e) Dependence on off-farm agricultural inputs which can increase poor farmers’ dependence on credit facilities (to purchase synthetic fertilizers, pesticides and seed), which may result in decreased local food security and self-reliance Further consumer awareness of the environmental costs of agriculture is increasing. The awareness of environmental quality and health is often promoted by environmental groups, especially in developed countries. The resulting demand for organic products creates the opportunity to sell organic products at premium prices, enabling organic farmers to continue, and often expand. Some governments have begun to recognize the possibility that it may be cheaper to support organic agriculture than to rectify problems associated with certain resource- destruction production practices.
For thisreason, several governments have introduced subsidies for organic agriculture. For example, in Indonesia where, after a period of subsidies on pesticides, the use of this input was prohibited while efforts were put in IPM programmes. In China, pesticide problems in products both on the domestic and export market has resulted in government involvement in certification organizations for “green food”, including also a small amount of organic produce. Both these policies facilitate a shift towards organic agriculture.
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