ORGANIC AGRICULTURE
Organic farming is an alternative to regular farming. It makes use of compost, green manure rather than using harmful pesticides and fertilizers. This system makes use of organic wastes and crops are raised in such a manner that it keeps the soil healthy and alive. Microbes used as biofertilizers to increase production without harming and polluting the environment. It promotes eco- friendly agricultural practices and reduces the dependence on synthetic fertilizers.
INTRODUCTION
Organic farming is a system that avoids the use of chemical inputs and the maximum extent relies upon the crop residues and crop rotation.
FAQ suggested that organic agriculture is a unique production management system which promotes and improves agroecosystem health. It includes the enhancement of biodiversity, biological cycles, and soil biological activities.
ORGANIC AGRICULTURE IN INDIA
1) Since 1994, the Sevagram Declaration for the promotion of organic agriculture in India.
2) National Programme on Organic Production (NPOP) defined it's the regulatory framework and National Project on Organic farming (NPOF) and defined the promotion strategy and provided the necessary support for area expansion under certified organic farming.
3) During 2001, there was no institutional arrangement for assessment of the organically certified area.
4) During 2003-04, 42000 hectares of the cultivated land area was certified organic.
5) By 2012, more than 11.2 million hectares of land area under certification.
SOME FEATURES OF ORGANIC FARMING
Organic mainly aims to protect the environment and wildlife. It makes use of natural microbes as biofertilizers to provide nutrients to the crop. It includes the use of organic manures and wastes to improve soil quality and soil texture. Avoiding the use of pesticides and insecticides, instead of these use natural predators( like birds feeding on insects ), biofertilizers ( Azolla, azospirillum, etc.) in agricultural fields.
COMPONENTS OF ORGANIC FARMING
Important components of organic farming include:
a) Crop rotation
b) crop residues
c) manures
d) wastes
e) biofertilizers
f) biopesticides.
g) vermicomposts
The description of all the components of organic farming are as follows:
a) CROP ROTATION: A proper and systematic arrangement of growing different types of crops in more or less regular sequence on the same piece of land covering a period of two or more years. Crop rotation is necessary for sustainable agriculture.
The crop is very much important for the management of soil fertility, weeds, insects, pests. In this crop rotation, legumes play an important role; as they should 40-50 percent of the land area.
b)CROP RESIDUE: Crop residues include straws and husk of cereal and pulses crops. About 50-60% of crop residues are used as animal fodder for feeding them but the rest of the residues are used for recycling it as a nutrient for agricultural fields. After recycling the residues get incorporated with high physicochemical properties and soil enhancing capabilities. The useful microbes and fungi play an important role in recycling and decomposing the residues.
c) MANURES: They are organic in nature as they are obtained from animals, plants, and human residues. It increases crop and soil productivity and enhances crop growth. It relates to the efficient uptake of decomposition products which increases the plant yield. It helps in the survival of beneficial microbes in the soil which provides micro and macronutrients to the plants for better growth and development.
d) WASTES: Wastes includes all the industrial and municipal wastes. Industrial wastes include molasses and press mud from sugar industries. The municipal wastes include sewage effluents which contain human wastes and vegetable wastes. These sewage slurry has 0.5%nitrogen, 0.3% phosphorus, 0.3% potassium.
e) Biofertilizers: Rather than using inorganic fertilizers, we can use biofertilizers in the agricultural fields as it puts a full stop over the declining yield and loss of fertility. Biofertilizers are ecologically good and improves the quality and quantity of the internal sources. In this are main inputs are microorganisms that have the capability of mobilizing the nutritive elements from the non-usable to usable form through biological processes. It enhances biomass production and grain yields up to 10%.
f) BIOPESTICIDES: They are natural plant products that include alkaloids, phenolics, and terpenoids. They are ecologically and environmentally safe to kill the pests naturally without harming the crops. For example Neem ( Azadirachta indica), Margosa, Nicotine, etc.
g) VERMICOMPOSTS: It is an organic compost that is produced by the decomposition of raw materials by earthworms and red worms. They engulf the biomass and excrete the digested one out. This will be rich in micronutrients and growth hormones.
Conclusion
Therefore organic farming is ecologically and biologically satisfactory for our surroundings. Its product will be healthier and tasty. It will keep the diseases away by providing healthy foods and crops.
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