Personal respons : Organic farming is the need of time "Explain in brief.
Answers
Explanation:
Toxicity and residues of the agrochemicals in farm production are the main problems facing mankind today. Nowadays consumers all over the world are concerned about the presence of toxic residues of chemical fertilizers and pesticides in the food items including cereals, pulses, oilseeds, vegetables, fruits, milk and milk products etc.
There is also growing concern for safe and healthy food by the World Trade Organization (WTO) and other such agencies. Application of chemical fertilizers, pesticides and synthetic substances over a long period resulted in poor soil fertility, human and animal health hazards, disturbed ecosystem- all leading to decrease productivity and reduced profitability. Use of harmful chemicals and artificial treatments in crop production have changed the soil structure, texture and biological health leading to problems like salinity and alkalinity. The fertility and quality of soil have deteriorated over a period of time due to blind use of agro-inputs. Pesticides and nitrates from chemical fertilizers are being leached down in groundwater in many agricultural regions, particularly wetland rice growing areas of West Bengal, Bihar, Orissa, and North-east states. High concentration of nitrates in drinking water affects human health, particularly in infants and caused the blue baby syndrome in these areas. The most urgent concern is to make radical adjustments in such faulty agricultural practices so as to ensure minimal damage to human health and the environment with any reduction in crop productivity.
Organic farming appears to be a viable alternative which can solve most of the problems arising due to traditional input intensive cultivation. The past few decades have shown the importance of organic farming in taking care of the environment. It can protect the ecosystem which sustains life, water and soil which offer nourishment. It exhausts less energy and offers greater benefits to both the environment and human health. Simultaneously, trends of rising consumer demand for organically produced food items are becoming popular worldwide as well as sustainability in the production of crops is to be concerned with agricultural development. “Organic farming is a system of farming which largely avoids the use of toxic chemicals such as chemical fertilizers, pesticides and synthetic chemical and use of natural resources such as organic manures, minerals, crop residues and bio-fertilizers to maintain the environment clean, ecological balance and to provide stability to the production level without polluting soil, water and air”. The basic principles of organic farming are that the natural inputs are to be applied and synthetic inputs are prohibited. The organic farming system relies on the application of organic manures, green manures, bio-fertilizers, green leaf manuring, crop rotation, growing trap crops, biological control of insect-pest, herbal pesticides and organic plant growth substances etc, and strive for sustainability and biodiversity. Hence, there is a great need for organic cultivation of important cereals, pulses, oilseed, vegetables and fruit crops.
It is well-versed fact that well-balanced soil grows strong and healthy crops that are nutritious and taste great. The soil is the foundation of the food chain. Organic farming lays thrust on the protection of soil too. The presence of a sufficient quantity of organic carbon and efficient microorganisms in the soil is essential for its fertility and good quality and also for the healthy growth of crop plant. The productivity of organic farming may be less in initial years but the yield increases progressively under organic farming equating the yields under inorganic farming by the sixth year. Furthermore, organic produce contains more vitamins, minerals, enzymes, trace elements and even cancer-fighting antioxidants than conventionally grown food. Nowadays organic farming in agriculture is becoming increasingly due to its environmental and economic benefits over conventional farming. Consumer’s demand for organically produced food product and society’s demand for more sustainable development which provide new opportunities for farming and business in many countries.