Organic farming is a sustainable farming practice that has the potential of accommodating food demand for the rising global population. It utilizes natural materials and prohibits the use of artificial fertilizers, additives, and pesticides which ultimately ruins human health, land fertility and climate.
The definition of organic agriculture adopted by The International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM) is, “A production system that sustains the health of soils, ecosystems and people”.
Source: ECS Nepal
Many unsustainable approaches may result in higher yields, but at what cost? It puts risk upon human health and the environment. We simply ignore its impacts on biodiversity, soil and other natural resources.
Organic farming can be made scientific and modernized. Methods are used to improve soil fertility, including crop rotation, crop diversity, cover cropping, reduced tillage, using compost manuring and biological soil disinfestation.
Globally, 71.5 million hectares are organically managed, representing 1.5% of the world’s organic farmland and 2018 data puts that there are 2.3 million certified organic farmers in 172 countries. But it’s a misery that this system occupies only 1% of the total agricultural land.
In 2018-19, the export of India’s organic products was surged by 50 per cent. Rising demand for organic products has led to a significant increase in the production of organic crops grown all over the world.
Ashapuri Organic PVT.LTD is one of the best examples of 100% certified organic farms of Nepal which produce 30 kg vegetables and fruits of 60 varieties daily earning 1.5 million each month. They also export their organic products in Singapore.
Photo by Bibudh Dhewaju
Increasing capacity building efforts by including localized training material, expanding courses and activities on organic farming at school, universities and training institutions can promote organic farming. The government must provide support to the organic farmers recognizing the practitioners through certification and financial support. Research and technology development, interrelated networking of training is important for verification and extension of organic farming in agriculture.
Being a robust and completely rational way of working together with nature, organic farming brings exciting possibilities in achieving sustainable organic crop production.
