Khetivirasat.com

About Us

Events Organised

Our Research

Data Report

Background

Contact Us

E-Mail

Home

Organic Farming is a holistic way of farming and can be the way of the debt-ridden farmers for it minimises the cost, improves profits and is definitely more sustainable. For most of the farmers practicing Organic Farming is the way of life which has taught them to be harder working and make optimum use of natural and other resources, as now they make optimum use of cow dung and other wastes which they just use to throw it earlier. It has brought farmers closed to nature and they respect them. As in organic farming farmers tries to get all the nutrients like nitrogen, etc from nature itself. It is also observed that organic farming leads to fewer weeds and pests. Pest control in organic farming begins by making sensible choices, such as growing crops that are naturally resistant to diseases and pests, or choosing sowing times that pre-vent pest and disease outbreaks. Careful management in both time and space of planting not only prevents pests, but also increases population of natural predators that can contribute to the control of insects, diseases and weeds. Other methods generally employed for the management of pests and diseases are: improving soil health to resist soil pathogens and promote plant growth; rotating crops; encouraging natural biological agents for control of diseases, insects and weeds; using physical barriers for protection from insects, birds and animals; modifying habitat to encourage pollinators and natural enemies of pests; and using semi-chemicals such as pheromone attractants and trap pests. Organic farmers have long maintained that synthetic fertilizers and pesticides increase crop susceptibility pests. Research substantiates some of these claims. Organic crops have been shown to be more tolerant as well as resistant to insect attack.

Also question comes of affordability of the consumers. As food grains are a necessity, while organically produced food grains are priced 2-3 times. So with less yield and high prices this would create problems of food security and its affordability. But if farming has to be sustainable in Punjab and we have to save our land and water in Punjab and for healthy Punjab and India, we have to adopt and increase acreage under Organic farming, otherwise soon land of Punjab is going to turn barren. As we know out of 138 zones 103 zones have been declared dark zones in terms of ground water situation. As farming in Punjab depends heavily on groundwater, where will the farmers get water for farming after 10-15 years? What will happen to the question of food security then? What will happen to the livelihood of the thousands of farmers in Punjab? It has been reported by few farmers practicing organic farming that they have to buy cow dung manure or other manure stuff from the market as they have limited livestock. To raise high amount of cattle dung. As it has been found out that organic farming is more labour intensive. For most farmers practicing organic farming might find it difficult to get high amounts of cow dung and labour. So my view is it is difficult for most of farmers to shift totally to organic farming. But if they decide to raise more livestock and cattle and have high weightage for sustainability they can adopt organic farming on the big way. For this they also need proper marketing channels to sell their organic products at fair prices. Average land holding size under organic farming having wheat acreage is 5.25 acres (Range 1-25 acres), while the average land holding size under chemical farming having wheat acreage is 17 acres (Range 3-35 acres). Most of the farmers have started organic farming on a small scale (just 1-3 acres) this just shows these farmers are convinced that organic farming produce is very healthy and nutritious compared to chemical farming produce. But they are not sure whether the organic farming could be carried on the large scale on whole of the farm. But the question arises is that can organic farming be implemented on large scale and what about the question of food security of the nation as Punjab provides food to the entire nation. Let me answer these questions through my study analysis. Farmer themselves believe change in themselves. Their work has increased, now they no linger booze after 5 pm but have to spend time in the farm fro morning to evening taking care of plants. As after mechanisation, farmers labour work had reduced making farmers dependent totally on the machines and had make them lazy. This is a bad trend for future generations. Thus in a country like India, where we have high labour unemployment organic farming can lead to better absorption for our labour force and increase its productivity Thus organic farmers in Punjab are following proper crop rotation and inter-cropping pattern which improves fertility and leading to fewer pests. This also leads to diversification of crops and spreading the risks of farmer. All this takes proper care of the farmer family. As now organic farmer just doesn’t follow the standard cropping pattern like wheat-rice, but at the same time grows vegetables, moog dal, methi and other crops, which provides nitrogen to the soil, inviting fewer pests, etc. he maintains the moisture in the soil which is essence for the fertility of the soil. For this he uses vermin-compost and other measures that maintain moisture in the soil. Conclusions

4 10 9 8 7 6 5 3 2 1