An agricultural system employed for production of crop and livestock without the use of chemical fertilizers, pesticides, among others, is organic farming.
This process instead uses crop residues, animal manure, crop rotation, other organic wastes, etc., and relies on non-chemical methods to control pests, weeds, and diseases. Genetic engineering methods are also not used in this type of farming. This is the reason why organic farming is said to be an alternative to traditional farming.
J.I. Rodale is widely hailed as the father of the American organic farming movement. Also the founder of Rodale Institute, he is credited with having provided inputs for 'non-chemical' farming measures as far back in the 1940s.
His source of inspiration was said to be Sir Albert Howard, a scientist from Britain, who gained knowledge in this area by observing traditional agricultural systems being followed in India for many years.
The movement, however, gained momentum in the United States only in 1990, when the Congress passed the Organic Foods Production Act (OFPA). As per the act, a National Organic Program (NOP) was created within the US Department of Agriculture (USDA). NOP is mandated to grant permission to organic farmers to have a 'USDA Organic' seal on their products, provided they get prior certifications from USDA-accredited agents.
This, in a nutshell, is the history of organic farming in the US.
Considered a sustainable way of farming, it combines best of both the worlds, i.e., the use of traditional methods along with modern scientific practices.
One of the main reasons for adopting it is for maintaining the biodiversity of the environment. A primary factor for discouraging non-organic farming is that it pollutes farms and adversely affects the environment. Also it poses toxic risks to newborns.
The benefits of adopting organic farming are many more. They have been listed as follows.
1. Food produced through it tastes better.
2. Organic foods could have increased health benefits, as they reduce the incidence of heart attacks, cancer, etc.
3. It has been found by studies in the United States that by adopting it farmers can cut down their production cost by about 25%, as fertilizers and pesticides need not be bought.
4. It protects wildlife and saves ground water.
5. When organic foods are consumed by cows, their health improves and, therefore, the milk yielded by them is of better quality.
6. The quality of water and soil improve gradually.
7. The greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) are drastically reduced.
8. Food can be stored for a longer period without the fear of rotting.
9. Plants grown through this method are more resistant to droughts.
10. It prevents loss of nutrients and minerals in food products.
Critics of organic farming disagree, and support traditional farm by citing the following disadvantages.
1. Productivity through this method is lesser.
2. It requires farmers to spend more time on their farmlands.
3. It demands far greater skill from a farmer.
4. Although it reduces carbon dioxide emissions, the contribution to sustainability is not said to be very significant.
5. Food produced through this method is much costlier.
6. Crops cannot be grown in off-season.
7. It is also more labor intensive.
Despite its drawbacks, proponents of green technology usage concur that organic farming will be beneficial to the world in the long run, as advanced technologies would be developed to improve yields through this method.
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Written by Cisco evangelist Ravi Namboori, the write-up is an introduction to the world of organic farming. What this alternative to traditional farming has to offer is the point of discussion here.http://www.ravinamboori.in/
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