Advantages and Disadvantages of Organic Farming
Organic farming is an agrarian activity that involves the use of green manure and compost for optimum crop rotation. This type of agriculture thrives on the use of organic materials to enhance cultivation techniques and maintain soil productivity. However, organic farming is not without disadvantages either.
Organic farming is an agrarian activity that involves the use of green manure and compost for optimum crop rotation. This type of agriculture thrives on the use of organic materials to enhance cultivation techniques and maintain soil productivity. However, organic farming is not without disadvantages either.
Organic farming is a type of agriculture that benefits from the
recycling and use of natural products. Extensive use of dried foliage
and kitchen compost not only reduces the investment overheads, but also
ensures the growth of crops that are devoid of synthetic interference.
The technique is characterized by the use of green manure, biological
pest control methods and special cultivation techniques to maintain soil
productivity. Limiting the use of synthetic fertilizers or completely
doing away with them reduces the risk of exposure to ailments that arise
on account of synthetic pesticides, ingrained plant growth regulators
and the presence of genetically modified organisms in organic food
products. Today, organic farming caters to a major and preferred
industry, worldwide. Organically grown food products have a huge market
catered to, by farmlands covering approximately 10% of the total
world-farmland cover. The initial effort made by Sir Albert Howard, the
Father of Organic Farming, has paid off, metamorphosing into a practice
that sustains soil health and ecosystems, by relying on biodiversity,
ecological processes and the progress of innovative health sciences.
Lower Productivity: An organic farm cannot produce as much yield as a conventional or industrialized farm. A 2008 survey and study conducted by the UN Environmental Program concluded that organic methods of farming result in small yields even in developing areas, compared to conventional farming techniques. Though this point is debatable as the productivity and soil quality of an industrialized farm decreases rapidly over the years.
Requires Skill: An organic farmer requires greater understanding of his crop and needs to keep a close watch on his crops as there are no quick fixes involved, like pesticides or chemical fertilizers. Sometimes it can be hard to meet all the strenuous requirements and the experience to carry out organic farming.
Time-consuming: Significant amounts of time and energy are required to execute the detailed methods and techniques that are required for a farm to be called an organic farm. Failure to comply with any of these requirements could result in loss of certification, which the farmer will not be able to regain in up to three years.
Advantages of Organic Farming
Lower Growing Cost: The economics of organic farming is characterized by increasing profits via reduced water use, lower expenditure on fertilizer and energy, and increased retention of topsoil. To add to this the increased demand for organic produce makes organic farming a profitable option for farmers.
Enhances Soil Nourishment: Organic farming effectively addresses soil management. Even damaged soil, subject to erosion and salinity, are able to feed on micro-nutrients via crop rotation, inter-cropping techniques and the extensive use of green manure. The absence of chemicals in organic farming does not kill microbes which increase nourishment of the soil.
Resistance to Disease and Pest: Farming the organic way enables farmers to get rid of irksome weeds without the use of any mechanical and chemical applications. Practices such as hand-weeding and soil enhancement with mulch, corn gluten meal, garlic and clove oil, table salt and borax not only get rid of weeds and insects, but also guarantee crop quality.
Increased Drought Tolerance: Organically grown plants are more drought tolerant. The soluble salts in cells of fertilizers-fed plants are unable to osmotically draw sufficient water to maintain safe dilution, thereby increasing the salt content. This salt level reaches toxic levels and result in the death of plants.
Environment-friendly Practices: The use of green pesticides such as neem, compost tea and spinosad is environment-friendly and non-toxic. These pesticides help in identifying and removing diseased and dying plants in time and subsequently, increasing crop defense systems.
Disadvantages of Organic Farming
Lower Growing Cost: The economics of organic farming is characterized by increasing profits via reduced water use, lower expenditure on fertilizer and energy, and increased retention of topsoil. To add to this the increased demand for organic produce makes organic farming a profitable option for farmers.
Enhances Soil Nourishment: Organic farming effectively addresses soil management. Even damaged soil, subject to erosion and salinity, are able to feed on micro-nutrients via crop rotation, inter-cropping techniques and the extensive use of green manure. The absence of chemicals in organic farming does not kill microbes which increase nourishment of the soil.
Resistance to Disease and Pest: Farming the organic way enables farmers to get rid of irksome weeds without the use of any mechanical and chemical applications. Practices such as hand-weeding and soil enhancement with mulch, corn gluten meal, garlic and clove oil, table salt and borax not only get rid of weeds and insects, but also guarantee crop quality.
Increased Drought Tolerance: Organically grown plants are more drought tolerant. The soluble salts in cells of fertilizers-fed plants are unable to osmotically draw sufficient water to maintain safe dilution, thereby increasing the salt content. This salt level reaches toxic levels and result in the death of plants.
Environment-friendly Practices: The use of green pesticides such as neem, compost tea and spinosad is environment-friendly and non-toxic. These pesticides help in identifying and removing diseased and dying plants in time and subsequently, increasing crop defense systems.
Disadvantages of Organic Farming
Lower Productivity: An organic farm cannot produce as much yield as a conventional or industrialized farm. A 2008 survey and study conducted by the UN Environmental Program concluded that organic methods of farming result in small yields even in developing areas, compared to conventional farming techniques. Though this point is debatable as the productivity and soil quality of an industrialized farm decreases rapidly over the years.
Requires Skill: An organic farmer requires greater understanding of his crop and needs to keep a close watch on his crops as there are no quick fixes involved, like pesticides or chemical fertilizers. Sometimes it can be hard to meet all the strenuous requirements and the experience to carry out organic farming.
Time-consuming: Significant amounts of time and energy are required to execute the detailed methods and techniques that are required for a farm to be called an organic farm. Failure to comply with any of these requirements could result in loss of certification, which the farmer will not be able to regain in up to three years.
