Volume -1, Issue-4 (October-December), 2013 Available online at popularkheti.info

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1 Popular Kheti Volume -1, Issue-4 (October-December), 2013 Available online at popularkheti.info Today s Utmost Priority - Organic Agriculture: A Comparison Lokesh Kumar Jain*,, Banwari B Lal,, R. K. Rathore and P. C. Meena College of Agriculture (AUJ), Sumerpur , Pali (Rajasthan), India * of corresponding author: jainlokesh74@gmail.com Issue Special on Organic Farming ISSN: (4) 2013 Organic agriculture is a crop production method respecting rules of nature. Organic farming in India is being practiced since beginning of Agriculture but in modern context organic farming is in infantile stage in India. The agriculture was subsistence in nature and the potential of land was maintained by enriching the field with incorporation of manures through excreta of farm animals, left over material of forage, or by incorporation of green manures. Introduction Organic agriculture is a crop production method respecting rules of nature. The rain fed, tribal, north east and hilly regions of the country are organic by defaults. The extremes of weather conditions like very high temperature difference (-2 0 to 48 0 C), late onset of monsoon, frequent droughts, early cessation of monsoon, low rainfall (<300mm annually), less no. of rainy days (15-20) or hot winds (10-35 km/hour) during summer, geographic and soil conditions like large and movable sand dunes and aeolian soils, loamy fine to coarse and calcareous at places with poor organic matter content with low water holding capacity results in failure or very poor crop production is a common phenomenon in Western Rajasthan. Eastern and North-Eastern regions of the country also have no choice except to farm without chemical fertilizers or pesticides till now. During , the total organic export was 6472 metric tonne with approximate value of Rs crore. Agriculture in Nineties The agriculture was subsistence in nature and the potential of land was maintained by enriching the field with incorporation of manures through excreta of farm animals, left over material of forage, or by incorporation of green manures. Almost most of Indian families had an agriculture land and operated either by owner himself and or by lease as per labour he participates. They grow all types of crops to fulfill their daily requirements like food grain by cereals, oil by oilseed, pulses and vegetable by pulse crops, cloth through fibre crops. They manage their agriculture by pool system of labour (Known as Lah in western Rajasthan and still popular) so the efficiency was maximum and effect was synergistic because of cooperative Popular Kheti ISSN:

2 nature of work. There was no time bounding and the main object was to accomplish the assignment on time so the pool resources may be diverted to other farms. The most of farmers had most of equipments and implements along with transportation facility. The major implements for soil turning and incorporation of manures by plough, ploughing through deshi plough, seed bed preparation by ridger (bund former), sowing by placing seed behind deshi plough or pora system, interculture by deshi plough, hoeing by hand hoe, cutting by sickle, and threshing by beating action of sticks or trampling by farm animals. The whole operations were knowledge-based rather than input-based. Thus it was very clear that there was not incorporation of chemicals those have ill-effects' in agriculture due to unavailability and knowledge. They also keep ruminants for leftover dietary requirements viz., milk, buttermilk, curd and ghee for proteins and fats. They consumed curd and butter milk as supplement of vegetables. About more than 50% of cropped area particularly dryland and rainfed are still organic by defaults due to water and soil quality that restricts the choice of crops, use of costly inputs due to uncertain returns and poor infrastructural support. It was said earlier that Agriculture is only and best livelihood. The Swami Keshwanand Rajasthan Agriculture University follows the slogan in Sanskrit Uttama Vatistu Krishkmavah. As agriculture advances in multi dimensions, changed the mindset of farmers and farming communities reflected in terms of contribution in GDP from 60 % to 16 % now-a days. Table 1 Export of organic produce from India to the EU (2003/2004) Product Quantity (tonnes) Product Quantity (tonnes) Tea 1997 Cashew nut 126 Pineapple 1320 Walnut 89 Spices 625 Fruit 46 Honey 526 Cotton 26 Rice 432 Pulses 12 Sesame seed 354 Sugarcane 8 Modern Agriculture (Inorganic Agriculture) With the introduction of Green Revolution during 1960, a change in agriculture from organic to chemical agriculture or high input responsive agriculture during last 4 decades particularly off course increased the quantity of produce per hectare but created many and many problems those are not only harmful to exposed environment but also underground environment. The most important impact of chemical based agriculture now-a-days is visible in the form of human health hazards reflected in overall loss in working efficiency results in decrease in productivity of lands and diversion to other dangerous occupations. So we can say Popular Kheti ISSN:

3 the capacity of soil to produce has been decreased and reached to its minimum level if we continue to follow the inorganic agriculture further. The available evidences also show that agrochemical-based, high-input agriculture is not sustainable for long periods due to gradual decline in factor productivity with adverse impact on soil health and quality. The Future Agriculture or Organic Agriculture The present and utmost requirement after comparing the both organic and inorganic agriculture forced our mindset to divert to an agriculture that combine positives of these in that pace of growing population (food security) on one hand and safety to environment and human health on other hand. As the technologies advanced, many low valued crops now became valuable crops (fruits, spices, oilseeds, pulses, vegetables, wheat, cotton, basmati rice) and cultivated as organic will improve the status of community and country. The consumers of different regions are now buying organic food (particularly consumed as raw) with high premium for health. It may be achieved by invention of new technologies based on biological or integrated use of resources by agricultural scientists on one hand and policy makers to promote organic farming either by providing suitable market or extra remuneration to growers so the agriculture, environment and health (soil and human) may be restored and used for long time benefit to us. The major problem of organic matter and nutrients supply to soil will be easily solved by the proper use of agricultural waste that is around 700 mt available in the country every year and quality enrichment by proper handling. The pest, disease and weed management will be undertaken by encouraging and protecting natural enemies along with adoption of mechanical and agronomical measures. Products collected from the local farm, animals, plants and micro-organisms and prepared at the farm will allow for control of pests and diseases. Organic farming will also generate new markets and improve our economy. The research has shown that productivity of these rainfed areas could be sustained at a higher level under organic farming compared to chemicals based agriculture. Studies to date seem to indicate that organic agriculture offers comparative advantage in areas where less rainfall combined with low inherent soil fertility levels. Labour realizes a good return and this is important where paid labour is almost non-existent. Organic agriculture does not need costly investments in irrigation, energy and external inputs, but rather organic agricultural policies have the potential to improve local food security, especially in marginal areas. It is very important point for consideration that the desired changes in Agriculture production systems will be based on specific standards precisely formulated for food Popular Kheti ISSN:

4 production and aims to achieve agro ecosystems, which are socially and ecologically sustainable and safeguard so that the interest of small and marginal farmers will not harmed. This is accomplished by using, where possible, agronomic, biological and mechanical methods, as opposed to using synthetic materials, to fulfill any specific function within the system. The organic agriculture uses traditional and indigenous farming knowledge while introducing selected modern technologies to manage and enhance diversity, to incorporate biological principles and resources into farming systems, intensify agricultural production. By adopting organic agriculture, farmers are challenged to adopt new knowledge and perspectives, and to innovate. This leads to an increased engagement in farming which can trigger greater opportunities for rural employment and economic upliftment. Limitations The adoption of organic agriculture in India is restricted to small and marginal farmers mostly. The organic agriculture is advantageous but it is not growing at an expected pace to motivate larger section of farming community because of following regions: (i) Lack of reliable and standardized organic technology package. (ii) Lack of organic inputs and genuine planting material (iii) Lack of regulated markets and system (iv) High certification costs and unfair way of its determination (v) Uncertainty of increased market access (vi) Absence of universal and uniform standards and proliferation of multiple standards (vii) Absence of financial assistance for organic farming Strategies The above given limitations are solved to some extent by the National Centre of Organic Farming and DAC under Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperation (GOI), other National and International agencies by initiating many steps for promoting organic farming as they provided various assistances to organic entrepreneurs and farmers. The DAC has constituted a task force (in 2004) on balanced use of fertilizer to suggest appropriate mechanism for encouraging use of organic manures and biofertililser for balanced use of fertilizers besides other tasks. Ministry of Agriculture (GOI) has also constituted (July, 2005) an organic expert panel to promote organic farming. The financial support for compensation to yield loss during initial three years of transition period will further support to promotion of organic farming. For successful organic Popular Kheti ISSN:

5 farming, organic farmers must be supplied with appropriate package of practice, voluminous amounts of organic inputs and good domestic as well as export market. NAAS recommends that a "holistic approach involving Integrated Nutrient Management (INM), Integrated Pest Management (IPM), enhanced input use efficiency and adoption of region- specific promising cropping systems would be the best organic farming strategy for India." The preparation of technical packages of practices for different crops suitable for different regions is today s utmost need. Also promoting group certification by capacity building will help organic farmers via training on cultivation, educating on record management, supervising internal control system, assisting in certification and market access. There should be separate standard and certification for domestic market. Conclusion At last a single step towards organic agriculture will change the scenario of Indian agriculture in real sense. The major challenge to return organic agriculture is to make it sustainable instead of subsistence as prevalent in ancient period. Today s key issue is to clearly defining our goals and change mind set on the concept of inputs and crop management and build traditional knowledge and INM/ IPM technologies as starting points. Instead of being an obstacle to progress, traditions may become an integral part of it. Thus through greater emphasis on use of local resources and self-reliance, conversion to organic agriculture definitely contributes to the empowerment of farmers and local communities. The whole process needs more study and it is ultimate choice of farmer and consumer who will finally dictate the policy for better agriculture in the country. Popular Kheti ISSN: