Organic farming is a holistic way of life. Do you agree? Support your answer with arguments.

Question

Accepted Answer

Yes, organic farming is a holistic way of life. It is the process of producing safe and healthy food naturally, without leaving any adverse impact on the environment.

The arguments supporting this view are:

1. It avoids the use of synthetic chemical fertilisers and genetically modified organisms, causing less harm to beneficial insects.

2. It is eco-friendly and essential for sustainable development, as its produce is pesticide-free and leaves no adverse impact on the environment.

3. It substitutes costlier agricultural inputs (such as HYV seeds, chemical fertilisers and pesticides) with locally produced organic inputs that are cheaper, thereby generating good returns on investment.

4. It generates income through international exports, as the demand for organically grown crops is on the rise.

5. It provides healthy food, as organically grown food has more nutritional value than food grown through chemical farming.

6. It generates more employment opportunities, as it requires more labour input than conventional farming. India has a comparative advantage in organic farming because of its abundance of labour.