What Is Organic Farming?
Organic farming is an agricultural strategy that emphasizes crop rotation and companion planting while utilizing organic fertilizers such as compost manure, green manure, and bone meal. Organic farming is “an integrated farming system that strives for sustainability, the enhancement of soil fertility, and biological diversity while prohibiting synthetic pesticides, antibiotics, synthetic fertilizers, genetically modified organisms, and growth hormones, with rare exceptions,” according to the Organic Agriculture Society.
Popularity In Kashmir
On Thursday, Chowdhary Muhammad Iqbal, Director Agriculture Kashmir, paid a visit to the Organic Vegetable Cluster Wanigund Qoimoh in Kulgam.
On this occasion, the Director went on a tour of the Cluster’s various fields, where he met with a number of organic farmers and delegations. He gave on-the-spot instructions to the Kulgam district’s concerned officers, requesting them to work closely with the farmers.
Iqbal, while emphasizing the importance of organic farming, stated that organic farming as a cultivation procedure has grown in popularity in recent years. Organically grown foods have become one of the best options for both customers and farmers, he said, adding that “the organic approach is the future” since it is a socially, environmentally, and economically sustainable food production system.
Organic farming, according to the Director, plays a proactive role in environmental conservation. He went on to say that the department has already started a number of programs and is working on organic farming techniques to help farmers be more environmentally friendly and economically sustainable.
The Director was briefed on the Wanigund Vegetable Cluster by Chief Agriculture Officer Kulgam Farooq Ahmad Dandroo. He claims that the Wanigund Vegetable Cluster, with its 32 hectares of land and 200 farm operating families, is one of the largest in the country. He went on to say that in addition to raising awareness about modern agriculture, the department has also provided the beneficiaries with a variety of hybrid and exotic seeds.
Why Do We Need It?
- It contributes to environmental health by lowering pollutant levels. It also decreases human and animal health risks by lowering residual levels in the product.
- It contributes to the long-term viability of agricultural output.
- It lowers agricultural production costs while simultaneously improving soil health.
- It ensures the most efficient use of natural resources for immediate gain while also assisting in their conservation for future generations.
- It not only saves both animal and machine energy, but it also lowers the danger of crop failure.
- It improves soil chemical properties such as supply and retention of soil nutrients, reduces nutrient loss into water bodies and the environment, and promotes favorable chemical reactions.
- It improves soil physical properties such as granulation, good tilth, good aeration, easy root penetration, and improves water-holding capacity and reduces erosion.
Author’s Thoughts
Organic farming is thus significant because it is a holistic production management method that promotes and increases agro-ecosystem health, including biodiversity, biological cycles, and soil biological activity. Organic farming practices have been proved in numerous studies to produce even higher yields than conventional agricultural methods. There was also a significant difference in soil health markers like nitrogen mineralization potential and microbial population and diversity, which were higher in organic farms. Organic farms had significantly lower pest and disease incidence due to improved soil health. The emphasis on small-scale integrated farming systems has the potential to revitalize rural areas and their economies.