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In India, Mahatma Gandhi known as father of the Nation, deserves for imparting credit as pioneer for organic agriculture by way of promoting farmyard manure, compost and advocating use of night soil to enhance the soil fertility and thereby, crop productivity. Organic agriculture possesses lot of advantages over conventional agriculture, especially in areas having low rainfall and showing low soil fertility (Yadav, 2010). Although APEDA (Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority) as an apex body which is working to promote the export of organic food commodities. However, lack of adequate certification facilities and the trainings organized, markets for organic foods inadequate, political and scientific will power are some of the hindrances for operating organic agriculture in India. As human and natural resources are readily available in our country, so there is good scope for organic agriculture farming including organic animal husbandry by adopting proper organic agriculture policies.

Organic farming in India started receiving focused attention from the year 2004-2005 when National Project on Organic farming (NPOF) was launched during 2004, the area under organic farming was 42,000 hectares (Srimathi and Jency, 2014). By March, 2010, it was reached to 1.08 million hectares. In addition to these, 3.40 million hectares was wild forest harvest collection area. Thus, total area under organic certification process by March,2010 was 4.48 million hectares which was increased by 25 folds during last 6 years. In cultivated organic land 7.56 lakh hectares was certified while 3.2 lakh hectares was under conversion. In India, States such as Orissa, Jharkhand, Uttarakhand (Uttaranchal), Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh have been categorized as low or negligible fertilizers consuming states of the country.

Introduction

The Indian literature viz; Vedas and other related books show that ancient Indians used to impart great significance to the gardens and parks. Indian rulers especially, the kings, the princess vis-a-vis affluent people took special interest in making vegetable gardens in the houses and fruit tree gardens in open areas. In those days, it was considered to be the foremost duty of a king to maintain the beautiful gardens in the city and around his palace. It is even said that only he should be revered as an ideal king whose abode is provided with spacious gardens having full of fruit bearing trees (Krishna murthy 2012). As a matter of fact, the gardens also contained pools and tanks adorned with beautiful lotus blossoms, having a number of plants and bushes laden with large number of fragrant flowers etc. Kautilya has included gardens and fields under the term of “Vastu”. So Vastu Sastra or the science of habitation may be taken to stand for laying out of gardens etc; including both horticulture and agriculture.

Organic farm produce is now gaining momentum in the world. People of high status and concerned with health hazards are interested in organic product. Since 1990, the market of organic product has grown reaching a value of Rs 55 billion in 2009 as per the Organic Monitor in the world. The demand has been reflected in increase of land under organic farming which has grown correspondingly at a rate of 8.9% per annum. At present there is approximately 37,000,000 hectare of land under organic farming worldwide. The idea has been percolated to rural areas and the farmers of all kinds are aware of organic farming. In terms of organic land, Australia leads the pack with 11.3 million hectares followed by Argentina (2.8 million hectares) and Italy with more than one million hectares. In Asia, China, India and Japan are the largest organic producers. Japan is the region’s largest market and buys majority of Asia’s production.

Organic farming is increasingly recognized as a sustainable agricultural practice that prioritizes soil health, ecological balance, and long-term productivity. This article explores the intricate relationship between organic farming and soil health, detailing the principles, practices, benefits, challenges, and future prospects. Key organic farming practices such as crop rotation, cover cropping, composting, green manuring, and reduced tillage play crucial roles in enhancing soil structure, fertility, and biodiversity. While organic farming offers numerous benefits, including improved soil fertility, structure, microbial activity, and water management, it also faces challenges like nutrient management, pest control, soil erosion, and weed management. Through case studies and future perspectives, this article underscores the potential of organic farming to contribute to sustainable agriculture and environmental protection, advocating for continued research, policy support, and education to maximize its benefits.

There is no doubt that after independence, particularly during 1966-68, the use of hybrid and composite seeds of various crops, chemical fertilizers and pesticides resulted in an increase in the Indian agricultural output leading to ìGreen Revolutionî. But quite soon, the deleterious effects of farming based on chemical Organic Farming for Sustainable Agriculture 105 methods came to fore.

Sustainable development has caught the imagination and action across the world. Sustainable agriculture is necessary to attain the goal of sustainable development. The word “sustain,” is derived from the Latin sustinere (sus-, from below and tenere, to hold), to keep in existence or maintain, implies long-term support or permanence. As it pertains to agriculture, sustainable describes “Farming systems that are capable of maintaining productivity and usefulness to society indefinitely. Such systems must be resource-conserving, socially supportive, commercially competitive, and environmentally sound”. “Sustainable agriculture is the successful management of resources for agriculture to satisfy changing human needs while maintaining or enhancing the quality of environment and conserving natural resources” (FAO). All definitions of sustainable agriculture lay great emphasis on maintaining an agriculture growth rate, which can meet the demand for food of all living things without draining the basic resources. Over time, the International Alliance for sustainable agriculture and an increasing number of researchers, farmers, policy-makers and organizations worldwide have developed a definition that unifies many diverse elements into a widely adopted, comprehensive, working definition

Introduction

Green revolution played a major role in making several counties self reliant in food production. But modern agriculture has degraded natural resources and made agriculture unsustainable. People are getting enough food, but the food is unsafe. Land, water and air have become polluted. People are suffering from the serious diseases like cancer. An alternate version of agriculture or organic farming that is necessity of the day. People are becoming health conscious day by day. There is good demand for Indian organic food in several countries. Niche areas exist for organic farming in several states of India. The Govt of India has launched several programs to promote organic farming.

Organic farming in groundnut cultivation is gaining global recognition as an environmentally sustainable and socially responsible approach. Groundnut is a versatile crop with high nutritional value and economic importance. This chapter explores the principles and practices involved in organic groundnut farming. It focussed on soil management, organic fertilization, pest, disease and weed management without using synthetic chemicals. This approach minimizes impact on the environment and reduces the presence of pesticide residues in the final produce. Moreover, organic practices help maintain soil health, conserve biodiversity and reduce environmental pollution. Thus, farmers can produce high quality groundnuts and fetch higher price and profits.

1. Introduction

The groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) is known by different names such as monkey nut, goober, earth nut etc., and belongs to leguminosae family. It produces flowers above ground but the fruits/pods underground (Sanders, 2003). It can be grown successfully in tropical and sub-tropical regions of the world. Globally, groundnut covers 32.7 M ha with a production of 53.9 MT with a productivity of 1648 kg ha-1 (FAOSTAT, 2021). Among the developing countries, Egypt has the highest productivity of groundnut with 2.70 t ha-1 (Nautiyal, 2001). Globally, India ranks first in groundnut area (5.42 m-ha) and is the second largest producer in the world with 10.1 MT with a productivity of 1863 ha-1 in 2021-22 (agricoop.nic.in). India ranks second next to China (34%) with 19% of world groundnut production in 2021. Gujarat is the largest producer contributing 36% of the total production of groundnut followed by Rajasthan (17%) and Tamil Nadu (7.5%). Groundnut accounts for 18% area and 26.8% production of the total oilseeds in India (CARP, 2022).

Organic farming is the form of agriculture that relies on techniques such as crop rotation, green manure, compost and biological pest control. Organic farming uses fertilizers and pesticides but excludes or strictly limits the use of manufactured (synthetic) fertilizers, pesticides (which include herbicides, insecticides and fungicides), plant growth regulators such as hormones, livestock antibiotics, food additives, genetically modified organisms, human sewage sludge, and nano materials.

There is a need to look for new means to check this menace. Chemical fertilizers are necessary to feed the ever increasing population of the nation but this needs to be supplemented with the organic manures. But organic manures are not available in sufficient quantity. Besides, they alone cannot meet the nutritional requirement of the crops and have to be applied alongwith the chemical fertilizers. Experimental results have shown that if organic fertilizers are applied then chemical use can be brought down to half. This will lead to favourable impact on the soil ecology besides saving large amounts that are being pumped to subsidize the chemical fertilizers.

Organic agriculture is picking up in some parts of our nation and it can generate viable farming option to small and marginal farmers. But short supply of the organic inputs is emerging as one of the major bottlenecks. Vermicomposting of city wastes and farm wastes can generate substantial volume of the organic fertilizer for use in our fields, thereby, helping us to overcome major hurdle in taking up organic agriculture production. This chapter attempts to identify the find out the ways and benefits of practicing organic farming and determines the economics of Vermicomposting technology.

The North Eastern Hill Region is the most suitable area of India for organic agricultural farming because of its numerous advantages. This region is said to be, by and large, organic by default or the farmers of this region are de facto organic producers. Truly, the farmers of this region are using very minimal or not even minimal amount of inorganic inputs like fertilizer and pesticides. Almost in all the seven states of this region, farmers are practicing traditional agriculture for thousands of years. Recently, only pockets of the region, the use of inorganic inputs have been started but the level of use is almost negligible. This low chemical input use (inorganic input) is the biggest strength in term of the possibility of organic agriculture in this hilly region. The conversion period of organic from inorganic agriculture will be much lower and easier in this region as compared to other parts of the country. Further, the conversion process will be much easier due to the readily available huge amount of forest biomass and the residues of diverse livestock population. Moreover, experimental results show that during the transition period, the farmers face the problem of yield losses, but in NE India it was observed that yield loss was minimum, sometimes nil, because farmers of this region are using very low level of inorganic inputs. Additionally, the organic products usually fetch higher prices, nearly 20-25 per cent premium as compared to the conventional products, which, may compensate the problem of yield losses during early period of conversion and thereby increase the level of income.

North-Eastern Hill Region is suitable for growing a number of high value crops and following good agricultural practices for cultivation of these crops are likely to increase farm income substantially. Enabling the state to follow systematic organic farm practices is likely to make the farming profession more remunerative. Present socio economic study indicated that the organic farm practices might be quite favourable particularly for few crops like pineapple, turmeric, ginger and cashew, which have readymade potential.

18.1 INTRODUCTION

Organic farming systems have attracted increasing attention over the last one decade because they are perceived to offer some solutions to the problems currently besetting the agricultural sector. In the western world, organic farming is catching fast (Malik, 2000). Indiscrimpte use of chemical fertilizers, herbicides and pesticides have resulted in environmental and health hazards along with socio-economic problems (Padmadevi, et al., 2008). India is bestowed with lot of potential to produce all varieties of organic products due to its diverse agro-climatic regions. In several parts of the country, the inherited tradition of organic farming is an added advantage. Organic farming is necessary to attain the goal of sustainable development. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), sustainable agriculture “is the successful management of resources for agriculture to satisfy changing human needs while maintaining or enhancing the quality of environment and conserving natural resources”. All definitions of sustainable agriculture lay great emphasis on maintaining an agriculture growth rate, which can meet the demand for food of all living things without draining the basic resources. Organic farming is one of the several approaches found to meet the objectives of sustainable agriculture. Many techniques used in organic farming like intercropping, mulching and integration of crops and livestock are not alien to various agriculture systems including the traditional agriculture practised in countries like India. However, organic farming is based on various laws and certification programmes, which prohibit the use of almost all synthetic inputs, treated seeds and health of the soil is recognized as the central theme of the method. Adverse effects of modern agricultural practices on the farm resources and health and over all survival of living being have been well documented all over the world. Application of technology, particularly in terms of the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides has been serious concern. Their negative effects on the environment are manifested through soil erosion, water shortages, salination, soil contamination, genetic erosion, etc. Organic farming has the potential to provide benefits in terms of environmental protection, conservation of non-renewable resources and improved food quality. It is very important to maintain long term soil biological activity, ensure effective peak management, recycle wastes to return nutrients to the land, provide attentive care for farm animals and handle the agricultural products without the use of extraneous synthetic additives or processing in accordance with largely acceptable standard and applicable standards of destination country/ countries. Organic farming has several advantages over the conventional one apart, from the protection of both the environment and human health. Improved soil fertility, better water quality, prevention of soil erosion, generation of rural employment, etc. are some of them.

troduction

Indian economy depends on agriculture and the agriculture sector in India contributes about17 percent of country’s GDP and provides employment to approximately two third of the population (United Nation Development Programme Fact sheet 2011). India is the second most populous country in the world. With the increasing population, the cultivable land resource is shrinking day by day. To meet the food, fibre, fuel, fodder and other needs of the growing population, the productivity of agricultural land and soil health needs to be improved. Green Revolution ushered through use of modern agriculture technologies such as greater use of synthetic agrochemicals like fertilizers and pesticides, adoption of nutrient-responsive, high-yielding varieties of crops, greater exploitation of irrigation potentials, etc. undoubtedly has increased production and labour efficiency in the post-independence era and made our countries self-sufficient in food production. 

Historical Perspective

Organic Farming was initiated in about 10,000 years back when ancient farmers started cultivation depending on natural sources only. There is a brief mention of several organic inputs in our ancient literature like Rigveda, Ramayana, Mahabharata, Kautilya Arthashastra etc. In fact, organic agriculture has its roots in traditional agricultural practices that evolved in countless villages and farming communities over the millennium.

Organic Movement

The organic movement began in the 1930s and 1940s as a reaction to agriculture’s growing reliance on synthetic fertilizers. Artificial fertilizers had been created during the 18th century, initially with superphosphates and then ammonia derived fertilizers mass-produced using the Haber-Bosch process developed during World War I. These early fertilizers were cheap, powerful, and easy to transport in bulk. The 1940s has been referred to as the ‘pesticide era’. Sir Albert Howard is widely considered to be the father of organic farming. Rudolf Steiner, an Austrian philosopher, made important strides in the earliest organic theory with his biodynamic agriculture. More work was done by J.I. Rodale in the United States, Lady Eve Balfour in the United Kingdom, and many others across the world. As a percentage of total agricultural output, organic farming has remained tiny since its beginning. As environmental awareness and concern increased, the originally supply-driven movement became demand driven. Standardized certification brought premium prices, and in some cases government subsidies attracted many farmers converting into organic farming. In the developing world, many farmers started organic farming according to traditional methods but are not certified. In other cases, farmers in the developing world have converted out of necessity. As a proportion of total global agricultural output, organic output remains small, but it has been growing rapidly in many countries, notably in Europe.

Organic farming primarily aimed at cultivating the land and raising crops in such a way so as to keep the soil alive and in good health by use of organic wastes and beneficial microbes. Organic farming is performed with an intension for maintaining diversity of crops, keeping soil healthy for future years, producing high quality products and recycling nutrients. Unlike modern agriculture, organic farming is not depended on synthetic chemicals. Instead, it depends on natural products to boost soil fertility through microbial activity. Organic farming uses a multiple cropping system, which benefits from growing several crops. This crop diversity supports a range of plants, insects, soil micro-organisms and animals that add to a healthy farming system. Organic farmings are of different types such as bio-farming, nature farming, eco-farming and biodynamic farming. Organic agriculture is developed with concented efforts by various people to create the symbiotic relationship between the nature and man. In the present day, organic agriculture has shown potentiality in commercial, social and environmental sector.

Organic farming is a production management system, which promotes agro-ecosystem and agrobiodiversity. The objective of organic farming is to generate all the required plant nutrients inside the farm and adopt crop protection using local resources. Organic farming emphasizes on the use of farm yard manure, crop residues, composts, vermi-compost and bio-fertilizers to enrich soil fertility and use of bio-control measures to manage insect and diseases. In particular, organic agriculture is intended to produce high quality, nutritious food which helps in preventive health care. Organic farming increases biodiversity at every level i.e. from micro-organism to mammals. It strengthens biodiversity by using bio-pesticides and inorganic fertilizers.

Globally, organic oilseeds constitute an important element in organic production. Their products are important feedstuffs (oilcake) and also relevant for human consumption (soya products, oils), and demand for these is continually growing. Almost half of the global organic oilseed area is occupied by soybeans, and another almost 20% is for sunflower seeds and sesame. Rape and turnip rape constitute about 6% of the organic oilseed area. Oilseeds are of pivotal significance in the Indian agricultural economy supporting income of millions of farmers practicing mainly rainfed cultivation. Nine annual oilseed crops are cultivated in India that includes groundnut, rapeseed-mustard, soybean, sunflower, sesame, niger and safflower that are edible and non-edible oilseed crops include castor and linseed. Organic agriculture is one among the broad spectrum of production methods that are supportive of the environment. The principal method of organic farming includes crop rotation, green manures and composts, biological pest control and reduced tillage. The performance of annual edible oilseed crops and development of package in relation to organic management for sustainable agriculture are discussed in this chapter.

1. Introduction

In India, both annual and perennial edible oilseed crops are cultivated. Annual edible oilseed crops include groundnut, rapeseed-mustard, soybean, sunflower, sesame, niger and safflower. India, the 4th largest vegetable oil economy in the world, stands first in the production of castor, sesame, safflower, and niger oils, whereas second in groundnut, third in rapeseed mustard, fourth in linseed and fifth in soybean oil. About 14 million farmers are engaged in oilseeds production and another million in their processing. Whereas, the perennial edible oil seed crops include oil palm and coconut. Edible oils are also produced domestically from secondary sources such as rice bran, cotton seed, corn, and other tree-borne oilseeds (TBOs), besides some minor oil producing species of forest origin.

Introduction

The goals and ideas of organic farming and regenerative agriculture are quite similar. Organic farming is a method of cultivating crops that prioritizes ecological sustainability by eschewing the use of artificial chemicals and genetically modified organisms in favor of more traditional practices. Producing residue- free food while also improving soil health, biodiversity, and ecological balance is the primary goal of this method. To restore and improve the health of the soil, ecosystems, and communities involved in agricultural systems, regenerative agriculture goes above and beyond organic farming. The ultimate goal is the development of resilient and sustainable agricultural systems that can deal with the effects of climate change.

Regenerative agriculture and organic farming share a common set of values, including an emphasis on the importance of good soils to successful and sustainable farming. Crop rotation, cover crops, and composting are some of the methods advocated by these people to improve soil fertility, structure, and biological activity. Preservation and promotion of a wide variety of plant and animal life on and around farms is an aim of both organic and regenerative farming practices. Pest and disease management, pollination, and ecosystem stability are all bolstered by biodiversity. Both methods encourage using less or no man- made chemicals, such as those found in pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers. Organic matter, compost, and biological pest management are just some of the natural inputs that these farmers rely on. Water, energy, and material resource conservation are fundamental to both organic farming and regenerative agriculture. To lessen agriculture’s impact on the environment, they advocate for methods including water management, efficient irrigation systems, and the use of renewable energy. Strong relationships and collaborations between farmers, customers, and local communities are prioritized by these methods. All along the agricultural supply chain, they are committed to fair trade, social equity, and transparency. Farmers may grow healthy, resilient, and sustainable farming systems by applying the holistic concepts of regenerative agriculture to conventional organic farming practices. In addition to strengthening the bond between agriculture and its natural surroundings, these methods also improve soil quality, lessen negative effects on the environment, increase biodiversity, and result in more nutritionally dense food.

During the last decade organic agriculture has emerged as a dynamic alternate farming system. This has been necessitated as a consequence of resource degradation because of to achieving high yields in various crops to meet the increasing demand of food by the burgeoning population. These have resulted in change in soil structure, imbalance in soil micro-organisms and organic matter, resistance among various weeds to weedicides, increased salinity, sodicity and have affected the water holding capacity of the soil and brought in health and environmental problems. Organic farming is a specified form of diversified agriculture that not only aims to produce nutritious food of high quality but also lead to the generation of more income and employment opportunities for rural population. In true sense, organic farming is a production system which avoids or largely excludes the use of synthetic fertilizers, growth regulators, livestock feed additives and pesticides. Moreover, it relies on agronomic management practices like crop rotation, crop residues, animal manures, legumes, green manures, off-farming organic wastes and aspect of biological pest control to maintain soil productivity.

The inability of Indian agriculture to meet the demand for food in the country during the two and half decades immediately after independence had been a matter of concern at those times. The system of our agriculture based on the traditional knowledge and practices handed down from generation to generation could not produce enough to feed the increasing population. The ignominy of our dependence for food on the western developed nations and the politics of food aid practiced by them added to our determination to be self-sufficient in food production by modernizing agriculture. The green revolution fulfilled our aspirations by changing India from a food importing to a food exporting nation. However, the achievement was at the expense of ecology and environment and to the detriment of the well-being of the people.

1. INTRODUCTION

India is traditionally rich on agricultural knowledge. Presently modern farming is not sustainable in consonance with economics, ecology, equity, energy and socio–cultural dimensions. Indiscriminate use of chemical fertilizers, herbicides and pesticides to boost the yields have resulted in various environmental and health hazards along with socio–economic problems. The agricultural production has continued to increase, but the trend in productivity has started declining. The agricultural scientist’s and farming community whole heartedly aim at an alternative sustainable farming system which will be ecologically sound, economically viable and socially acceptable. The answer to the problem lies in refining our own traditional practices based on natural and organic farming methods offering several safe, feasible and cost effective solutions.

The term ‘Organic farming’, a system of farming is one which avoids synthetic fertilizers but rely upon crop rotation also using crop residues, animal manures, legumes, green manures, biofertilizers, organic wastes etc., to maintain the soil fertility and increase productivity. This system enables the nutrients leaching from perennial wood and vegetation and help to maintain organic matter and protect the soil from surface erosion. The world wide awareness for adopting organic farming has paved way for streamlining the production technology and certification by adopting the specified crop production practices. Organic farming practices in agriculture and animal husbandry are native to East Asian countries, like India and China. In China a strong national movement for animal waste recycling is in vogue, minimizing the use of inorganic fertilizers (Xu, 2000), while in our country specific crop production practices are developed in isolation and adopted locally.

The trend of use of chemicals and industrial inputs in intensive farming is increasing which resulted in soil health deterioration and increased environmental pollution which causes a great concern all over the world. Therefore an emphasis on the need to use the organics and other byproducts of agriculture and industry is emerging. Fortunately, the country is already rich with left over crop residues (185 million tonnes) but its use presently is limited. Apart from crop residues, there is an enormous quantity of cattle wastes out of which sixty per cent of the used for fuel purpose in rural areas.

Green revolution technologies such as greater use of synthetic agrochemicals like fertilizers and pesticides, adoption of nutrient-responsive, high-yielding varieties of crops, greater exploitation of irrigation potentials etc. has boosted the production output in most cases. However, continuous use of these high energy inputs indiscriminately now leads to decline in production and productivity of various crops as well as deterioration of soil health and environments.

1. Introduction to Organic Farming

Definition and Principles of Organic Farming

Organic farming is not merely a set of agricultural practices; it is a profound philosophy that seeks to redefine humanity’s relationship with the land. At its core, organic farming is an intricate dance with nature, a commitment to fostering biodiversity, ecological balance, and sustainability.

Defining Organic Farming

Organic farming is a departure from conventional agricultural methods that rely heavily on synthetic inputs. It is an agricultural system that embraces natural and traditional approaches to cultivation.

Organic farming is one of the several approaches found to meet the objectives of sustainable agriculture. It is often associated and sometimes confused with
‘sustainable farming’. However, policy and ethics-wise ‘organic farming’ is different from ‘sustainable farming’. Organic farming is based on various laws
and certification programmes whereas sustainable agriculture is the practice of farming using principles of ecology.

Organic farming represents a return to traditional agricultural practices that emphasize sustainability, environmental stewardship, and health. This article explores the principles and practices of organic farming, its historical context, and its benefits and challenges. By examining case studies and the global impact of organic agriculture, this comprehensive discussion highlights how organic farming contributes to soil health, biodiversity, and food security while addressing consumer demands for healthier food and environmental protection. It also considers future directions and innovations in organic farming, emphasizing its role in building a sustainable and resilient food system

In last few decades awareness about social and environmental issues has been increased. Agriculture is one of basic enterprise that has major role in these two issues . Organic agriculture is one of the agriculture production system that not only supportive to the environment but also sensitive to the social issues like employment, health, migration etc. Definitions given by two international organizations also verify this concept.

Introduction

Agriculture is an important sector in Indian economy, 58 per cent of India’s population depends on agriculture for their livelihood. Agriculture is main victim of climate change, it can disrupt availability, accessibility and quality of food. Moreover, increase in temperature, reduction in ground water availability, f looding and salinity are the major limiting factors in sustaining and increasing vegetable productivity. As a result of this crop physiology and production both are affected. Organic farming can help to tackle climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and amount of nitrogen fertilizer applied to farming land. In India we have advantage that the agricultural techniques we practiced before green revolution in our country is eco-friendly and today also it is somehow it is in memories of our older and younger farmer generation. Principle of sustainable farming is the base of organic farming. According to OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development) “Sustainable agro-ecosystem - agricultural and food systems are economically viable, meet society’s need for food assurance, while they retain and enhance natural resources and environmental quality for future generations” it is very clear from the definition that organic farming mostly emphasizes the environmental aspect and it includes.

Agriculture is undoubtedly the largest livelihood provider in rural India. As we enter a new post WTO Scenario and IT revolution, new inventions are happening day by day in every sphere. Agriculture is not culture now, it is agri business! Agriculture constitutes over 25% of India’s GDP. In recent years, much emphasis has been given by the Ministry of Agriculture on commercializing agricultural production in the country. Adequate production and distribution of food has become a high priority and global concern. In the fast changing world and increasing competition in a globalized economy, there is a need for exploiting the available resources to the maximum level and use of best technologies available world over, to cope up with domestic demand of food and also to target export market. This will be particularly relevant in South India, where farmers grow a number of crops, but have technical constraints in enhancing production and productivity because of inadequate exposure to high technology & inputs coupled with advanced production practices, logistics and marketing. In addition, shortage of labour is a major concern for progressive farmers of South India who are ready to offer more wages to labourers. Therefore, they are forced to become machinery-dependent in their farm operations. As a result, Southern India is emerging as one of the hottest destinations as well as a strong market with buying potential for farm machinery and equipment.

19.1 DEFINITION OF ORGANIC FARMING

1.According to IFOAM (International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movement), Organic Farming definition includes all agricultural system that promote the environmentally, socially and ecologically sound production system of food and fibres. IFOAM stresses and supports the development of self- supporting system on local and regional level.

2.As per the definition of the USDA study team on organic farming “organic farming is a system which avoids or largely excludes the use of synthetic inputs (such as fertilizers, pesticides, hormones, feed additives etc) and to the maximum extent feasible rely upon crop rotations, crop residues, animal manures, off-farm organic waste, mineral grade rock additives and biological system of nutrient mobilization and plant protection”.

3.In another definition FAO suggested that “Organic agriculture is a unique production management system which promotes and enhances agro-ecosystem health, including biodiversity, biological cycles and soil biological activity, and this is accomplished by using on-farm agronomic, biological and mechanical methods in exclusion of all synthetic off-farm inputs”.

The word ‘organic’, means ‘living’, ‘earth friendly’ or ‘of plant or animal origin’. Organic farming is a very native concept of India and has been followed from ancient times. Soil is a living entity and the focus in organic farming is the soil itself. Of course, it is based on understanding the ways of nature. All organic waste from agriculture and other sources is recycled to enrich the soil. Thus, the health of the soil and its structure is maintained. The natural microorganisms of the soil are protected and nurtureed.

Organic farming is primarily aimed at cultivating the land and raising crops in such a way to keep the soil alive and in good health by use of organic wastes and other biological means of sustainable production in an ecofriendly pollution free environment.

As per the definition of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) study team; organic farming is a system which avoids or largely excludes the use of synthetic inputs namely fertilizers, pesticides, hormones, feed additives, etc. and to the maximum extent feasible rely upon crop rotations, crop residues, animal manures, off farm organic waste, mineral grade rock additives and biological system of nutrient mobilization and plant protection.

1. Who is often referred to as the father of organic farming?

a) J.I. Rodale

c) Rudolf Steiner

b) Sir Albert Howard

 d) Rachel Carson

2. Which organization is responsible for setting and regulating organic farming standards in the United States?

a) United Nations (UN)

 b) World Health Organization (WHO)

 c) United States Department of Agriculture (USDa)

 d) Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

1. Introduction

The global aquaculture industry has experienced rapid growth in recent decades, driven by increasing demand for seafood, declining wild fish stocks, and advancements in aquaculture technology. However, along with this expansion comes a heightened awareness of the environmental and social impacts associated with conventional aquaculture practices. Concerns about water pollution, habitat destruction, and the use of antibiotics and chemicals have led consumers to seek more sustainable alternatives. In response to this demand, organic fish farming has emerged as a viable solution that aligns with principles of environmental conservation, animal welfare, and food quality.

Organic fish farming represents a paradigm shift in aquaculture, emphasizing natural and holistic approaches to production while minimizing negative environmental impacts. Unlike conventional methods that often rely on intensive stocking densities, artificial feeds, and chemical inputs, organic fish farming prioritizes ecological balance, biodiversity preservation, and sustainable resource management. By integrating organic principles into aquaculture operations, farmers can mitigate environmental degradation, enhance ecosystem resilience, and produce seafood that meets stringent organic standards.

Flower growing, once used to be a gardener’s activity has today transformed into an astounding business proportion. Globally, more than 140 countries are involved in cultivation of floriculture crops. The global floriculture trade stands at US $ 60 billion with an annual growth rate of 10-15%. But the picture is not all that rosy. The extensive use of pesticides especially in greenhouse grown crops is threatening workers health and safety, besides disturbing environment and may also affect consumers health.

Gaston Dorren and Niala Maharaj, authors of “The Game of the Rose” noted that floriculture consumes more pesticides than any other agricultural sector. Floral workers suffer the brunt of the trade’s pesticide use. About 60% of Colombian flower workers (the sprayers and handlers) suffer from headaches, nausea, impaired vision, rashes and asthma, reports Pesticide Action Network, North America. A study published by the Netherlands ‘Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment’, reports that Dutch floral workers are exposed to pesticide concentrations of up to 60 times the amount considered safe.

Dr. Marion Moses of the San Francisco-based Pesticide Education Center says that many of the pesticides in use are highly toxic. “One of the chemicals widely used in greenhouses for flowers is temik (aldicarb), and that has caused serious problems”. Methyl bromide, an ozone destroyer and a category I acute toxin, among the most dangerous toxic substances known, is also heavily used in Latin America and the U.S. on flower crops. According to a 1997 EWG (Environmental Working Group) study, California-grown roses have 1000 times the level of cancer causing pesticides as comparable food products. Consumers are buying roses that, toxicity levels suggest, should be handled by workers wearing protective gear. Testing the leaves and petals of roses from California, New Hampshire, Colorado, Canada and Colombia, EWG found two probable human carcinogens, three Category I pesticides (the most hazardous) and three neurotoxins at up to 50 times the amount allowed in food.

Food and Agriculture Organization defines organic agriculture is a unique production system which promotes and enhances agro-ecosystem health, including biodiversity, biological cycles and soil biological activity, and this is accomplished by using on-farm agronomic, biological and mechanical methods in exclusion of all synthetic off-farm inputs.

The beauty of organic agriculture production is dependency three elements namely soil, plants and animals. It is also called animal agriculture in which, animal depends on plants, plants depends on soil and soil depends on animals for their fertile life.

Organic cultivation is a deep rooted cultivation tradition, which had been practiced in many parts of the world, before the advent of the practice of use of chemicals.

After the green revolution there has been exponential usage of chemicals in agriculture, right from planting to harvesting. Chemicals are used in the form of nutrient inputs or for plant protection against pests, diseases, weeds and keeping deficiencies at bay. Nevertheless, after the awareness regarding the detrimental effect of chemicals on soil, climate and human health, there has been a lot of contemplation on substituting the chemicals with the organic alternatives. Growing crops using organic inputs is known as ‘organic cultivation’. Organic cultivation is a sustainable form of cultivation where a proper balance is maintained and management of plant nutrition, pests, weeds and diseases is done in a sustainable manner, keeping the soil microflora intact and active. It does not release any chemical gases in the atmosphere, does not make the soil acidic and the soil does not lose its structure and texture. Contrary to chemical farming, where over a time period, the soil quality, texture and structure is lost, in organic practices, the soil texture, quality and structure improves over time, the plants become strong and the quality of the produce is improved. Other than organic inputs, organic farming relies on some sustainable practices like using native germplasm, crop rotations with legumes, green manuring, mulching, inter cropping, mixed cropping, incorporation of farm and animal waste compost. These simple age old practices build to organic content in the soil and elevate the soil’s efficiency to make nutrients and water to the plants. The soil microflora and earthworms become biologically active, efficient and exponentially proliferate. The goal of organic cultivation is to get maximum produce from the soil in such a manner that the soil, air and water are clean and protected.

Manure is the organic material derived from animal, human and plant residues which contain plant nutrients in complex forms. Manures are used as source of plant nutrients. They release nutrient after their decomposition. They are applied in large quantities

Advantages of Organic Manures

• Organic manure provides all the nutrients that are required by plants but in limited quantities.
• It helps in maintaining C:N ratio in the soil and also increases the fertility and productivity of the soil.
• It improves the physical, chemical and biological properties of the soil.
• It improves both the structure and texture of the soils.
• It increases the water holding capacity of the soil.
• Due to increase in the biological activity, the nutrients that are in the lower depths are also made available to the plants through manures.
• It acts as mulch, thereby minimizing the evaporation losses of moisture from the soil.

Globally livestock sector is changing rapidly in response to globalization and increasing demand for quality foods of animal origin. Animal husbandry is the backbone of rural economy of our country. The value of output from livestock sector is about 29 percent of the total value of output (GDP) of the agriculture and allied sectors. The livestock sector has been contributing over 5% to total GDP. India ranks first in milk production which accounts for more than 15 percent of total world output and 40 percent of Asia’s total production. It continues to grow at about 4 percent per annum far exceeding the global average of 1-2 percent. Further, the manure from animals provides a good source of organic matter for improving soil fertility and crop yields. The gobar gas from the dung is used as fuel for domestic purposes. The surplus fodder and agricultural by-products are gainfully utilized for feeding the animals. Almost all draught power for farm operations and transportation is supplied by bullocks. Indian animal husbandry practices are based on minimal use of off-farm inputs and on management practices that restore, maintain and enhance ecological harmony. This principle also holds good for organic farming. The primary goal of organic agriculture is to optimize the health and productivity of interdependent communities of soil life, plants, animals and people (NOSB, 1995). Organic agriculture is an ecological production management system that promotes and enhances biodiversity, biological cycles and soil biological activity.

1. Introduction

In India, though organic crop production and certification system is reasonably well established in India, the organic livestock and poultry sector is in its budding stage. Organizations such as APEDA, FSSAI and BIS along with research establishments like ICAR- National Meat Research Institute are now putting serious efforts to establish the protocols and promote organic livestock production and certification in India. As a result, in the last few years, livestock farmers are gradually getting encouraged to take up organic production and around 3000 farmers mostly from Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh have taken up organic dairy, sheep and poultry farming. Export of organic milk and ghee from India to different countries has just begun and is expected to grow very fast in volumes and revenues in the years to come.

Introduction

Sustainable development has caught the imagination and action all over the world for more than a decade and sustainable agriculture is necessary to attain the goal of sustainable development. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), sustainable agriculture “is the successful management of resources for agriculture to satisfy changing human needs while maintaining or enhancing the quality of environment and conserving natural resources”. All definitions of sustainable agriculture lay great emphasis on maintaining an agriculture growth rate, which can meet the demand for food of all living things without draining the basic resources.

Word manure derived from French word ‘Manoeuvrer, means to manipulate, to work, to produce crop.

2.1. Sources of organic wastes

Cattle shed wastes-dung, urine and slurry from biogas plants.

Human habitation wastes-night soil, human urine, town refuse, sewage, sludge and sullage.

Poultry litter, droppings of sheep and goat.

Slaughter house wastes-bone meal, meat meal, blood meal, horn and hoof meal, fish wastes.

Byproducts of agroindustries-oil cakes, bagasse and press mud, fruit and vegetable processing wastes.

Farmyard Manure is the manure prepared by using the mixture of dung and urine soaked litter by microorganisms.

Good farmyard manure is one

1.0 INTRODUCTION

Soil fertility can be considered to be a measure of the soil’s ability to sustain satisfactory crop growth, both in the short and longer-term. Organic farming recognizes the soil as being central to a sustainable farming system. It could be argued that organically managed soils require a higher level of baseline fertility because shortfalls cannot be made up by applications of soluble fertilizers. Soil fertility is determined by a set of interactions between the physical and chemical environments of the system and by biological activity. Organic matter is linked intrinsically to soil fertility, because it is important in maintaining good soil physical conditions (e.g. soil structure, aeration and water holding capacity) and is an important nutrient reserve. Organic matter contains most of the soil reserve of N and large proportions of other nutrients such as phosphorus and sulphur.

Word manure derived from French ‘Manoeuvrer, means to manipulate, to work, to produce crop.

11.1. Sources of organic wastes

Cattle shed wastes, dung, urine and slurry from biogas plants.

Human habitation wastes-night soil, human urine, town refuse, sewage, sludge and sullage.

Poultry jitter, droppings of sheep and goat.

Slaughterhouse wastes-bone meal, meat meal, blood meal, horn and hoof meal, fish wastes.

Byproducts of agro industries-oil cakes, bagasse and press mud, fruit and vegetable processing wastes etc.

Before the discovery of chemical fertilizer in early 20^th century, organic manures and growing of legumes were the ways of replenishing soil fertility. The only other way was leaving land fallow for a few years before its re-cultivation, a practice followed in shifting cultivation (jhuming) (Garbyal, 1999). This was also true for India, where although the ?rst single superphosphate plant was set up in 1906 in Ranipet (Tamil Nadu), the real use of fertilizer started with the manufacture of urea, the ?rst plant for which was set up in 1959 at Sindri (Bihar) (Tandon, 2014). Organic manures could meet crop-nutrient needs in early days because the average grain yield of most cereals was about 1.5–2.0 t ha^–1, while the average yield of pulses was 0.5–0.75 t ha^–1. However, the crop production scenario changed rapidly after the introduction of dwarf, high-yielding varieties of wheat from Mexico, which led to the “Green Revolution” (Swaminathan, 2013). This was followed by the development of semi-dwarf, high-yielding varieties of rice and hybrids of maize, sorghum and pearl millet. These varieties/ hybrids of cereals needed 100–150 kg N ha^–1 in one growing season, and this could be met only by urea or other N fertilizers; organic manures had no chance and their use became almost nil over a period of next 25 years or so. Well-off young farmers cannot even think of making manure heaps or compost pits, the job is too hard and not a clean one. However, what is ignored is the fact, that organic manures not only supply plant nutrients but also build up soil organic matter, which improves soil physical properties, helps in storing moisture and is the elixir of life for the soil biota (Lal, 2014). A large numbers of reports are available on the effect of adding organic manures and crop residues on improving soil physical (Hati et al., 2007; Brar et al., 2015) and chemical and biological properties of soil (Prasad et al., 1999; Prasad and Mishra, 2001;Sharma et al., 2009; Prasad et al. 2014). Thanks for the organic farming (Prasad, 2005), the interest in organic manures and composts has increased in India and it is now a sought after material. However, it has not entered the main stream of crop production.

The market of organic products is growing globally every year. This organic market expansion makes it possible for farmers to reap the benefits of a trade with relatively high price premiums. Organic farming is carried on in almost all countries of the world. The share of organic farms in overall farmland and in terms of numbers of holdings is growing continuously. The market for organic products is also growing very rapidly, not only in Europe, North America and Japan, where the largest markets are to be found, but also in many emerging economies in transition. In India, an organic movement is now emerging on different levels i.e. producer groups, trainers and advisors, certification bodies and processors and traders.

5.1. Organic matter

In sandy soil, the sticky and slimy organic materials cement the sand particles together to form aggregates.

In clayey soil, it modifies the properties of clay by reducing its cohesiveness and making clay more crumby.

Introduction

Soil forms the base of the lithosphere on earth and is a fundamental and irreplaceable versatile three dimensional dynamic system that supports majority of terrestrial plant and animal life on earth. This soil system contains mineral (sand, slit and clay forming basic soil structure) and organic matter as well as marginal air and water contents. The soil organic matter content of the soil system constitutes every fraction of matter in various stages of decomposition that once was associated with the body, body parts, exudates, tissues and cells of living organisms including plants, animals and microorganisms. It is the product of continuous cycling of the compounds synthesized by autotrophic plants among the three kingdoms viz microbes, plants and animals. The decomposition of the organic residues in soil is performed primarily by the resident soil microflora termed as microbial decomposers; though initially the larger and complex organic material is broken down, devoured upon, chewed, regurgitated and transformed into smaller bits by larger soil faunal forms (earthworms, beetles, springtails, and collembola, the macro (large) to mesofauna) on which soil microbial forms could act upon.

Organic meat food products are choice products for health conscious people. These are the products produced mainly in most natural way without using fertilizers, pesticides and growth regulators in their feed and fodders. In addition, meat animals are also reared without growth hormones, antibiotics drugs etc. and grazing of the animals is a prerequisite in organic farming system.

The term organic farming was first time used by Lord Northbourne. The term organic farming was derived from his concept of “the farm as organism”. It is a holistic, ecologically balanced approach to farming. In 1991, the European Commission formulated the first government system to regulate organic labelling. In India, standards for organic agriculture were announced in May 2001 and the National Programme on Organic Production (NPOP) is administered under the Ministry of Commerce. The concept of organic meat food products has been emphasized now a day due to animal welfare point of view, consumer’s conscious ness, less residue level of chemicals, antibiotics and drugs, Bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), Foot and mouth disease (FMD), genetically modified food etc.

Organic meat food products as a whole are dependent on the life stages of the livestock like its origin, feeding, housing, health, breeding, transportation and slaughter. The other factors accounting for organic foods are its production, harvesting, preservation and processing. Inspite of low growth rate of organic red meat globally, growth in dairy, egg and poultry is increasing day by day. At present 1.2 million hectares (0.6%) of Indian land is producing organic products (Willer and Kelcher, 2011).

Medicinal and aromatic plants constitute a precious resource for mankind. Since time immemorial these plants have been put to medicinal use by Hakims, Vaidas, Ayurvedic practioners and of course the common man (Gupta et al. 2016). It is because these plants possess a lot of qualities for curing the most common or dreaded diseases without any side effects (Gupta et al. 2016). Unfortunately, with the onslaught of human population explosion, industrialization, fertilization and deforestation, the rich medicinal plants wealth has suffered a massive damage. A large number of medicinal plants are now at the verge of extinction which requires their preservation.

India which stands blessed well vast medicinal plants diversity is estimated to have about 30,000 different plant species world over having accepted medicinal value in Ayurveda, Unani, Homeopathy, Allopathy, Tibetan etc. In fact, out of the 18 hot spots in the world with regard to occurrence of medicinal plants two are confined to India. These two hot spots are represented by the Eastern and the North western Himalayas, and the western Ghats with very high degree of endemism. These are indeed the treasure house of about 30,000 or around 45,000 medicinal and aromatic plant species pertaining to medicinal culture (Gupta et al. 2016). Out of these nearly 6000-7500 plant species have been very much exploited for the last 5,000 years traditional system to medicines and are likely to extinct.

Realizing that nematodes cannot be eliminated, and that we must live with them, the overall goal is to keep the population density as low as possible. The economic threshold is the density of nematodes where the losses incurred exceed the cost of nematode management. It is not advisable to depend on a single method to control nematodes. Efficient management requires judicious and careful integration of several which will result in reduction of nematode populations. Important components of non chemical methods of nematode management program are considered in this chapter.

17.1. Organic Amendments

Manure and fertilizer applications are essential part of growing any crop. Besides supplying required essential nutrients theyhelp in many ways directly or indirectly by suppressing harmful organisms including phytonematodes. The use of organic amendments against nematodes was demonstrated by Linford et al., in as early as 1938. FYM and cattle urine have found to reduce nematode population. Biogas plant waste slurry was found to be effective for nematode management. Compost of water hyacinth, oilcakes, cellulose amendments like sawdust, wheat straw, rice husk, rice hull ash, green manuring with legumes, green leaf incorporation are useful to keep nematode populations low. Non - edible oilcakes like those of neem, karanj, mahua, caster, cotton as well as edible oilcakes groundnut, mustard sesame, coconut have been recommended at 2 - 2.5 t/ha for reduction of root knot and other nematode population in soil. Miscellaneous substances like decaffeinated tea waste, rice hull ash, chicken manure, tannery and food and fruit processing waste, market and domestic organic refuse, dead vegetation and crop stalks, wood shaving, etc. have been recommended for root knot nematode management. Castor leaves (40g/kg) along with NPK at 75:25:37.5 kg/ha achieved reduction of M. javanica population on tomato.

Paddy is cultivated about 45 m ha in India, less than 1% is under organic cultivation.

16.1. Varieties

Good quality fine varieties like Ponni, Super ponni, insect and disease resistant varities must be selected for getting higher yield and returns.

16.2. Seeds

Organically produced seeds only must be used.

16.3. Seed Treatment

For 1 kg of seeds 20 g Azospirillum, Pseudomonas and 10 g Phospobacteria must be used with rice gruel.

Panchagavya spray @ 1% for treating the seeds.

Introduction

The hilly states in north eastern India are not only famous for their forest wealth and awesome wild assets. These states are also known for their track record in harvesting specific crops and fruits. Some of the iconic ones are like, “Assam tea” which is famous in and outside India and popularity of “Khasi mandarin” is also well known. The small landlocked state Tripura produces quality pineapples in abundant amounts, where cv. Queen is popular among the growers. Sikkim and other states of north eastern region of India is known for their Organic Farming techniques, which is mostly attributed the nature of hill farming on this region. North-East is rich in horticultural aspect viz., f loriculture with a rich variety of medicinal plants grown there along with various fruits and vegetables. An analysis of NSSO survey data on cultivation practices shows that the North-East hill states have retained traditional practices and show an inclination towards organic agriculture that is harnessed for the development of the region with ecological benefits.