Question by nioulvan: how does organic agriculture work these days/?
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3 Responses to how does organic agriculture work these days/?
not very well. all life requires certain basic elements and most of them exist as inorganic compounds first. When you look at a listing of acceptable compounds for “organic” production almost all of the banned chemicals are organic (herbicides, pesticides, antibiotics, etc.) Many of the approved compounds are inorganic such as limestone, rock phosphate, etc. By and large it is just a play on words. Quite often the organic farmer accepts lower yields, lower quality, higher labor inputs, etc.
Rofe has put forward the view of the average farmer who is right now taking up farming activity by the modern industrial method [which heavily depends on chemicals].
‘Organic farming’ does not mean mere use of inputs which are ‘organic’ with reference to their chemical nature.
In fact ‘organic farming’ is an act where all the inputs and activities carried out on the field co-operate with each other just like ‘organs of the body’. Here when we say ‘organs of the body’ each input & or operation must have a distinct role/function like a distinct organ of the body.
In ‘organic farming’ it is expected that we give back to nature what we exacted from it while growing the crops for us. This is done in the most subtle way, minimizing the disturbances to the nature.
So, ‘organic’ is way of living [and not just way of farming]. In this true sense really a very few farmers [not even 0.01%] are practising ‘organic’.
But in coming years of natural, ecological disturbances; food and fuel crisis, only organic farming method will prevail. The farming done using the modern industrial method of farming will no longer be viable.
Already we have started experiencing this in two ways.
1. increasing cost of cultivation.
2. decreasing yields per unit area of field over years.
Considering industrial farming to meet food, feed and fuel demand we are needed to cultivate crops through out year. For doing this, we have applied various chemical based fertilizers and pesticides. While doing this, we are degrading the soil physico-chemico- and microbio properties.
Now in a process of restoring soil fertility we have to consider various environmental factors affecting soil fertility. And it is found by the farmers, social workers and scientists that employing organic way of farming could help soil restore its fertility depending on the damage.
Various benefits of organic farming could be found on internet also. But trust me it is going to give be most effective way of farming.
not very well. all life requires certain basic elements and most of them exist as inorganic compounds first. When you look at a listing of acceptable compounds for “organic” production almost all of the banned chemicals are organic (herbicides, pesticides, antibiotics, etc.) Many of the approved compounds are inorganic such as limestone, rock phosphate, etc. By and large it is just a play on words. Quite often the organic farmer accepts lower yields, lower quality, higher labor inputs, etc.
rofe
October 19, 2011 at 4:57 pm
Rofe has put forward the view of the average farmer who is right now taking up farming activity by the modern industrial method [which heavily depends on chemicals].
‘Organic farming’ does not mean mere use of inputs which are ‘organic’ with reference to their chemical nature.
In fact ‘organic farming’ is an act where all the inputs and activities carried out on the field co-operate with each other just like ‘organs of the body’. Here when we say ‘organs of the body’ each input & or operation must have a distinct role/function like a distinct organ of the body.
In ‘organic farming’ it is expected that we give back to nature what we exacted from it while growing the crops for us. This is done in the most subtle way, minimizing the disturbances to the nature.
So, ‘organic’ is way of living [and not just way of farming]. In this true sense really a very few farmers [not even 0.01%] are practising ‘organic’.
But in coming years of natural, ecological disturbances; food and fuel crisis, only organic farming method will prevail. The farming done using the modern industrial method of farming will no longer be viable.
Already we have started experiencing this in two ways.
1. increasing cost of cultivation.
2. decreasing yields per unit area of field over years.
This is a very vast subject.
Dr Abhay
October 19, 2011 at 5:32 pm
Considering industrial farming to meet food, feed and fuel demand we are needed to cultivate crops through out year. For doing this, we have applied various chemical based fertilizers and pesticides. While doing this, we are degrading the soil physico-chemico- and microbio properties.
Now in a process of restoring soil fertility we have to consider various environmental factors affecting soil fertility. And it is found by the farmers, social workers and scientists that employing organic way of farming could help soil restore its fertility depending on the damage.
Various benefits of organic farming could be found on internet also. But trust me it is going to give be most effective way of farming.
Rahul
October 19, 2011 at 6:29 pm