ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF ORGANIC FARMING

ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF ORGANIC FARMING Consumer Benefits (i) Nutrition The nutritional value of food is largely a function of its vitamin and mineral content. In this regard, organically grown food is dramatically superior in mineral content to that grown by modern conventional methods. Because it fosters the life of the soil organic farming reC!psthe benefits soil life offers in greatly facilitated plant access to soil nutrients. Healthy plants mean healthy people, and such better nourished plants provide better nourishment to people and animals alike. (Ii) Poison-free and tasty A major benefit to consumers of organic food is that it is free of contamination with health harming chemicals such as pesticides, fungicides and herbicides. Organically grown food tastes better than that conventionally grown. The tastiness of fruit and vegetables is directly related to its sugar content, which in turn is a function of thequality of nutrition that the plant itself has enjoyed. This quality of fruit and vegetable can be empirically measured by subjecting its juice to Brix analysis, which is a measure of its specific gravity (density). The Brix score is widely used in testing fruit and vegetables for their quality prior to export. (iii) Food Keeps Longer Organically grown plants are nourished naturally, rendering the structural and metabolic integriry of their cellular structure superior to those conventionally grown. As a result, organically grown foods can be stored longer and do not show the latter's susceptibility to rapid mold and rotting. Growth Benefits Disease and Pest Resistance A healthy plant grown organically in properly balanced soil resists most diseases and insect pests. Weed Competitiveness Weeds are nature's band-aids, placed by the wisdom of creation to heal and restore damaged soils. When farmers husband the life of the soil, as they do in organic agriculture, the improved conditions dissuade many weeds and favour their crops. The crops, being healthier, are also better able to compete with those weeds that are present. Lower Input Costs By definition, organic farming does not incur the use of expensive agrichemicals-they are not permitted. The greater resistance of their crops to pests and the diseases save farmers significantly in expensive insecticides, fungicides and other pesticides. Drought Resistance Organically grown plants are more drought tolerant. Since chemical fertiliser is soluble, plants are forced to imbibe it every time they are thirsty for water. They can and do enjoy good growth as long as water is readily available. As soon as water becomes limited, the soluble nutrient salts in the cells of chemically-fed plants are unable to

osmotically draw sufficient water to maintain safe dilution. They soon reach toxic concentrations, and the plant stops growing, hays off and dies earlier than it otherwise would have. Added Value There is a discerning market of consumers who recognise the greater food value of organic produce and are willing to pay premium prices for it. Disadvantages Productivity Proponents of industrialised agriculture point to its superior productivity. In the short term, this yield is possible by expending massive inputs of chemicals and machinery, working over bland fields of a single crop (monoculture). However, over the longer time frame, productivity advantages dwindle. Industrialised agriculture thrashes the land, and diminishes its soil life to the point where it can no longer function to convert available organic matter into soil fertility. Productivity begins to wane, and attempts to bolster it with increasing chemical inputs (common advice from farm consultants) has a similar effect to flogging a dead horse. Because it relies on living soil to build fertility, the benefits of organic farming for soil life is fundamental to its methods. Organic farming benefits food production without destroying our environmental resources, ensuring sustainability for not only the current but also future generations. Cultivation While their conventional counterparts may sow by direct drilling of seed into herbicide treated soils, organic farmers are usually at least partly dependent on cultivation to remove weeds prior to sowing. In contrast to cultivation, direct drilling does not mechanically disrupt soil structure and removes the risk of exposed soil being lost to wind or water erosion. This is a valid argument where farmers are working marginal quality soils. However, the structure of agrichemically-deadened soils is weakened by the corresponding loss of soil life and thus unable to maintain its integrity under occasional cultivation. So it is a circular argument. Structurally sound (life-rich) soils may be cultivated regularly without significant damage, particularly if protected appropriately by windbreaks and Keyline soil conservation measures. Even the need to cultivate may be questioned. After noticing rice thriving wild amongst weeds on roadsides, Japanese alternative agriculturalist Masanobu Fukuoka succeeded in establishing crops by broadcasting seed coated in clay onto untilled land. GM Crops Organic growers do not use genetically modified or engineered food crops, some of which are engineered to tolerate herbicides (e.g., "Roundup Ready Canola") or resist pests (e.g., Bollworm resistant cotton). According to a report from the Directorate-General for Agriculture of the European

Commission, productivity gains attributed to GM crops are usually negligible when growing conditions, farmer experience and soil types are factored in, and are often in fact negative. The main advantage farmers using such crops gain is convenience only. There are worrying indications that GM crops may be associated with harm to both human health and the environment. The main concern is that once they are released it is nigh impossible to "un-release" them. Time Indeed, organic farming requires greater interaction between a farmer and his crop for observation, timely intervention and weed control for instance. It Is inherently more labour intensive than chemical/mechanical agriculture so that, naturally a single farmer can produce more crop using industrial methods than he or she could by solely organic methods. Skill It requires considerably more skill to farm organically. However, because professional farming of any sort naturally imparts a close and observant relationship to living things. the best organic farmers are converted agrichemical farmers. Organic farmers do not have some convenient chemical fix on the shelf for every problem they encounter. They have to engage careful observation and greater understanding in order to know how to tweak their farming system to correct the cause of the problem rather than simply putting a plaster over its effect.

INDIAN SCENARIO
Indian farmers were basically organic farmers before the advent of inorganic fertilizers and chemical pesticides. Overtime the use of these synthetic inputs has come to the level of causing a concern to the environment and human health. Consequently, it is felt necessary to advocate the use of the age-old practice of organic farming not only to ensure uncontaminated food production but also to sustain the agriculture by keeping the land in a healthy condition. In the recent past, this has become a major concern where the consumers started demanding produce grown organically by not using chemicals. To make organic farming successful, it is essential that eco-friendly technologies, which can maintain or increase the agricultural productivity, have to be developed and made available to the farmers. More than 60 % of Indias arable land is under traditional agriculture, where no synthetic inputs are being used. Although, the products grown under such systems have so far not been defined as organic products but by all mean they are genuine organic products. In view of their wide availability there is an urgent need to ensure premium prices for the produce grown in these regions. Unfortunately, these farmers are so involved in their struggle for survival that they have no time to figure out what is organic and what is not. These organic products are sold to the middleman and are being marketed along with other chemically grown products. It is the lack of awareness among the consumers in our country that some times the chemically grown products which look healthy and attractive, in spite of having alarmingly high level of pesticide residue fetches higher prices than the poorly looking organic products. There is neither subsidy for organic cultivators nor incentives to practice organic cultivation.? Area under organic farming has grown many-fold in six years to 2009-10 in India on the back of thrust given to the chemical-free mode of cultivation. From 42,000 hectares under organic certification in 2003-04, more than 4.4 million hectares area was under organic certification in the country as on March 2010, according to an official statement. For quality assurance, India has internationally acclaimed certification process in place for export, import and domestic markets. During 2008-09, India produced about 18.78 lakh tonnes of certified organic products. Of this, nearly 54,000 tonne food items worth Rs 591 crore were exported. Currently, India exports about 86 products worth over 100 million dollars to the world certified organic market registering a growth of over 30 per cent. Certified organic products including all varieties of food products namely basmati rice, pulses, honey, tea, spices, coffee, oil seeds, fruits, processed food, cereals, herbal medicines and their value added products are produced in India. Apart from edible sector, organic cotton fiber, garments, cosmetics, functional food products and body care products are also produced. Banana, pomegranates, pineapple, grapes, amaranth, ginger, large cardamom, sweet fennel, peanut, onion, sugar/ jaggery are other commodities which will emerge as significant organic commodities produced in India in the next two to three years. In 2007-08, global organic cotton production increased by 152 per cent to 145,872 metric tons or 668,581 bales. The area under cotton cultivation increased to 161,000 hectares in top organic cotton producing countries like Syria, India, Turkey and China.
Although, organic farming is picking up pace in India but the sector has been jostling with lack of awareness, knowledge and confidence about organic farming, food products among both farmers and consumers.

The Ministry of Agriculture is promoting organic farming in the country under National Project on Organic Farming, National Horticulture Mission, Technology Mission for North East and Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana. National Project on Organic Farming is being implemented since October 2004 through a National Center of Organic Farming at Ghaziabad and six Regional Centres located at Bangalore, Bhubaneswar, Hissar, Imphal, Jabalpur, and Nagpur. The project supports organic input production infrastructure, technical capacity building of stake holders, human resource development through training,

statutory quality control of organic inputs, technology development and dissemination, market development and awareness. Under the National Horticulture Mission and Technology Mission for North East, assistance is provided at rate of 50% of cost subject to a maximum of Rs 10,000 per hectare (up to 4 hectares per beneficiary) for organic horticulture cultivation. Assistance is also provided for setting up vermi-compost units at the rate of 50% of cost up to Rs 30,000 per beneficiary. Assistance of Rs 5 lakh is provided to a group of farmers covering an area of 50 hectares for organic farming certification. Under the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana, States are being assisted for area expansion of organic food crops, capacity building of farmers and organic input production.

World Record of Organic Potato Production in Bihar

Mr. Nitish Kumar, Chief Minister of Bihar proudly displayed the potatoes raised by a farmer in his home district of Nalanda who has earned the honor of setting a new world record in potato productio n using only organic farming technique s. The farmer has managed to raise 72.9 tons of potatoes per hectare beating the previous world record of 45 tons per hectare established earlier by the Netherlands. "This is a very proud moment for all of us that further bolsters our resolve of a second green revolution in the state. Nitish has proved that with proper knowledge and technique, Bihar could attain this goal in not so distant future," the Chief Minister said

n the EU, Germany is a leading country in terms of organic production; followed by Italy and France. The European Union and the United States (US) are approximately at the same level of organic production, somewhere between 4 and 6 billion Euros per year, with Japan at third place. In respect of worldwide organic food consumption Denmark and Austria lead the way with 37.3 and 34 Euro per capita consumption per year. The average consumption of organics in EU and USA is approximately 16 Euro ($15) per capita per year. The worldwide market share for organic products is between 0.5 to 3%, but it is hard to determine, as some countries do not certify their products. Commodities being exported to other countries are:

Type Commodity Spices Pulses Fruits Vegetables Oilseeds Others

Products Tea, Coffee, Rice, Wheat Cardamom, Black pepper, white pepper, ginger, turmeric, vanilla, mustard, tamarind, clove, cinnamon, nutmeg, mace chilly Red Gram, Black Gram Mango, Banana, Pineapple, Grape, fruit, Orange, Cashew nut, walnut passion

Okra, Brinjal, Garlic, Onion, Tomato, Potato Sesame, castor, sunflower Cotton, herbal extract

There are number of firms in India, which grow vegetables, fruits, plantation crops, spices and tea organically and export to Netherlands and Germany. Usually farmers associated with big exporters do not have to worry about the sale of their products and their certification, small and marginal farmers are a harrowed lot. For exports, an aggressive strategy demanding free access needs to be adopted. In Argentina farmers and Government joined hands in the early 90s and established the state of the art principles for organic farming which was recognized by the European Union. Recently under a National Programme for Organic Production, Ministry of Commerce, Govt. of India has formulated and circulated National Standards for Organic Production. Marketing is the main problem for organic produce. The lack of awareness among people is the main hurdle in selling organic products. Further the cost of the organic products is high which only the elite and foreigners can afford. The organic marketing in most of the countries is still relatively small and on an average it is less than half a percent of the total agricultural sector except inGermany and Austria, where 2-3 per cent of their agriculture area is under organic production. Several institutions and movements are making concerted efforts to promote organic agriculture in India and to bring changes in the policies favoring ecological agriculture. In June, 2001, the Director General of foreign trade issued a notification declaring the export of an agricultural product as organic would be permitted only if it was produced, processed and packed under a valid organic certificate issued by a certifying agency duly accredited by either APEDA, coffee board, spices board or tea board

REGULATORY MECHANISM FOR THE PRPMOTION AND PRODUCTION OF TRADE IN INDIA Adoption of organic agriculture necessarily involves a sequence of steps that need to be followed by the growers and verified by certification and inspection agencies. This is necessary to ensure that the consumer is not duped and genuine organic cultivator is not put to disadvantage. To ensure this following steps are being initiated by the Govt of India and State Governments. 1) Formation of organic farmers group : The farmers with similar farming and production system should be persuaded to form a farmers group, preferably in the same village with contiguous area. Number of farmers in a group may vary depending upon local conditions. Formations of such groups will facilitate inspection, certification, monitoring and supervision. 2) Registration of farmers group with district authorities : The registration of farmers groups taking up organic cultivation may be done by the state Govt. designated district level authority. This authority could be constituted under Department of Agriculture or Horticulture. For registration, only intimation may be prescribed, receipt of which may be acknowledged. This may constitute registration. The state government should prescribe a pro forma for giving intimation. This should include information about individual members, plot number, area and crops to be covered etc. Information contained in the intimations received should be compiled periodically and made available to the Department of Agriculture and Cooperation, Govt. of India. 3) Documentation of individual farms/farmers records : Documentation being one of the prerequisites for the certification of organic product, certain documents are to be maintained for individual farms and farmers. These documents provided by the certification agencies will be maintained and updated periodically both at the level of individual farmers and at the group level. An educated farmer from the group after training may be assigned the responsibility of maintenance of required documents for the entire farmers group to the satisfaction of certification agencies. In case such a person is not available, service providers registered with state government may provide this service at nominal cost. 4) Service providers : The state Government may register service providers. These may be KVKs, State Agricultural Universities, Agri Clinics, farmers groups, ATMAS, NGOs, private entrepreneurs, Central agencies etc. The state government should select area specific service providers, based on their credibility and expertise. To begin with SAUs, KVKs, Agri-clinics, ATMA, Central Agencies and reputed NGOs already active in the field of organic farming may be approved as service providers. Later other private sector trained persons can be registered as service providers. The service provider will help in the documentation, development of package and practices and providing day to day advice to the farmers. Service provider being local agencies, well versed with the

agronomic practices, availability of organic inputs and the technology will provide necessary advice to the farmers groups and will serve as real friend in need. The state Government may fix nominal fee to be charged by private service providers from individual farmers for the facilities provided. Some service providers could also become input suppliers on their own as commercial venture. However, a service provider can not become inspection agent or a certification agency. 5)
5) Certification and inspection agencies : Since the organic farming is a process certification and not product certification, the role of certification agencies is very critical. The certification agency has to be impartial and a Non-Government agency. Its accreditation by an authorized accreditation agency is mandatory. The certification agency may appoint one or more inspection agents by entering into a written contract, specifying the terms and conditions of their agreement. It is basically the responsibility of the certification agencies to ensure strict compliance of National Standards of Organic farming. They prescribe specific documents to be maintained at the level of farmers\farmers group. They also prescribe minimum conversion period after inspection of farm and other details. They are also authorized to issue necessary certificate of organic production to the farmers. The state Governments can encourage the formation of local certification agencies fulfilling the requirements. Details can be obtained from Ministry of Commerce\APEDA. The inspection agencies fulfilling requisite criteria may approach the accreditation agencies. Only after the issuance of accreditation certificate by the accreditation agencies, the concerned agency can function as a certification agency. 6) Periodic Inspection of organic farms - The certification agencies either themselves may inspect the records of the organic farmers groups or may appoint inspection agencies to ensure proper compliance of the process of organic agriculture by the farmers. The certification agencies, if need arise, may get the samples of soil, water, organic inputs, pesticides etc and get them tested in their own laboratories or recognized laboratories to decide about the conversion period, as also to ensure the adoption of national Standards of Organic Farming. 7) National Standards of Organic Farming Ministry of Commerce Under the National Programme for Organic Production has prescribed National Standards for Organic Production. These standards are grouped under following six categories: 1) Conversion 2) Crop production 3) Animal husbandry 4) Food processing and handling 5) Labeling 6) Storage and transport

Harmful Effects of Pesticides:

What Pesticides do to our body Studies link pesticide exposure to cancer, birth defects, stillbirth, infertility, and damage to the brain and nervous system (including Parkinsons disease). Cancers seen in children include: brain cancer, leukemia, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and soft tissue sarcoma. The same cancers are found in adults, as well as multiple myeloma, cancer of the pancreas, breast, prostate, kidney/bladder, eye, and colonrectal cancer. Pesticides can aggravate asthma and allergies. What About Children and Pets? Children are much more susceptible to health effects of pesticides than adults. At the same level of exposure they will absorb more pesticides, because they have more skin surface for their size, and take in more breaths per minute. Childrens ability to degrade pesticides in the liver and their immune system protections are not fully developed.

Children and fetuses are most vulnerable to pesticide exposure due to their less-developed immune systems and because their bodies and brains are still developing. Exposure at an early age can cause developmental delays, behavioral disorders, and motor dysfunction. Pregnant women are more vulnerable due to the added stress pesticides put on their already taxed organs. Plus pesticides can be passed from mother to child in the womb, as well as through breast milk. Some exposures can cause delayed effects on the nervous system, even years after the initial exposure. Most of us have an accumulated build-up of pesticide exposure in our bodies due to numerous years of exposure. This chemical "body burden," as it is medically known, could lead to health issues such as headaches, birth defects, and added strain on weakened immune systems.

Your pets can be poisoned by lawn chemicals especially snail and other pest baits. Dogs are more likely to get a type of cancer called canine malignant lymphoma if their owners use lawn care chemicals. Does Neighbors Pesticide Use Affect My Family and I? Pesticide drift residues contaminate play equipment, sand boxes, home gardens, backyard pools and ponds, rivers, lakes, and streams. Pesticide drift from run-off, leaching and rain is a hazard to birds, bees, fish, and other wildlife, and to pets. Pesticides used outdoors can get inside a home even if the windows are closed; and are, tracked in from contaminated soil. Pesticide residues, once inside the home, can remain for weeks, months or even years.

Pesticide drift poses health risks to neighbors and the community. Most at risk are children, pregnant women, asthmatics, people with allergies and chemical sensitivity, the elderly, and the ill. Why Would Pesticides Be On the Market If They Were Not Safe? Like alcohol and tobacco, pesticides are legal toxic products. Because they are legal does not mean they are safe. Many people assume that the pesticides they buy, or those used by exterminators and lawn care companies are safe. They assume that the pesticides wouldnt be on the market if they werent, and that the government is protecting them. Neither assumption is correct.

BENEFITS OF ORGANIC FOOD Organic Food is More Nutritious: Organic foods, especially raw or non-processed, contain higher levels of beta carotene, vitamins C, Dand E, health-promoting polyphenols, cancer-fighting antioxidants, flavonoids that help ward off heart disease, essential fatty acids, and essential minerals. On average, organic is 25% more nutritious in terms of vitamins and minerals than products derived from industrial agriculture. Since on the average, organic food's shelf price is only 20% higher than chemical food, this makes it actually cheaper, gram for gram, than chemical food, even ignoring the astronomical hidden costs (damage to health, climate, environment, and government subsidies) of industrial food production. Levels of antioxidants in milk from organic cattle are between 50% and 80% higher than normal milk. Organic wheat, tomatoes, potatoes, cabbage, onions and lettuce have between 20% and 40% more nutrients than non-organic foods. Organic food contains qualitatively higher levels of essential minerals (such as calcium, magnesium, iron and chromium), that are severely depleted in chemical foods grown on pesticide and nitrate fertilizer-abused soil. UKand US government statistics indicate that levels of trace minerals in (non-organic) fruit and vegetables fell by up to 76% between 1940 and 1991. Organic Food is Pure Food, Free of Chemical Additives.

 Organic food doesn't contain food additives, flavor enhancers (like MSG), artificial sweeteners (like aspartame and high-fructose corn syrup), contaminants (like mercury) or preservatives (like sodium nitrate), that can cause health problems. Eating organic has the potential to lower the incidence of autism, learning disorders, diabetes, cancer, coronary heart disease, allergies, osteoporosis,migraines, dementia, and hyperactivity. Organic Food Is Safer: Organic food doesn't contain pesticides. More than 400 chemical pesticides are routinely used in conventional farming and residues remain on non-organic food even after washing. Children are especially vulnerable to pesticide exposure. One class of pesticides, endocrine disruptors, may be responsible for early puberty and breast cancer. Pesticides are linked toasthma and cancer. Organic food isn't genetically modified. Under organic standards, genetically modified (GM) crops and ingredients are prohibited. Organic animals aren't given drugs. Organic farming standards prohibit the use of antibiotics, growth hormones and genetically modified vaccines in farm animals. Hormone-laced beef and dairy consumption is correlated with increased rates of breast, testis and prostate cancers. Organic animals aren't fed slaughterhouse waste, blood, or manure. Eating organic reduces the risks of CJD, the human version of mad cow disease, as well as Alzheimer's.

 Organic animals aren't fed arsenic. Organic animals aren't fed byproducts of corn ethanol production (which increases the rate of E. coli contamination). Organic crops aren't fertilized with toxic sewage sludge or coal waste, or irrigated with E. coli contaminated sewage water. Organic food isn't irradiated. Cats fed a diet of irradiated food got multiple sclerosis within 3-4 months. Organic food contains less illness-inducing bacteria. Organic chicken is free of salmonella and has a reduced incidence of campylobacter. Organic Food Contains No Hidden Costs: As taxpayers, we pay for the hidden health and environmental costs of industrial agricultural. These include the pollution of our drinking water with pesticides, fertilizer and animal waste from conventional farms. Organic Food Is Certified to High Standards: Organic food comes from trusted sources that are inspected to ensure compliance with the rigorous organic standards. Organic Food Protects Animal Welfare: Organic methods provide for animals. Animal welfare is taken very seriously under organic standards. Organic Food Is Good for the Planet: Organic food is good for wildlife and the environment. Organic farming is better for wildlife, causes less pollution and waste, and produces fewer global warming gases. Organic Food Tastes Better :

Organic food is more flavorful. Many people prefer organic food because they say it tastes better. HOW TO IDENTIFY REAL ORGANIC FOOD Look for the Organic Seal by Certifying Agency or the Words "Made With Organic Ingredients" When you see the Organic seal, you know that the food is at least 95% organic, does not contain genetically modified organisms, was not irradiated, and comes from a farm that: Employs positive soil building, conservation, manure management and crop rotation practices. Provides outdoor access and pasture for livestock. Refrains from antibiotic and hormone use in animals. Sustains animals on 100% organic feed. Keeps records of all operations. Is inspected annually by an accredited Third-Party Organic Certifier. If it is a multi-ingredient product, it was made at a certified organic processing plant that takes strict measures to avoid contamination of organic products. Products that are "Made With Organic Ingredients" are at least 70% organic and are also free of genetically modified organisms and food irradiation. Organic Food On a Budget : When comparing prices in the grocery aisles, the organic version of particular items is often 20% on the average more expensive, but if you make a pledge to eat more organic, you'll likely save money overall by eating out at restaurants less often, packing your lunch, and cooking from scratch.

Organic Farming for Health and Prosperity :

Organic Farming Practice Crop rotation Environmental Benefits Enhances soil quality, disrupts weed, insect, and disease life cycles, sequesters carbon and nitrogen, diversifies production (can have market benefits) Enhances soil quality, sequesters carbon and nitrogen, contributes to productivity Cover cropping Enhances soil quality, reduces erosion, sequesters carbon and nitrogen, prevents dust (protects air quality), improves soil nutrients, and contributes to productivity Avoids contamination of surface and ground waters, enhances soil quality, sequesters carbon, mitigates salinization (in many cases) Enhances biodiversity, improves water quality, enhances soil quality, assists in effective pest management, prevents disruption of pollinators, reduces costs of chemical inputs Enhances biodiversity, supports biological pest management, provides wildlife habitat Improves water quality, enhances biodiversity, prevents wind erosion

Manure, compost, green manure use

Avoidance of synthetic fertilizers

Avoidance of synthetic pesticides

Planting habitat corridors, borders, and/or insectaries Buffer areas

Organic Farming is Good for Human Health Organic farming is specifically designed to grow food without the use of toxic substances. Exposure to chemicals used in agriculture has been linked to cancer in many parts of the body including the brain and central nervous system, breast, colon, lungs, ovaries, pancreas, kidneys, testes, and stomach, according to the U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services Presidents Cancer Panels 2010 report. The Presidents Cancer Panel examined the impact of environmental factors and the use of synthetic chemicals on cancer risks and recommends that American consumers eat food grown without pesticides and synthetic fertilizers.

There is a large body of literature that documents the negative impacts of synthetic pesticide exposure on conventional farm workers and their families, much of it summarized in the Presidents Cancer Panel report. Some of these problems include increased incidence of certain types of cancers by farm workers and their spouses, increased exposure to pesticides by children living in agricultural areas, and increased incidence of leukemia in children living in agricultural areas.5 By not applying toxic synthetic pesticides, fungicides, and herbicides, organic farmers do not contribute to these health issues. Organic Farming is Good for Slowing Climate Change Global climate change is increasing the frequency of costly droughts, floods, heat waves and major storms. The destabilized climate is already affecting crop production and water availability, causing hunger, malnutrition, and social unrest worldwide. Organic farming is uniquely able to help mitigate further warming by removing greenhouse gases from the atmosphere and is well-positioned to adapt to new climate conditions. Scientists have documented that human activity is responsible for unprecedented levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere that trap heat and contribute to global climate change. Emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2), nitrous oxide (N2O), and methane (CH4), the three main greenhouse gases that are released by humans, have increased more than 70 percent in the last 30 years.28 Agricultural production releases 13.5 percent of human greenhouse gas emissions globally and, in the United States, 6 percent of all greenhouse gas emissions.

Two primary strategies for mitigating climate change are to increase carbon sequestration into soils and to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. While there are ultimately physical limits to the amount of carbon that can be stored in the soil, organic farming systems--particularly those with lengthy, diversified rotations and that integrate crop and livestock production -- can play a significant role in helping capture carbon. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has offered recommendations for adapting agriculture to mitigate climate change by increasing soil carbon storage, including those already being used by organic farmers, Advantages Of Organic Farming Organic farming is more cost effective. It reduces the production cost by about 25-30%, because it does not involve the use of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides. It retains 40% more topsoil, thus increasing the crop yield up to five-fold within five years. Organic farming is more profitable because it reduces water use, nutrient-contamination by pesticides, and reduced soil erosion. It also enables the farmers to use the soil for a longer period of time to grow crops as soil fertility is maintained for a long time. Cattle grazing on organic farmlands have been found to be less prone to diseases, and they yield more healthy milk. Products or foodstuffs produced from organic farming do not contain any sort of artificial flavors or preservatives. Due to the absence of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, the original nutritional content of food is preserved. Organic farming also helps reduce the occurrence of many ailments, and speeds the recovery process by boosting the immune system. Disadvantages Of Organic Farming Organic farming results in smaller yields, and is more labor intensive, and time-consuming. Organic fertilizers tend to release slowly, and hence may need several applications before the desired results can be brought about. Farming the organic way requires deep skill and extensive knowledge.

Organic B.G.

Farming Shivakumar and

in I.P.S.

India: Ahlawat /

Myths Mumbai Mar

and 23, 2009

Realities 15:45

Whether organic farming can address the multitude of problems faced by Indian agriculture at present is a major issue. Whether organic farming can address the multitude of problems faced by Indian agriculture at present is a major issue Agriculture in India is one of the most important sectors of its economy. It provides livelihood to almost two thirds of the work force in the country and accounts for 18% of India's GDP. About 43 % of India's geographical area is used for agricultural activity. Agriculture is the single largest employment provider and plays a vital role in the overall socioeconomic development of India. A large number of production systems are in practice in different parts of the country. Large scale use of inputs both organic and inorganic has been a common sight in many of the farming situations in the past several decades. However in recent times the concept of organic farming is being forcefully projected as the method for sustaining the agricultural production in the country. Organic farming is a form of agriculture which avoids or largely excludes the use of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, plant growth regulators, and livestock feed additives. Organic farming relies on crop rotation, crop residues, animal manures, biofertilizers and mechanical cultivation to maintain soil productivity, to supply plant nutrients, and to control weeds, insects, diseases and other pests. Before jumping into organic farming bandwagon, we need to have answers to the following: What level of crop yield/ productivity is acceptable? Is it suitable for country like India with a large population to feed? Whether available organic sources of plant nutrients sufficient for pure organic farming? And, are organic farming technologies sustainable in long run? Whether organic farming can address the multitude of problems faced by Indian agriculture at present is a major issue. Further, the virtues attributed to organic farming need to be rechecked before coming to any conclusions. Issues of concern:

Organic farming and nutrient supply At present, there is a gap of nearly 10 million tonnes between annual addition and removal of nutrients by crops which are met by mining nutrients from soil. A negative balance of about 8 million tonnes of NPK is foreseen in 2020, even if we continue to use chemical fertilizers, maintaining present growth rates of production and consumption. The most optimistic estimates at present, show that only about 25-30 per cent nutrient needs of Indian agriculture can be met by utilizing various organic sources.: These organic sources are agriculture wastes, animal manure etc. Organic farming and plant protection Plant protection against the ravages of pests, diseases and weeds is an important issue in any modern high production system. The exclusion of pesticides for plant protection poses greater

risk of yield losses. The options available under organic production systems are very few and crop specific. Often they are very slow and the success rate depends on the prevailing weather conditions leading to low to moderate effectiveness even in the recommended crops and situations. Thus they limit the realization of full potential of crop yields. Any sudden outbreak of insect pests or plant disease can completely destroy the crops, unless requisite chemical pesticides are used. Organic farming and crop productivity In general, it is observed that the crop productivity declines under organic farming. The extent of decline depends on the crop type, farming systems practices followed at present etc. The decline is more in high yielding and high nutrient drawing cereals as compared to legumes and vegetables and in irrigated systems as compared to rainfed and dryland farming systems. Without using fertilisers, the requirement of area to merely sustain the present level of food grain production will be more than the geographical area of India! This is simply neither possible nor sustainable. Organic farming and certification processes Hitherto there are no standard certification processes uniformly applicable across different agro-climatic conditions. Both process and product certification procedures are still in evolutionary stage and need further progress before they can be effectively adopted. Due to biological nature of both processes and products, there is always an element of dynamism subject to temporal and spatial conditions. The presently available certification procedures are very cumbersome and expensive and out of reach for the common farmer. Given the highly fragmented holdings of the farmers, there is every possibility of contamination from the neighbouring farms besides the temptation to use chemical inputs to boost yields. Organic farming and heterogeneity of inputs There is a large variability in the inputs used in organic farming. Due to biological nature of the inputs, prescribing uniform standards and maintaining them in different agro-climatic conditions is beyond ones control. Thus, there can not be a common input recommendation as in fertilizers or pesticides. This leads to arbitrariness on the part of organic farmers as far as input management is concerned. Organic farming and food quality. It is often opined that the quality of the organically produced food is superior to that of conventionally produced food. However, there is no such conclusive proof to justify the nutritional superiority of the organically produced food, over conventionally produced food. If the conventionally produced foods are blamed to contain traces of chemical residues, the organically produced foods are equally to be blamed for their contamination with harmful bacteria and other organisms inimical to the health of the consumers. Organic farming products and marketing There are no diagnostic techniques available as of now to distinguish products from different farming systems. The perceived belief that organic products are good for health is fetching them premium prices. However, unscrupulous hawkers may sell anything and everything as organically produced to unsuspecting buyer at higher prices resulting in outright cheating. Organic farming and switch over period A transition period of 3-4 years is generally required to convert a conventional farm into an organic farm. In this period, the produce is not considered as organically produced. The

reduced yields and lack of benefits of premium for the produces is a double blow for the farmers leading to financial losses which are substantial for the small to medium farmers The Possible Options: With all the above concerns, organic farming is not feasible as an alternative to conventional farming under all circumstances in Indian context. The shortfall in inorganic nutrient supply, uneconomic returns to inorganic inputs under dryland and rainfed farming systems, inherent better response to organic farming in crops like vegetables, legumes and millets under traditional farming systems paves way for integration of conventional farming with organic farming. Such integration on sound scientific basis will be effective in addressing the problems of micronutrient deficiencies; recycling of crop residues, farm wastes, rural and urban wastes; besides effectively meeting growing food demands of rising populations. There will also be scope for practicing organic farming on case to case basis in traditional strongholds like hilly areas, rain fed and dry land farming system to cater to the demands of organic produces in urban areas who would pay premium prices for such commodities. Organic farming should be considered for lesser endowed region of the country. It should be started with low volume high value crops like spices and medicinal aromatic crops. A holistic approach involving integrated nutrient management, integrated pest management, enhanced input use efficiency and adoption of region-specific promising cropping systems would be the best farming strategy for India Bottom-line: Organic foods are a matter of choice of the individuals or enterprises. If somebody wants to go in for organic farming, primarily on commercial consideration / profits motive, to take advantage of the unusually higher prices of organic food, they are free to do so. Organic farming is essentially a marking tool, and cannot replace conventional farming for food security, quality and quantity of crop outputs. With a growing population and precarious food situation, India cannot afford to take risk with organic farming alone. The authors are scientists at Division of Agronomy, Indian Agricultural Research Institute

Prospects of Organic farming in India: An appraisal

Jaganathan D., Ph.D. Scholar, Bahal Ram, Prinicpal Scientist, Padaria R.N., Senior Scientist
Division of Agricultural Extension, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi -110012. Email:rb_agex@yahoo.com, rabindrapadaria@rediffmail.com

Abstract
The Indian farming is traditionally organic and farmers were following organic cultivation till the middle of the twentieth century. After independence we gradually started practicing chemical farming to increase food production to meet the needs of growing population. With the introduction of high yielding varieties programme the chemical farming attained higher production by using various inputs like improved seeds, fertilizers, pesticides etc. Later on in the 1980s realizing the adverse impact of chemical farming, various farming and consumer groups worldwide began pressing for government regulation of organic production. In recent years, explosive organic market growth has encouraged the participation of agribusiness interest. Organic farming uses nature as the best role model for agriculture and considers soil as a living system. In India, the Ministry of Commerce and Ministry of Agriculture are promoting organic farming in a big way. The demand for organic produce increases year after year in India and in international trade market. Organic products produced in India are tea, spices, fruits and vegetables, rice, coffee, cashew nuts, oilseeds, wheat, pulses, cotton and herbal extracts. Organic farming is the only way farmers can escape from the vicious cycle of debt and a negative economy. It is also necessary from the point of view of small producers. Organic farming is a food system that raises income and increases food and food safety at both ends. It is one in which the environment is preserved, farmers and workers have fair access to the means of food production while receiving a fair return for their labour and consumers have their food at fair prices. Several studies reported that if all the outputs and all the inputs are taken into account, organic farming which relies on internal inputs has higher productivity than external input chemical agriculture. Keeping these potentials in mind, farmers in various states of India have started practicing organic farming but at the same time they are facing several constraints. So the efforts from various players like policy makers, researchers, extension workers, farmers representatives, input suppliers, marketing personnel and consumers are needed to promote organic farming in a big way to tackle the present agrarian crisis. This is deliberated in this paper. It is hoped that organic farming will emerge as an important component of sustainable agriculture and congenial environment in years to come.

Requirements of Farmers to Convert Organic Farm

STARTING A VENTURE IN ORGANIC FARMING IN INDIA : A CRAZY BET ?

Almost one-third of the Indian population lives below the poverty line and nearly one out of two children under 6 years (ie. 80 million) are malnourished. One does not need to go further to realize that the fight against poverty is a huge issue in India. During the preparation of our project Destination Changemakers, we decided to realize one of our missions in India. But where does one start in such a vast country where the challenges are so numerous? The social investment fund Ennovent suggested us to get in touch with the founder of I Say Organic, a new social enterprise which delivers organic fruits and vegetables directly from small producers to urban consumers. The idea surprised us at first: while the needs are so great in all areas access to housing, electricity, water, health care, etc. why would a social entrepreneur start a venture in a niche market such as organic farming?

Nevertheless, we organize a phone call with him to better understand his motivations. He tells us his story: as a young graduate of Brown University in the United States, he returned to India with the desire to participate to the development of his country. With an engineering background, Ashmeet Kapoor started to work in solar energy and participated in late 2010 in the Jagriti Yatra, a tour of India by train to meet inspiring social entrepreneurs. During this tour, he participated in a business plan competition and his team chose the agriculture sector. He then realized the big issues of agriculture in India and how much potential this sector holds to create impact. Indeed, more than half of the Indians are working in the agriculture sector, though it is the least productive; 250,000 Indian farmers have committed suicide in the last 16 years, especially because of debt issues (rising cost of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, reduced productivity of genetically-modified crops, etc.) And thats not all: 20 million tons of grains are lost every year in India due to poor conditions of transport and storage. Winner of the competition, he quit his job and decided to continue the adventure by creating I Say Organic whose mission is to revitalize rural India by helping farmers to live decently. How? On the one hand, by encouraging organic farming which limits the cost of inputs (fertilizers, pesticides, etc.) and allows producers to improve the productivity of their land in the medium and long-term. On the other hand, by reducing the number of intermediaries between the producer and the consumer who are pushing down the prices paid to producers, he explains. By connecting organic farmers directly to the market, I Say Organic offers farmers a better price 25% above the market and encourages farmers to opt for sustainable organic farming practices. The challenge of I Say Organic is now to develop the demand for organic products by proposing an affordable home delivery service of organic fruits and vegetables mainly for which pesticide residues are typically the most important.

The beginnings are promising: There is a growing awareness on the part of higher income and younger households in Delhi: more and more are realizing that they can make a difference as consumers, says Ashmeet. A success which is part of a context of strong development of the market: the organic food market is growing by 20% to 22% per year in India. But Ashmeet has already much more ambition: M y dream is that by 2050, no one talks about organic farming anymore in India since everything will have become organic. Hard to believe, but given the rapid evolution of the economy and of the level of awareness in India, this dream may not be so unrealistic