ORGANIC
FARMING
Presented By –
Group 3
Organic farming is a system which
avoids or largely excludes the use
of synthetic inputs (such as
fertilizers, pesticides, hormones,
feed additives etc) and to the
maximum extent feasible rely upon
crop rotations, crop residues,
animal manures, off-farm organic
waste. (USDA, 1980)
“It is a holistic production management system that promotes
and enhances health of agro-ecosystem, including biodiversity,
biological cycles and soil biological activity”. (FAO, 2002)
Religious Documentation of Organic farming
Oldest practice 10000 years old, dating back to Neolithic age, practiced by
ancient civilization like Mesopotamia, Hwang Ho basin etc.
Ramayana (All dead things – rotting corpse or stinking garbage returned to
earth are transformed into wholesome things that nourish life. Such
is the alchemy of mother earth – as interpreted by C.
Rajagopalachari).
Mahabharata (5500 Mention of Kamadhenu, the celestial cow and its role on human life
BC) and soil fertility.
Kauthilya Mentioned several manures like oil cake, excreta, excreta of
Arthashastra (300 BC) animals.
Brihad-sanhita (by Described how to choose manures for different crops and the methods
Varahmihir) of manuring.
Rig Veda (2500-1500 Mention of organic manure in Rig Veda 1, 161, 10, 2500-1500 BC, is
BC) Green Manure in Atharva Veda 11 8.3, (1000 BC). In Sukra (IV, V, 94,
107-112) it is stated that to cause healthy growth the plant should be
nourished by dungs of goat, sheep, cow, water as well as meat. A
reference of manure is also made in Vrksayurveda by surpala
(manuscript, oxford, No 324 B, Six, 107-164)
Holy Quran (590 AD) At least one third of what you take out from soils must be returned to
it
Table: TOP TEN STATE AREA UNDER ORGANIC
FARMING FOR THE YEAR 2010-11
Sir . No State Name Certified cultivated
organic area (ha)
1. Madhya Pradesh 2,70,955
2. Maharashtra 1,24,547
3. Rajasthan 57,566
4. Gujarat 42,267
5. Uttar Pradesh 17,212
6. Orissa 16,883
7. Goa 13,044
8. UTTARAKHAND 9,513
9. Karnataka 9,128
10. Andhra Pradesh 6,070
Total India 6,00,000
Source: APEDA
Organic farming in India
Organic cultivation is not new in India.
Organic agriculture in India started long back i n 1900
by Sir Albert Howard a British agronomist, in local village
of the north India.
Organic farming was first coined by North Bourne in 1946.
The states of Sikkim and Uttaranchal were declared as organic
states.
WHAT SHOULD BE OUR APPROACH ?
Keeping in view of food security it is not possible to go as
such for organic farming in intensive cultivated areas
hence there is need:
a) To increase the food production in these areas by site specific input
management on one hand
b) On the other hand, bringing the areas, where fertilizer
consumption is
very low, under organic farming
The organic agriculture, therefore, could be advocated only to
certain areas and for selected crops showing promise for
organic agriculture. The rain-fed agro-eco-zones, tribal areas,
northeast and hilly regions of the country and farms where
diversified agriculture is being practiced on commercial scale
are the potential areas for organic farming.
Difference between conventional farming and organic farming
Conventional Farming Organic Farming
• It is based on economical • It is based on ecological
orientation. orientation.
• Supplementing nutrients • Cycle of nutrients within the
through chemical fertilizers farms; predominantly farm
produced materials
• Weed control by herbicide • Weed control by crop
rotation and
• Pest control by pesticide cultural practices
• Pest control based on non-
• Livestock rarely combined polluting substances
• Livestock for production
• Low input: output ratio with and
pollution health
• Using up soil fertility often • Optimum input: output ratio with
resulting in erosion and soil No pollution
loss • Maximum conservation of
soils, water quality and wild life
Sustainable and eco-friendly technology.
It improves quality, shelf and nutritive value of the
farm produce.
It encourages sustainable livelihood of the producers
as well as safeguards consumers health.
It improves the physical, chemical and biological health of
the soil.
Promotes healthy use of the natural resources
and minimizes all forms of the pollution.
It enhances and sustains biological diversity within
the system.
Relies primarily on local, renewable resources.
Makes efficient use of solar energy and the production
potential
of biological systems.
Maintains the fertility of the soil.
Maximizes recycling of plant nutrients and organic matter.
Does not use organisms or substances foreign to nature.
Maintains diversity in the production system as well as
the agricultural landscape.
Careful attention to the impact of the farming system
on the wider environment and the conservation of wildlife
and natural habitats.
Principles of organic farming
Objective of organic farming
(1) (2)
Produce food with Work with (3)
higher nutritional natural system Maintain and
quality increase soil
fertility
(7) Objectives of
Allow
satisfaction
Organic Farming (4)
to agricultural Use renewable
producer resources as far
as possible
(6) (5)
Wider social and
ecological impact Avoid Pollution
of farming system
Benefits of organic farming
1. Increase long-term fertility of the soil.
2. It helps in maintaining environment health by reducing the
level of pollution.
3. It reduces human and animal health hazards by reducing the
level of residues in the product.
4. It helps in keeping agricultural production at a higher level
and makes it sustainable.
5. It reduces the cost of agricultural production and also
improves the soil health.
6. It ensures optimum utilization of natural resources for short-
term benefit and helps in conserving them for future
generation.
7. It not only saves energy for both animal and machine, but
also reduces risk of crop failure.
Basic Steps of Organic Farming
Organic farming approach involves following five principles:
1. Conversion of land from conventional management to
organic management
2. Management of the entire surrounding system to ensure
biodiversity and sustainability of the system
3. Crop production with the use of alternative sources of
nutrients such as crop rotation, residue management, organic
manures and biological inputs.
4. Management of weeds and pests by better management
practices, physical and cultural means and by
biological control system
5. Maintenance of live stock in tandem with organic concept
and make them an integral part of the entire system
Limitations of organic farming in India
Small land holding
Poor infrastructure facilities
Lack of technology knowledge
Organic material such as animal dung and other crop
waste used for fuel purpose
Organic material are bulky in nature, very difficult to
store and high price
Bio control agent are available only few selected insect
pest.
Complicated organic certification process and high fees
cost
Higher human population of India.
Components of organic farming
Pest management
1. Physical method
Mechanical control
Light trap
Pheromone trap
Nylon net
2. Cultural method
Field and plant sanitation
Crop rotation
Trap cropping
Ex : cabbage: mustard= diamondback moth
Water management
Adjusting time of sowing
Fertilizer management
1. Bulky organic manures
FYM
Compost
Biogas slurry
Night soil
Sheep and goat manure
Poultry manure
Green manure
vermicompost
Fertilizer management
2. Concentrated organic manure
Oil cakes
Fish meal
Meat meal
Blood meal
Horn and hoof meal
Bird guano
Row bone meal
JIVAMRUT
COW DUNG
COW URINE SOIL
BIJAMRUT
LIME
WATER
international organic standards
1. IFOAM: • Established in 1972
• Headquarter in Germany
• Umbrella organization for organic Agriculture Association
• Developed international basic standards of organic agriculture
• Established IFOAM accreditation programme (1992) to accredit certifying
bodies
• Set up International Organic Accreditation Service (IOAS) in July 2001
2. CODEX: • Codex Alimentarious Commission – a joint FAO/WHO
• Intergovernment body
• Established in 1962
• Produced a set of guidelines for organic production
3. EU • Laid out a basic regulation for European Union’s organic standards in
regulation Council
regulation No. 2092/91 (June 1991)
• Regulations give guidelines for the production of organic crops in the
4. Demeter European Community.
• Demeter International is a world wide net work of 19 International certification
bodies in Africa, Australia, Europe
5. JAS • Developed guideline for biodynamic preparation.
• THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE IS PROMOTING ORGANIC FARMING
IN THE COUNTRY UNDER THE FOLLOWING SCHEMES:
• National Project on Organic Farming (project implemented
since October 2004)
• Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojna
• National Centre on Organic Farming: Ghaziabad
• Regional centers:
(1) Bangalore (4) Imphal
(2) Bhubaneswar (5) Jabalpur
(3) Hissar (6) Nagpur
Conclusions
From the foregoing discussion, it can
be inferred that organic farming appears to
be a sustainable, economic and eco-friendly,
since there is no risk of residual toxicity. It
improves soil fertility and yielded quality
production.An addition of compost prepared
from farm wastes
i.e. FYM, Neem-cake, biogas slurry,
vermi- compost etc.helps maintain organic matter
in soil.
FEEDING Thank
THE SOIL You
RATHER
THAN
FEEDING
THE PLANT
