Question

What is organic farming? Discuss the benefits of organic farming as a viable practise in the context of developing nations like India.

Answer 1

Organic farming:

Organic farming is a technique of crop production by natural methods, without the use of chemical fertilisers, pesticides and growth hormones. It promotes the use of green manure, biological pest control, crop rotation etc.

Benefits of organic farming:

Benefits of organic farming in India are as follows:

• Prevention of soil and water pollution due to elimination of use of chemicals.
• Conservation of disease-free and healthy biodiversity.
• Cost effectiveness due to the use of natural products.
• The utilisation of resources is maximised, thus the efficiency of this type of farming is high.

Integrated organic farming:

Integrated organic farming is a type of farming which involves the utilisation of waste generated by a process as a nutrient feed for another process. This ensures the built-up of a self-sustaining unit with minimal resource wastage and waste generation, simultaneously deriving the optimum output from it.
For example, bee-keeping, water harvesting, dairy management, composting and agriculture are done in a chain of processes.

• The compost from crop wastes and cattle dung are used as natural fertilisers.
• Natural gas produced from composting can be used for satisfying energy ●needs of the farm.
• Harvested water provides water for irrigation.
• Farm produces a sufficient amount of fodder for cattle.
• Bees help in pollination of crops.

Hence, it is a viable practice in India.