Scope and Future of Organic Farming With Sustainable Development
An agricultural practice known as "organic farming" aims to preserve and enhance the environment's natural balance.
The use of organic fertilizers forms the basis of this farming method, to put it another way. Using toxic pesticides, chemical fertilizers, and other methods common in traditional farming significantly harms the environment. As a result, this farming technique helps maintain soil fertility, promote ecological balance, and produce food free of toxins for consumers. Long-term, environmentally conscious economic development is encouraged by this type of farming.
The interaction of reputable business and economic interests, interests of the government and polity, and interests of civil society and culture are called sustainable development. On the other hand, these cultural connections do not happen by accident. The carrying capacity of various ecosystems, landscape ecology, and ultimately the Earth's biosphere or nature limit society on a physical and material level. A person's ability to care for others contextualizes a psychological and spiritual level of society's three distinct functional divisions. Therefore, sustainable development is a complex idea with at least four parts. The social, economic, environmental, and institutional pillars (dimensions) of sustainable development are generally recognized.
Three different types of farmers practise organic farming for a variety of reasons.
- Those who reside in low- or no-input zones are the first category of organic farmers. They practice organic farming as a way of life (possibly because they lack the resources needed for conventional high-input intensive agriculture).
- The second category of farmers includes individuals who have recently switched to organic farming due to the difficulties of conventional farming, which can include deteriorating soil fertility, poisonous food, increased costs, and declining returns.
- The third group of farmers and businesses have methodically embraced commercial organic farming to benefit from premium prices and emerging market opportunities.
Information technology's role
- People's creative potential and knowledge can be unlocked with its assistance.
- Farmers can effectively manage weather forecasts, crop treatment, fertilizers, pesticides, storage conditions, and other issues with access to professional advice.
- The quality and quantity of crops can be significantly increased if farmers know the most recent tools, resources, and technology.
- It has the potential to generate employment in rural areas.
Indian organic agriculture's range:
- With a growing domestic market and a projected faster growth rate in India, organic food is in high demand. The success of the organic movement in India depends heavily on domestic market expansion.
- With growing awareness of the safety and quality of food, the long-term sustainability of the system, and mounting evidence that it is just as productive as conventional farming, organic farming has emerged as an alternative system of farming that may not only address quality and sustainability concerns but also ensure a future free from debt.
Small-scale farmers, in particular, gain from the environmentally friendly and sustainable production method known as organic farming. Small farmers in developing nations like India should practice organic farming. The evidence suggests that organic farming contributes to both food security and poverty reduction through a number of mechanisms, such as:
- boosting output in areas with low inputs;
- conservation of natural resources and biodiversity on the farm and in the surrounding area;
- raising profits or decreasing expenses;
- the production of a variety of safe foods;
- possessing long-term viability
Prospects for organic agriculture:
Commercial organic agriculture has grown at a rate of nearly 25% to 30% annually for the past ten years, despite being a relatively new market-controlled, consumer-concentric agriculture system globally with a strict quality certification system. The growth of organic farming continues unaffected, despite predictions of a recession. Beginning in the developed world, the movement is now gaining traction in underdeveloped nations. However, the demand is still mainly found in developed and wealthy nations. Organic food is becoming more and more well-liked in the area. India is poised for stronger growth in its expanding domestic market. The success of the organic movement in India depends heavily on domestic market expansion.
Though India has always been renowned for its organic farming, it has advanced with modern scientific, input-intensive farming. Growing in popularity as a practical substitute for traditional farming, organic farming addresses issues of quality and the environment and guarantees debt-free operation.
In order to lower farmer losses and offer single-window comprehensive risk coverage for various crops, crop insurance support has also been updated. Over the 2016–19 period, just 30% of the nation's total cropped area was covered, falling short of the goal of 50%. Access to new information and abilities for farmers is also being improved. 652 Agricultural Technology Management Agencies have been established nationwide to give farmers access to the most recent technologies. These organizations spoke with 1.2 million farmers between 2016 and 2017, with half of them being women.
India is ranked ninth among the top ten countries with the most organic land because of the country's popularity with organic farming. There are more than 600,000 organic farmers in India. Rice, wheat, lentils, spices, tea, coffee, herbal and medicinal plants, cotton, oil seeds, fruits, dry fruits, and vegetables are among the organic crops grown in India. The most certified organic farming land is in Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Karnataka, India. In the 2017–18 crop year, India produced 1.7 million metric tonnes of the aforementioned foods. Around 4.6 lakh metric tonnes were exported to the United States, Canada, the European Union, South Korea, Japan, Australia, and Israel in the same year.
