Sarath Chandra Reddy Voggu

29 July 2022

Thoughts and Questions-3

Organic farming in India

The Intro
Hi Everybody, Welcome back to Thoughts and Questions episode 3. Nowadays, people are
very concerned about their health. So, this topic is at its best everybody is most worried about
the food they take which affects their health. So, they are caring about farm produce a lot. In
this episode, we will discuss the most trending topic of Organic farming.

BackDrop
From the early stages of civilisation, agriculture has been an integral part of human life. It is a
beautiful relationship between the earth and the farmer. It is called Agriculture. People used
to rely on land nutrients and fertility for cultivation. The primary source of farming is soil
and water. That is the reason why most civilisations we see are near river banks. And mostly,
the crops are enough to satisfy the population's hunger then. As time grew population also
increased, and farmers started to evolve their farming methods. They introduced irrigation
methods, natural and organic fertilisers, and pesticides to ght insects. These steps helped
them to produce more food for the growing population.
In 1906 chemical fertiliser manufacturing started in India. The problem started after
the Independence of India; a vast difference between the population and food production led
the country into a drought. This drought had a severe effect on India, which made it rely on
the U.S for 7 million tonnes of food aid. This drought pushed farmers and the government to
nd new measures to produce more food for the population. In search of new ways to
increase food production government introduced the green revolution, which is so popular
worldwide under Dr Swaminathan.

Green Revolution and its effects

The green revolution revolutionised the whole agriculture industry. It is aimed to
increase the agricultural produce and its environment. During the green revolution, we got
our major irrigation projects in India, and we even got a surplus of food to feed the country
and export. The measures under the green revolution are 1) increased area under farming, 2)
double-cropping rather than single crop in a year, 3) adoption of HYV of seeds, 4) increased
use of inorganic fertilisers and pesticides, 5) improved irrigation facilities, and 6) improved
farm implements and crop protection measure.
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 Even though the Green revolution started to increase farm produce, farming became a
commercial business. There are many after-effects of the green revolution, which degraded
the soil and doing of agriculture. The following are the after-effects of the green revolution.

Pesticides and pests

The green revolution introduced high-yielding seed varieties prone to insects and pests. There
came an urgency to use pesticides and insecticides, which increased the use of chemical
pesticides and insecticides. The use of chemicals came so high that India became India-
produced chemicals making India Asia’s largest pesticide producer. The unnecessary usage of
pesticides also increased, and the water started to get contaminated with pesticide chemicals.
Another signi cant issue is an imbalance in pests; due to chemicals, predator pests and prey
pests, inequality began to occur. Natural pest control and pollinating insects are decreased
due to the overuse of pesticides. Finally, these pesticides affect the farm ecosystem by
disrupting the food chain in farms.

Water Consumption
Water consumption is increased due to the introduction of HYV(High Yielding Varieties).
These varieties are required to have more water for their cultivation. This increased the usage
of fresh water for cultivation. Even though double cropping is one of the main motives of the
green revolution, this is not followed strictly and continuous cultivation of high water usage
crops like cereals dried up more fresh water.

Impact on soil and food production

Due to continuous double cropping, there has been no time for the soil to regain its natural
nutrients. This is due to not returning crop residues or organic matter to the ground. So many
people are setting re to crop residues, causing air pollution. Due to heavy usage of pesticides
and weedicides, soil quality is detonating and increasing the level of heavy metals in the soil.
Toxic chemicals are also destroying useful pathogens helping in soil nutrients. Using tractors
and mechanical equipment affects the biochemical balance in the ground. Finally, all of these
result in extra chemical fertilisers where natural nutrients are depleting. These are resulting in
stagnant production of high-producing food items.

Extension of local and natural seeds

Due to the green revolution, high-yielding variety seeds are introduced, giving more food and
money. So, farmers started using more of these seeds and removing local or natural seeds
from cultivation. After the green revolution, the use of indigenous seeds is highly reduced due
to the fast and high cropping of HYV seeds. Food consumption patterns
Before the green revolution, people in India used to have more millets in their diet. But the
introduction of the green revolution made signi cant changes in the diet. During the time of
the revolution high amount of HYV cereal seeds are introduced. Due to this, farmers started
cultivating more of these HYV seeds, which increased food production like paddy and wheat.
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 This step brought changes in the diet from millets to cereals. The Food and Agriculture
Organization (FAO) has recorded that over the years 1961–2017, there was a decrease in
millets and an increase in rice production. Thus green revolution made people take more
calorie food.

Impact on framers and the general population

The impact of the green revolution on the average population is very high and dangerous.
Continuous exposure to the chemical by chemical fertilisers will have several health effects on
human beings in the nervous, endocrine, reproductive, and immune systems. Pollution
through food is more effective than drinking polluted water or intaking polluted air.
In India, most farmers don’t use protective gear when dealing with harmful chemical
pesticides and fertilisers. This will result in deleterious effects on their health as pesticides and
insecticides contain nitrates, organophosphates, organochlorine, pyrethroid and other toxic
chemicals. Continuous exposure to nitrate may affect your haemoglobin immobility, and
exposure to organophosphates may result in cancer. In India, 50% of the workforce
comprises women. So, they are exposed most to these chemicals, which affect their childbirth
and fertility rate. Even in men, lung and skin infections are observed when highly exposed to
these chemicals.

All these effects made farming dangerous and harmful work. Even though the green
revolution is an excellent program, with the lack of proper guidance and supervision, it has
achieved a toxic level. After a long time, farmers and people realised the effects of this
chemical farming and started to turn to Organic farming, a more natural and proper form of
agriculture.

What is Organic farming?

An agricultural process which uses biological and natural elements is called Organic farming.
Organic farming is now accepted as a farming type that produces the healthiest food
untouched by harmful chemicals. Organic farming works most inherently consisting of neem,
cattle produce and other obtained goods that help the crops grow.

Types of Organic farming

In organic farming, there are two types.
Pure Organic Farming
Pure organic farming is the best and most natural form of organic agriculture. It excludes all
the chemical forms of fertilisers and pesticides. It avoids all forms of materials which may
harm soil, crop or people.
It uses organic fertilisers and bio-pesticides derived from natural sources.
Integrated Organic Farming

 Integrated farming includes both natural and chemical materials for agriculture. But this
farming balances both without harming or affecting nature, crops or people.

Methods and techniques of organic farming

Some different techniques and methods are used in organic farming to make it more natural.
Some of the forms or techniques are
Crop Rotation
Crop rotation is a process in which changing crops from season to season in the eld. This
helps in naturally eradicating pests and insects and helps to reduce soil erosion with different
root systems. It also helps soil regain some of its nutrients.
Cover Cropping
Cover cropping is a method in which a eld is covered with different species of plants for a
period between seasons or a season to eradicate weeds, to help water in ltrate and aeration
with their roots.
Manures
Manure includes both plants and animals. Plant manures will help the soil to enrich with
organic matter and nitrogen. It increases the soil moisture.
Animal manures help to enrich the soil with natural components.
Pest and Weed Management
Pest management is a process which starts with prevention. Secondly, it comes to constructing.
Then it comes to physical removal and nally introducing their biological enemies.

Weed management is a process which starts with prevention. Farmers need to avoid weed
penetration onto the eld with machinery, animals, and irrigation. Even after that prevention,
weeds enter the elds, and there are few ways to mitigate the weeds. Some of those are
Manual weeding
Crop rotation
Mulching
Natural chemicals to stop germination
Introduction to a population of birds/insects to consume weed seeds.
Livestock Management
Livestock management plays a crucial in organic farming. Both farming and livestock will
bene t both. They compliment each other. Livestock provides manures, weeding and
pesticides for agriculture, and Farms produce the food and environment for livestock to grow
organically.

The Pros and Cons of Organic farming

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 Pros
Refused harmful chemicals,
No costs for expensive synthetic additives,
Ensured food quality and certi cation,
Improved taste and nutritional value,
Protected environment,
Recycled natural wastes for manure,
Boosted soil quality.
Cons
Less production;
Increase in farming labour and time consumption for manual and mechanical work,
Crop observation and uncompromised compliance with standards;
Continuous monitoring and control of pests and weeds.
Short shelf life of organic products.
High prices for organic products.
Obtaining certi cates for farm produce.

Government incentives
1) Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY)
Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana is a programme that promotes cluster-based organic
farming. The government provides farmers with PGS (Participatory Guarantee System)
certi cation. The scheme supports farmers with cluster formation, training, certi cation and
marketing. The assistance of Rs. 50,000 per ha /3 years is provided, out of which 62 per cent
(Rs. 31,000) is given as an incentive to a farmer towards organic inputs.
2) Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North Eastern Region
(MOVCDNER)
This scheme promotes third-party certi ed organic farming of niche crops in the northeast
region. This scheme is carried out through Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) with a
focus on exports. An assistance of Rs 25,000 per hectare for three years for organic inputs,
including organic manure and bio-fertilisers, among other inputs. Support for the formation
of FPOs, capacity building, and post-harvest infrastructure up to Rs 2 crore is also provided
in the scheme.
3) Capital Investment Subsidy Scheme (CISS)
A 100 per cent assistance is provided to state government and government agencies. This
assistance is provided for setting up mechanised fruit and vegetable market waste and agro
waste compost production units up to a maximum limit of Rs 190 lakh per unit. Similarly, for
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 individuals and private agencies, assistance up to 33 per cent of the cost limit to Rs 63 lakh
per unit as capital investment is provided.
4) National Mission on Oilseeds and Oil Palm (NMOOP)
Through this Mission, nancial assistance at a 50 per cent subsidy to the tune of Rs. 300 per
hectare is being provided for different components, including bio-fertilisers, supply of
Rhizobium culture, PSB, ZSB, and vermicompost.
5) National Food Security Mission (NFSM)
Under NFSM, nancial assistance is provided for promoting bio-fertiliser (Rhizobium/PSB)
at 50% of the cost, limited to Rs 300 per hectare.

Organic farming certi cation

India Organic is the certi cation mark for organic products manufactured in India. It is
authorised by the National Standards for Organic Products(NSOP) under the Ministry of
Commerce and Industries, Government of India. The certi cation is issued by centres
accredited by the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development
Authority(APEDA) under the National Programme for Organic Production(NPOP). NPOP
or India Organic Certi cate is compulsory for the exports of organic products.

Achievements
As per international resource data from the Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL)
and the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM) Statistics
2020, India stands at 9th position in terms of certi ed agricultural land with 1.94 million
hectares (2018-19).
In India, Sikkim is the rst state to achieve a fully organic state. Sikkim is the world's foremost
state that could accomplish this feat. This is a great case study regarding organic farming.
By 31st March 2021, the total area under the organic certi cation process is 4339184.93 ha.
This includes 2657889.33 ha cultivable area and another 1681295.61 ha for wild harvest
collection.

Questions
1. Can India handle the complete transformation of commercial farming to Organic
farming?
2. How will Government help farmers while converting to organic farming, as converting
may result in a lot of farm produce loss?
3. What precautions should be taken to deal with less farm production?
4. Farmers even now have no good price for their produce, what will happen when they have
even less produce?
5. In cluster farming, farmers may have differences in the land, how will farmers divide their
pay to certi cation costs?

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6. Costs of organic farming are also high, how much can government support farmers and
provide with sanctions?
7. How can farmers sell or market their produce while converting?