EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING PROGRAM (ELP) REPORT ON PRODUCTION

PRODUCTION TECHNOLOGY OF ORGANIC FARMING

FOR

Project Report submitted in partial fulfillment for the award

of the degree of
B.Sc. (HONS.) AGRICULTURE
(2019-2023)
Submitted by:
Sajid Ansari
(19SBAS2080042)

IN
AGRICULTURE

Under the Supervision of

Dr. Krishna Kumar
(Assistant Professor)

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 SCHOOL OF AGRICULTURE

BONAFIDE CERTIFICATE
Certified that the project report on the topic, “Food Production Technology” is the bonafide work
of SAJID ANSARI, ADITYA KUMAR, who carried out the project work under my supervision.

(Sahadeva Singh ) (Dr. Krishna Kumar)

Signature of Dean of school Signature of Supervisor

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Sr. No. CONTENTS P. NO.
Acknowledgement
1. Introduction to organic Farming, importance and scope 6-7
2. Present Scenario of Organic Farming in India and in the world 8
3. Land and Soil Management in organic farming 9-10
4. Management and Practices for Organic Farming (Mulching) 11
5. production technology of vermicompost 12-14
6. Production technology of Vermiculture 15-16
7. Azolla Production 17-18
8. production of technology of Farm Yard manure 19-20
9. Agencies Involed in organic Certification 21-22

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 ABBREVIATIONS

Cm : Centimeter
M : meter
⁰C : Degree Celsius
g : Gram
no. : Number
/ : Per
etc. : Et cetera
i.e. : That is
N : Nitrogen
P : Phosphorous
K : Potassium
@ : At the rate
C/N : Carbon and Nitrogen ratio
% : Percent
× : Multiplication
IPM : Integrated Pest Management
Rs : Rupees
SRF : Senior Research fellow
Kg : Kilogram
FYM : Farmyard manure
KMS : Potassium Metabisulfite
Ha : hectare
e.g. : Example
hrs : hours
fig. : Figure

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 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

We the students of 4th year B.Sc. Agriculture (Hons.) feel highly delighted enough after the accomplishment
in our module organic Production of technology.
Our journey towards the accomplishment would not have been possible without the support and guidance of
our teachers and groupmates. We are very much grateful to our Shobhit Pundir and Vaibhav Gupta whose
experimentation has proved our hard work worthy enough. We would also like to thank staff of LIL Farm
who provided sufficient guidance in our entire programme. We feel so pleasured to offer gratitude to Dr.
Ravi Kumar, Coordinator Director of School of Agricultural sciences, Galgotias University, for their keen
interest, whose trust served as a constant inspiration and support during the module which brought a great
motivation in our assignment.
I am thankful to Dr. Sahadeva Singh (Dean of School of Agriculture) who guided and supervised me in
this project. This report would have been incomplete without the help of Dr. Nikita Srivastava, Dr. Vineet
Kumar, Dr. Pradeep ( Our Supervisor) as he provided me with his continuous suport and guidance while
pursuing the training.
I am immensely grateful to Shobhit pundir (Head-LIL Farm, Dhoolkoot) who provided me with this
opportunity to get a practical exposure at LIL Farm, Dehradun. I would also like to thank Dr. Ravi Kumar
(ELP Coordinator) for their valuable guidance to complete the project.

THANK YOU!!

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1.Introduction to organic farming, importance, and scope of organic farming
Organic farming can be defined as an agricultural process that uses biological fertilisers and pest control acquired from
animal or plant waste. Organic farming was actually initiated as an answer to the environmental sufferings caused by
the use of chemical pesticides and synthetic fertilisers. In other words, organic farming is a new system of farming or
agriculture that repairs, maintains, and improves the ecological balance .

Meaning of organic farming

System of farming that uses organic inputs like green manures, cow dung, etc., for cultivation.

Components of Organic Farming

The components are: -
 Organic manures
 Biological pest management
 Non-chemical weed control
 Agronomical practices
 Alley cropping

Need of organic farming

 Excessive use of chemical fertilisers reduces the fertility of soil.

 Excessive use of chemicals has led to soil, water, and air pollution.
 To conserve ecosystem.
 To promote sustainable development.
 Inexpensive farming.
 Increased demand of organic products due to safety of food.

Advantages of Organic Farming

 Economical: In organic farming, no expensive fertilisers, pesticides, or HYV seeds are required for
the plantation of crops. Therefore, there is no extra expense.
 Good return on Investment: With the usage of cheaper and local inputs, a farmer can make a good
return on investment.
 High demand: There is a huge demand for organic products in India and across the globe, which
generates more income through export.
 Nutritional: As compared to chemical and fertiliser-utilised products, organic products are more
nutritional, tasty, and good for health.
 Environment-friendly: The farming of organic products is free of chemicals and fertilisers, so it
does not harm the environment.

Disadvantages of Organic Farming

 Incompetent: The major issue of organic farming is the lack of inadequate infrastructure and
marketing of the product.

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  Less production: The products obtained through organic farming are less in the initial years as
compared to that in chemical products. So, farmers find it difficult to accommodate large-scale
production.
 Shorter shelf life: Organic products have more flaws and a shorter shelf life than that of chemical
products.
 Limited production: Off-season crops are limited and have fewer options in organic farming.
Scope of Organic farming in India:

 Organic food is in high demand with rising domestic market, India is set for faster growth.
The growth of India’s domestic markets is crucial to the organic movement’s success.
 Organic farming has emerged as an alternative system of farming that may not only address
quality and sustainability concerns, but also ensures a debt-free future, with increasing
awareness about the safety and quality of food, long-term sustainability of the system, and
accumulating evidence of being equally productive.
Organic farming is also a sustainable and environmentally beneficial production strategy that benefits
small-scale farmers in particular. Organic farming is appropriate for small farmers in developing
countries like India. According to the available evidence, Organic agriculture helps to poverty reduction
and food security through a variety of factors, including:
 Increasing yields in locations with low inputs;
 Biodiversity and natural resources conservation on the farm and in the surrounding
environment;
 Increasing revenue and/or lowering costs;
 Creating food that is both safe and diverse;
 Having a long-term sustainability.

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 2.Present scenario of organic farming in India and in the World
Organic Agriculture in India

More than 60 % of India’s arable land is under traditional agriculture, where no synthetic inputs are being
used. Although, the products grown under such systems have so far not been defined as organic products but
by all mean they are genuine organic products. In view of their wide availability there is an urgent need to
ensure premium prices for the produce grown in these regions. Unfortunately, these farmers are so involved
in their struggle for survival that they have no time to figure out what is organic and what is not? These
organic products are sold to the middleman and are being marketed along with other chemically grown
products. It is the lack of awareness among the consumers in our country that some times the chemically
grown products which look healthy and attractive, in spite of having alarmingly high level of pesticide
residue fetches higher prices than the poorly looking organic products.

There is neither subsidy for organic cultivators nor incentives to practice organic cultivation. There are many
areas in India where crop residues, manures, legumes and neem are being used to grow their crops. They rely
on crop rotation and interplanting, to do their job. These farmers practice, farming through organic inputs.
Now it is high time that attempts are made to classify these practices accordingly. If this is done, the poor
farmers will get a premium price for their low yields. This will also go a long way in alleviating poverty and
raising the living standards of the poor villagers. Most of the agriculture in backward and tribal areas
especially in the hills of northern, eastern and north eastern region could be safely classified as organic. We
must take advantage of this opportunity by arranging a market for these products both for domestic and
export market.

Present Status in India

Total production 585970 M.T.

Total quantity exported 19456 M.T.
Value of total export Rs. 30124 Lakhs
Total area under certified organic 339113 Ha.
cultivation
Number of Farmers 141904
Percentage of export 4

Main markets for organic produce

In the EU, Germany is a leading country in terms of organic production; followed by Italy and France. The
European Union and the United States (US) are approximately at the same level of organic production,
somewhere between 4 and 6 billion Euros per year, with Japan at third place. In respect of worldwide
organic food consumption Denmark and Austria lead the way with 37.3 and 34 Euro per capita consumption
per year. The average consumption of organics in EU and USA is approximately 16 Euro ($15) per capita
per year. The worldwide market share for organic products is between 0.5 to 3%, but it is hard to determine,
as some countries do not certify their products.

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 3. Land and soil management in Organic farming
Soil management is the application of operations, practices, and treatments to protect soil and enhance its
performance (such as soil fertility or soil mechanics). It includes soil conservation, soil amendment, and
optimal soil health.
Site selection
 The area selected must be well-drained, and free from waterlogging,
 There must be proper sunlight,
 field must be near the water supply so that irrigation can be easy,
 The area must be well protected from pets and wild animals.
Practices

 Controlling traffic on the soil surface helps to reduce soil compaction, which can
reduce aeration and water infiltration.
 Planting cover crops that keep the soil anchored and covered in off-seasons so that the soil is
not eroded by wind and rain.
 Crop rotations for row crops alternate high-residue crops with lower-residue crops to increase the
amount of plant material left on the surface of the soil during the year to protect the soil from
erosion.
 Nutrient management can help to improve the fertility of the soil and the amount of organic
matter content, which improves soil structure and function.
 Tilling the soil, or tillage, is the breaking of soil, such as with a plough or harrow, to prepare the
soil for new seeds. Tillage systems vary in intensity and disturbance. Conventional tillage is the
most intense tillage system and disturbs the deepest level of soils. At least 30% of plant residue
remains on the soil surface in conservation tillage. Reduced-tillage or no-till operations limit the
amount of soil disturbance while cultivating a new crop, and help to maintain plant residues on
the surface of the soil for erosion protection and water retention.
 Adding organic matter to the soil surface can increase carbon in the soil and the abundance and
diversity of microbial organisms in the soil.
 Using fertilizers increases nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, sulfur, and potassium in the
soil. The use of fertilizers influences soil pH and often acidifies soils, with the exception of
potassium fertilizer. Fertilizers can be organic or synthetic.

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 Figure 1 field preparation

Figure 2 applying FYM

Figure 3 tillage

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Introduction

4. Management and practises for organic farming (Mulching)

Introduction

Organic mulch materials include grain straw, fresh or old hay, fresh-cut forage or cover crops, chipped
brush, wood shavings, tree leaves, cotton gin waste, rice or buckwheat hulls, and other crop residues. Hay
and straw are among the most widely used organic mulches in organic horticulture. Cover crops can be
grown to maturity (flowering), mechanically killed, and left on the soil surface to provide an in-situ organic
mulch for no-till planting. Leaf mold (decomposed tree leaves), compost, and aged manure have also been
used as organic mulches, although their crumbly texture may not provide as effective a barrier to weed
seedlings as other materials.

Type of mulch

Figure 5 Hey Figure 4 straw mulch

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Figure 6 living mulch
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 5. Production Technology of vermi compost

Introduction
Vermicompost is known to be the world's best fertilizer. Vermicomposting is a method of preparing enriched
compost with the use of earthworms. It is one of the easiest methods to recycle agricultural wastes and to
produce quality compost. Earthworms consume biomass and excrete it in digested form called worm casts.
Worm casts are popularly called as Black gold. The casts are rich in nutrients, growth promoting substances,
beneficial soil micro flora and having properties of inhibiting pathogenic microbes.
Vermicompost is stable, fine granular organic manure, which enriches soil quality by improving its
physicochemical and biological properties. It is highly useful in raising seedlings and for crop production.
Vermicompost is becoming popular as a major component of organic farming system. Using Vermicompost
can fulfil the requirements for organically grown products.

Production Technology
Vermicomposting materials:
• Decomposable organic wastes such as animal excreta, kitchen waste, farm residues and forest litter
are commonly used as composting materials.
• In general, animal dung mostly cow dung and dried chopped crop residues are the key raw
materials. Mixture of leguminous and non-leguminous crop residues enriches the quality of
vermicompost.
• Red earthworm (Eisenia foetida) is preferred species of earthworms because of its high
multiplication rate and thereby converts the organic matter into vermicompost within 45-50 days.
Since it is a surface feeder it converts organic materials into vermicompost from top.

Animal waste Eisenia Foetida

Process of vermicompost preparation: -

• Vermicomposting is done by either bed or pit method. In bed method composting is done on the
pucca / kachcha floor by making bed of organic mixture while in pit method it is done in the
cemented pits.
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 • Vermicomposting unit should be in a cool, moist and shady site
• Cow dung and chopped dried leafy materials are mixed in the proportion of 3: 1 and are kept for
partial decomposition for 15 – 20 days.
• A layer of 15-20cm of chopped dried leaves/grasses should be kept as bedding material at the
bottom of the bed.
• Beds of partially decomposed material of size 6x2x2 feet should be made. Each bed should contain
1.5-2.0q of raw material and the number of beds can be increased as per raw material availability
and requirement.
• Red earthworm (1500-2000) should be released on the upper layer of bed.
• Water should be sprinkled with can immediately after the release of worms
• Beds should be kept moist by sprinkling of water (daily) and by covering with gunny
bags/polythene.
• Bed should be turned once after 30 days for maintaining aeration and for proper decomposition.

Compost gets ready in 45-50 days. The finished product is 3/4th of the raw materials used. Harvesting:
When raw material is completely decomposed it appears black and granular. Watering should be stopped
as compost gets ready. The compost shout be kept over a heap of partially decomposed cow dung so that
earthworms could migrate to cow dung from compost. After two days compost can be separated and sieved
for use .

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IMPORTANCE

• Vermicompost helps in the improvement of soil structure, texture, porosity, water holding capacity,
drainage, and aeration, as well as the reduction of erosion.
• Vermicomposting generates nutrient-rich castings for your garden, as well as helps to divert waste
from landfills.
• less space is needed for vermicomposting compared to traditional composting: A bin with a few
square feet of surface area and a depth of 8-16 inches works well. Five-gallon buckets buried in the
ground have the same effect.
• Less energy is needed for vermicomposting process: You won’t have to measure temperature or turn
the pile because the worms will do it for you.
• Faster production of compost: Red wiggler worms eat half their weight in food waste daily.
• This varies depending on the temperature of your compost pile, but it usually takes 3 to 12 months
for a compost pile to be ready. Every three months, vermicomposting should be ready.
• It enhances plant growth by allowing the development of new shoots and leaves, resulting in
increased productivity.
• It helps neutralize the soil’s pH.
• Vermicompost boosts microbial activity in the soil, introduces beneficial bacteria, and reduces
insect and disease incidence.

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 6. Production technology of vermi culture
Vermiculture is a technique based on utilizing some species of earthworms to convert organic waste into
Vermicompost which is again, the product of decomposition by various worms. It is a practice of harvesting
worms that take part in decomposing organic waste and turning it into nutrient-rich fertilizer. The worms
consume the decomposing organic material and flush it out of their system, which is referred to as worm
manure.

In general terms vermiculture means production of earthworms in order to use them to convert organic waste
tonutrient and beneficial microorganism rice fertilizer. It allows us to grow organically rich compost year-
round. Vermiculture was first introduced in the 1970s by a biology teacher, Mary Appelhif.

Vermiculture Process

The method used by farmers to multiply earthworms is by mixing high amounts of organic wastes, including
the plant materials, cattle dung in a proportion of 1:1. Once the substrate medium has been made, around 40-
50 earthworm species are released into the medium and it is protected from various environmental factors.
Regular maintenance is important for the growth of earthworms. The temperature should be between 15 to
25-degree centigrade and the moisture level should be at 80-90%.
Within one to two months, the earthworms can multiply up to 300 times relying on this process and factors
affecting the process, and then they can be harvested.

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 Vermiculture Facts:
 Vermicompost is eco-friendly and it can help in reducing landfill
 The worm liquid at the bottom of the worm bin is great for the growth of garden plants. It is also
known as worm tea.
 Worm casting can improve soil fertility by enriching it with nutrients.
 Worms have no eyes, no ears, and 5 hearts.
 They breathe through their skin.

7. AZOLA PRODUCTION
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Azolla:

1. Azolla is a small plant float in the waste and grows rapidly azolla is very rich in protein vitamins and
mineral.
2. Azolla mostly used as feed for animals like cattle, poultry, birds, duck, also it is used as biofertilizer.
3. Green manure: Azolla is applied @ 0.6-1.0 kg/m? (6.25-10.0t/ha) and incorporated before
transplanting of rice.
4. Dual crop: Azolla is applied @ of 100 g/m? (1.25t/ha), one to three days after transplanting of rice
and allowed to multiply for 25-30 days. Azolla fronds can be incorporated into the soil at the time of
first weeding.

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 Use of Azolla
 Azolla covering water surface reduce light penetration of soil surface, resulting in the depreciation in
the germination of weeds (70% of the weed). Thus growth of azolla reduces aquatic weeds in flooded
rice fields.
 The integrated use of azolla with rice and fish farming has been developed. The integrated approach
can enhance a farmer's income while reduce the use of pesticide and fertilizers and consequently
environmental pollution.
 It can fix atomospheric nitrogen, carry out photosynthesis and uptake nutrients from its surrounding
environment through its root system.
 It has wide range of use including fodder for dairy cattle, pigs, chicken, ducks and fish.
 Azolla can be used for all type of vegetables and plantation crops.
 In some village communities it has even increased the overall milk yield.
 The application of azolla as biofertilizer on agriculture crops, in order to provide a natural source of
crucial nutrients nitrogen, can be very beneficial for the future.
 Due to fact that rice paddy field from an ideal environment for azolla.
 Improve the nutritional status of the soil.
 Azolla has been used as green manure.
 Improve yields by 15-20 per cent.
 Azolla can be used as an animal feed a human food, a medicine and water purifier.
 It may also be used for the production of hydrogen fuel the production of biogas the control of
mosquitoes and the reduction of ammonia volatilization which accompanies the application of
chemical nitrogen fertilizer.

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 8. Production technology of FYM ( farm yard manure )
Introduction:
Farmyard manure is one of the oldest manures used by the farmers in growing different crops because of its
easy availability and presence of all the nutrients required by the plants. FYM refers to the decomposed
mixture of dung and urine of farm animals along with their litter and fodder fed to the cattle. FYM is one of
the components of Integrated Nutrient Management (INM) as it a cheap and easily available source of
organic nutrients.
Basically, cow dung, cow urine, waste straw, and other dairy wastes are used to create farmyard manure. It
contains a high proportion of organic material, which feeds soil organisms and is necessary for maintaining
active soil life, and it is high in nutrients. A small amount of nitrogen is directly available to plants, while the
majority is made available as the Farmyard Manure decomposes.

Preparation of Farmyard Manure

 Collect the cow dung and urine into an even layer beneath a simple roof to keep it from getting too wet
and exposed to direct sunlight.
 If the mixture becomes too dry, more dung and urine are added, along with some water.
 In about six months, the farmyard manure is ready for use as fertilizer on fields.
 Manure spreaders can be used to apply partially-decomposed farmyard manure to the ground three to
four weeks before planting crops.
 This exposure to the elements will allow the manure to decompose more quickly and provide nutrients to
the soil.
 If there is a long period of time between spreading the manure and planting the crops, the nutrients may
be washed out of the soil by heavy rain.
 If the manure has aged sufficiently, it can be applied immediately before the crops are planted. Farmyard
manure is beneficial to vegetable and fruit crops.

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Farm Yard Manure - Factors Affecting Nutritional Build up
 Age of Animal: Growing animals and cows that produce milk retain in their systems the nitrogen and
phosphorus needed for productive functions like growth and milk production, and the excreta do not
contain all of the plant food elements present in the feed.
 Older animals that are inferior excrete more than what they do consume, including waste from their body
tissues.
 Feed: Excreta produced are similarly enhanced when the feed is high in plant food elements.
 Nature of Litter Used: Leguminous plant waste and cereal straw were both employed as litter, which add
nitrogen to the manure.
 Aging of Manure: As manure ages, it becomes richer and less voluminous.

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 9. Introduction of agencies involved in organic farming certification
and their role in organic farming
Organic Certification Agencies
There are two types of certification agencies:
 Indian certification agencies
 International certification agencies
 Indian Certification Agencies
Government of India through Director General of Foreign Trade, New Delhi, allowed the export of organic
products only if they are produced, processed and packed under a valid organic certificate issued by a
certification agency accredited by one of the accredited agencies designated by the Government of India.
The Government of India has already recognized the agencies viz,
International Certification Agencies
Imported organic produce from Latin America is subject to certification standards and guidelines just as
stringent as produce produced in the United States. Under the US Organic Foods Production Act of 1990
(OFPA), the USDA is required to review the certifiers of imported organic produce, in order to ensure that
they meet the requirements of the US National Organic Program (NOP).
Foreign certification agencies may apply directly to the USDA for recognition and are evaluated on the same
criteria as domestic agencies. Alternately, foreign governments may apply to the USDA or the US
government for recognition of equivalency in their organic oversight program. Once accreditation or
recognition is granted, organic products produced under the supervision of the certifying agent or foreign
government will be eligible for import to the US as certified organic. The following are the some of the
International agencies involved in certification of organic products.

1. Argencert
Argentina’s leading certification agency was created in 1992. In 1997, Argencert became the first Argentine
agency accredited by IFOAM.
2. California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF)
CCOF‘s purpose is to promote and support organic agriculture in California and elsewhere.
3. International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM)
The federation’s main function is coordinating the network of the organic movement around the world.
IFOAM is a democratic, grassroot oriented federation.
4. The Ecological Farming Association
Formerly the Committee for Sustainable Agriculture is a nonprofit educational organization that promotes
ecologically sound agriculture.
5. Organic Farming Research Foundation (OFRF)
Sponsors research related to orgamc farming practices, disseminates research results to organic farmers and
to growers interested in adopting organic production systems, and educates the public and decision-makers
about organic farming issues.

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6. Organic trade Association
It is a national association representing the organic industry in Canada and the United States, Members
include growers, shippers, processors, certifiers, farmer associations, brokers, consultants, distributors and
retailers.
7. Community Alliance with Family Farmers
CAFF political and educational campaigns are building a movement of rural and urban people who foster
family- scale agriculture that cares for the land, sustains local economics, and promotes social justice.
8. Institute for Marketecology (IMO)
It is one of the first and most renowned international agencies for inspection, certification and quality
assurance of ecofriendly products. Since more than 20 years, IMO has been active in the field of organic
certification but it is also expert in the sectors of natural textiles, sustainable forestry, and social
accountability monitoring. IMO is closely co-operating with the popular private label Naturland (IFOAM
accredited) and conducts Naturland inspections world-wide. In the field of agriculture, IMO is certifying all
types of agricultural products, from traditional produce such as coffee, tea, spices, cocoa, nuts, fruits,
vegetables, cereals, pulses, cotton, dairy products, honey, fish & seafood. This also includes all types of food
processing, product manufacturing and international trading activities.
9. SKAL
Skal International, Netherlands is a certification and inspection organisation, which certifies organic
products, processes and inputs. Further sustainable forest/wood and textile are certified. Skal International
operates worldwide in Western and Eastern Europe, South America and Southern Asia. Through the network
of the shareholder nearly all countries in the world can be covered.
10. ECOCERT INTERNATIONAL
ECOCERT is an inspection and certification body accredited to verify the conformity of organic products
against the organic regulations of Europe, Japan and the United States. The ECOCERT certification mark is
one of the leading international organic certification marks, enjoying a good reputation and trusted by both
consumers and the organic industry.Besides the certification of organic production, they provide all
necessary information about the requirements of the organic regulations in Europe, Japan, United States and
applicable national standards to their clients. They also assist in obtaining EU import authorizations for
certified commodities.

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