Organic farming- the need of the hour

What is organic farming?

Awareness about the presence of pesticides and residues of toxic chemicals in the food items such as pulses, vegetables, fruits, cereals, milk, and milk products, etc., has increased among people all over the world. The two main issues humans face are the residues and toxicity of the agrochemicals in farm production. This has led to the realisation of the importance of organic farming.

Many people expressing concern about the chemicals in various food items produced by farmers has resulted in the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and other such agencies addressing the issue and finding a way to provide safe and healthy food.

This is where organic farming comes into the picture. It has proven to be the only feasible alternative that has the capability of solving challenges arising due to the use of conventional farming techniques, namely- the use of chemical fertilisers, synthetic substances, and pesticides. It has been found that using these chemicals over a prolonged period gave rise to issues like poor soil fertility, health issues in humans and animals, troubled ecosystems, etc. These issues further damage productivity by decreasing the same and harming profitability.

Keeping all the issues in mind has led to increasing awareness of the adverse effects conventional farming has on the environment and people’s health. Owing to this, many households worldwide have started to prefer organic food products over non-organic ones.

Organic farming is nothing but a technique of farming by which the farmers refrain from using chemicals in farming that are toxic, such as pesticides, fertilisers, and synthetic chemical substances, and turn to natural resources that are available to them. These natural resources that help to keep the farm products free from toxic substances are crop residues, organic manures, and bio-fertilizers. The natural substances help in keeping the environment clean, maintain balance in the ecology, and ensure there is no contamination of soil, air, and water while at the same time not hampering the level of production.

Why is organic farming necessary?

To increase the productivity of the farm produce to match the pressure of the increasing demand from the public for the same have led to farmers resorting to using pesticides and fertilisers in large quantities as this helps accelerate production. Luckily, people have started realising the harmful and undesirable effects of such chemicals on the food items produced by farmers and the environment. Thus, organic farming has become the need of the hour for the below-mentioned reasons-

• It helps improve the soil’s quality when it comes to its chemical, physical and biological health.

• Organic farming ensures that farmers can benefit directly, increasing their income.

• Organic farming ensures environmental sustainability.

• Purchasing chemical fertilisers for farming is a costly affair. By turning to organic farming, farmers can save a lot, reducing the debts and the burden that comes with it.

• Conventional methods of farming result in the release of greenhouse gas, namely nitrous oxide, into the soil, further damaging the ozone layer.

• Organic farming helps the nutrition value and quality of the products grown by farmers.

• This technology has proven eco-friendly because it ensures no environmental harm by minimising all forms of pollution.

• With the help of organic farming, consumers stay healthy as they consume more and more organic products.

Countries around the world have adapted the techniques of organic farming, and the governments of these countries have also taken various steps to promote this farming method.

Organic Farming and its related products have a huge market to adhere to in the present day. From its products being more healthy and authentic, people have started to prefer natural food more than anything on the shelves of supermarkets. Even malls and supermarkets have started their availability of Organic farming products.