Organic farming
Topic: Land Use, Farming Systems and Cropping Seasons in India · NCERT: Class 7, Ch 1 "The Story of Indian Farming"; Class 8, Ch 1 "Natural Resources and Their Use"
Meaning
Organic farming grows crops without synthetic (factory-made) fertilisers or pesticides. Farmers feed the soil with compost, animal manure and seed cake, which is the leftover after oil is pressed from seeds. They use crop rotation, meaning different crops in different seasons, so the soil does not run short of particular nutrients. They control pests with natural products such as neem. This protects soil, water and human health from chemicals. In India it is promoted through the Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY, 2015).
Example
Sikkim, in the eastern Himalayas, banned chemical fertilisers and pesticides in phases. In 2016 it became the world's first fully organic state, and in 2018 it won FAO's Future Policy Gold Award.
Don't confuse with
- Natural farming: uses only inputs made on the farm, such as jeevamrit and beejamrit, together with mulching. Organic farming may also use bought organic inputs, and its produce is usually certified.
Related concepts
- Rice-wheat cropping system
- NPK ratio imbalance
- Punjab Preservation of Subsoil Water Act 2009
- Direct seeded rice
- Zero tillage
- System of Rice Intensification
- Crop diversification
- Sikkim organic state
- Natural farming
- Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana