What is organic farming? Explain why should we adopt it?

Question

Accepted Answer

Organic farming is a form of agriculture that relies on techniques such as crop rotation, green manure, compost and biological pest control. It avoids the use of synthetic chemical fertilisers and genetically modified organisms, causes less harm to beneficial insects, and helps in the sustainable development of agriculture.

We should adopt organic farming for the following reasons:

1. **Economical Farming:** It offers a means to substitute costlier agricultural inputs (such as HYV seeds, chemical fertilisers and pesticides) with locally produced organic inputs that are cheaper, thereby generating better returns on investment.

2. **Generates Income through Exports:** The demand for organically grown crops is on the rise, so it generates income through international exports.

3. **Provides Healthy Food:** Organically grown food has more nutritional value than food grown through chemical farming, which enhances food safety.

4. **Source of Employment:** 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 abundant labour.

5. **Safety of Environment:** The produce of organic farming is pesticide-free and is produced in an environmentally sustainable way.

6. **Sustains Soil Fertility:** It improves soil fertility through the application of organic matter in the form of animal manures, compost and farmyard manure, whereas conventional farming erodes soil fertility through chemical fertilisers.

Organic farming thus restores, maintains and enhances the ecological balance, which is why it should be adopted for sustainable development.