What do we mean by “organic” farming?



Today there is a wave of organic farming in India.

Groups of farmers, societies, sugar factories, corporate companies,

agriculture schools and even the governments are promoting the “organic
farming”.



But there are many questions and doubts about organic farming,

in the minds of many, who have to take up this activity.



Why organic farming?

What are the dos and don’ts for the farmer taking up organic farming?

What are the prose and cons of organic farming?

Is organic farming economical to farmer?

How to get organic produce certified?

Will farmers get higher rates for the organic produce?



Answering all these questions to the fullest extent is out of the scope of this
article.

But essentially all these points need to be touched to understand:



What do we mean by “organic” farming?



First let us go in to the definition of the word “organic”.

It means:

(a) Bio-molecules derived from living things.

(b) Carbon compounds.

(c) Organ like.



While most of the promoters of “organic farming” try to define their scope on
the basis of first or second meaning of the word “organic”, realistically the
third meaning – “organ like” – is a better description for farming.



While moving in the fields and discussing with the concerned people,

I have come across various versions of description of “organic farming”.



The main versions are given below as examples.

I have inserted my comments and questions about each version there itself,

so that the continuity of the thoughts can be maintained.



Organic farming means use of only organically (derived from living things)
derived material in the fields for fertication as well as pest control.
[Comment: Will you use urea in your organic farming because, it is produced by
the higher animals as excreta? Will you not use synthetic urea? Why?]
Organic farming means use of carbon compounds only which are known as organic
chemicals. DDT is an organic chemical which is banned a long ago. [Comment:
Would you allow use of such chemicals?]
Organic farming is use of only the natural products and extracts (mostly
herbal) for fertication and pest control. [Comment: Only natural products may
not provide sufficient and timely fertication. Some herbal extracts e.g. Ipomia
extract for pest control, are extremely toxic to the operator. Would you
administer such treatments]
Organic farming is a way to produce non-toxic produce. [Comment: No. Limited
use of toxic chemicals is allowable in organic farming.]
Organic farming tends to zero budgeting and we should not use any bought out
material in the farm since farming as an activity should be naturally self
sustaining. [Comment: The level of production in zero budget farming is too poor
and uneconomical to farmer. This is not expected in organic farming].



So, What exactly do we mean by “Organic Farming”?



Over the years, it has become common to understand and define organic
agriculture as farming without synthetic pesticides and conventional
fertilizers. This should not be considered a definition but a
characteristic—only one characteristic of a socially and environmentally
conscious approach to agriculture that is currently experiencing rapid growth in
the U.S.

A more suitable definition of organic agriculture is provided by the National
Organic Standards Board (NOSB)—the federal advisory panel created to advise the
USDA on developing organic legislation. The NOSB defines organics as:

“an ecological production management system that promotes and enhances
biodiversity, biological cycles and soil biological activity. It is based on
minimal use of off-farm inputs and on management practices that restore,
maintain and enhance ecological harmony” .

The NOSB definition, not surprisingly, is similar to many definitions of
“sustainable” agriculture. Research on organic farms, done over several decades,
has revealed characteristics usually associated with sustainable farming, such
as reduced soil erosion (3), lower fossil fuel consumption (3), less leaching of
nitrate (4), greater carbon sequestration (4) and, of course, little to no
pesticide use.



In short all the biotic and abiotic factors of the farming system when function
in a harmony like the organs of a body the farming system is called as “organ –
ic farming”.

All the factors must have distinct function in the farming system – just like
each and every organ has in the body. Understanding of the “dynamic equilibrium”
of different components of the system at various points thus becomes extremely
important for the smooth operation / calibration of the system.



Having tried to elaborate on what is organic farming let us now address the
rest of the questions very briefly.



At this point of time we have removed all the barriers about what all can be
used in organic farming. Any matter that has distinct function in the farming
system can be added provided that it does not harm the rest of the components of
the system. The catch lies in the later half of the statement. While talking
about organic farming, it is not important to label “in” or “out” for a
particular component, but while using it questions like “how much”, “when”,
“how” and “why”/ “why not” become extremely important.



How many of us know about the detrimental effects of systemic pesticides on the
plants?

How many of us know about the detrimental effects of use of urea on the soil pH?

How many of us know about the widespread occurrence of fungi associated with
plant roots [for actively providing nutrient to host plant], which have been
eradicated from the farming systems – most probably due to application of
chemical fertilizers?



Understanding of a whole list of such facts will allow us to address right
questions about organic farming in the right way. This exercise will also help
us make a list of “dos and don’ts” for organic farming.



At present the agriculture industry is really at the infancy stage with respect
to organic farming. The buyer at large is also not aware about the value of
organic produce. Hence discussions about issues like “organic certification” and
higher returns for organic produce should be discussed at a later stage when the
“organic farming” has matured substantially.



If we talk about the true organic farming, advocated in the right way to achieve
the dynamic equilibrium between various components, then it is definitely going
to be economical for the farmer from day one.

Dr Abhay Shendye












scienceclubofindia@... wrote:There is 1 message in this issue.

Topics in this digest:

1.
From: "KutchScience"


________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

Message: 1
Date: Thu, 3 Jun 2004 09:43:26 +0100
From: "KutchScience"
Subject:

Dear Science and Astronomy friends,

Please do not miss - Watch on net ONLIVE and on TV programmes. - UK sattellite
BBC1 Ch 26 480 Mhz and BBC2 ch 33 on 504 Mhz

http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/space/
http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/space/spaceguide/skyatnight/
http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/space/spaceguide/skyatnight/proginfo.shtml

THE SKY AT NIGHT: WATCH ONLINE
June's Episode - Transit of Venus



Broadcast: Midnight, Sunday 6 / Monday 7 June, BBC One

On the morning of 8 June, the planet Venus will pass in front of the Sun. This
rare occurrence has only been observed a handful of times before. In this
special programme Patrick Moore previews the transit with advice on viewing and
photographing the Sun, and explores the planet Venus and future missions.

Don't Miss - Stardate: Transit of Venus
Saturday 5 June, 1.20pm, BBC Two
Tuesday 8 June, 9.50am and midday, BBC One

You can watch this episode of The Sky at Night here later in the month.

More about the Transit of Venus, and how to observe it safely


http://www.bbc.co.uk/cgi-perl/whatson/search/grid.cgi?range=1200&day=Saturday&me\
dium=tv
Saturday

.. continued
13:20 - 13:50
Stardate: Transit of Venus
... continued
Stardate: Transit of Venus
13:50 - 15:40

Monday 00:00 - 00:25
The Sky at Night
00:25 - 01:55
Soylent Green


Tuesday . continued
Now You're Talking!
09:50 - 09:55
Stardate: The Transit Of Venus
09:55 - 10:45
Star Sale







From Yours : Dr. BHUDIA.- Science Group Of INDIA.

http://uk.groups.yahoo.com/group/venustransit_2004/

President:"Kutch Science Foundation".
Founder :"Kutch Amateurs Astronomers Club - Bhuj - Kutch".
Life Member:"kutch Itihaas Parishad".

kutchscience@..., kutchscience@...,

Just click on web page: http://uk.geocities.com/wildlifeofkutch/

NEW:

http://www.gujaratplus.com/mypage/WelCOME_to_the_Board_of_Science_Group_Of_INDIA\
_2004.html

http://www.gujaratplus.com/mypage/Welcome_to_the_Board_of_"_Kutch_Science_Founda\
tion_".html



HOME: http://www.geocities.com/kutchscience
http://profiles.yahoo.com/kutchscience2000

http://in.groups.yahoo.com/group/scienceclubofindia
http://in.groups.yahoo.com/group/kutchscience

http://in.groups.yahoo.com/group/kachchh/

http://in.groups.yahoo.com/group/bhuj



Do visit our ABOVE Clubs/Groups of Science club of India, Science Group of India
& kutch science foundation and ALSO JOIN US.



--- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
Version: 6.0.560 / Virus Database: 352 - Release Date: 08/01/2004


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]




________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________



------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yahoo! Groups Links




------------------------------------------------------------------------




---------------------------------
Do you Yahoo!?
Friends. Fun. Try the all-new Yahoo! Messenger

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]