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What is organic farming?

Organic farming system in India is not new and is being followed from ancient
time. It is a method of farming system which primarily aimed at cultivating the
land and raising crops in such a way, as to keep the soil alive and in good health
by use of organic wastes (crop, animal and farm wastes, aquatic wastes) and
other biological materials along with beneficial microbes (bio fertilizers) to
release nutrients to crops for increased sustainable production in an eco-friendly
pollution free environment.

As per the definition of the United States Department of Agriculture (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.

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.
Need of organic farming

With the increase in population our compulsion would be not only to stabilize
agricultural production but to increase it further in sustainable manner. The
scientists have realized that the Green Revolution with high input use has
reached a plateau and is now sustained with diminishing return of falling
dividends. Thus, a natural balance needs to be maintained at all cost for
existence of life and property. The obvious choice for that would be more
relevant in the present era, when these agrochemicals which are produced from
fossil fuel and are not renewable and are diminishing in availability. It may also
cost heavily on our foreign exchange in future.

The key characteristics of organic farming include

Protecting the long term fertility of soils by maintaining organic matter


levels, encouraging soil biological activity, and careful mechanical
intervention
Providing crop nutrients indirectly using relatively insoluble nutrient
sources which are made available to the plant by the action of soil micro-
organisms
Nitrogen self-sufficiency through the use of legumes and biological
nitrogen fixation, as well as effective recycling of organic materials
including crop residues and livestock manures
Weed, disease and pest control relying primarily on crop rotations,
natural predators, diversity, organic manure, resistant varieties and
limited (preferably minimal) thermal, biological and chemical
intervention
The extensive management of livestock, paying full regard to their
evolutionary adaptations, behavioural needs and animal welfare issues
with respect to nutrition, housing, health, breeding and rearing
Careful attention to the impact of the farming system on the wider
environment and the conservation of wildlife and natural habitats

ORGANIC FARMING TAMIL NADU SCENARIO


Tamil Nadu to set up five model villages to promote organic farming

CHENNAI: If everything goes well, Tamil Nadu will boast of its eco-friendly
'organic villages.' As part of its efforts to promote organic farming, the Tamil
Nadu government on Thursday announced five model organic villages in
Vellore, Erode, Dharmapuri, Tiruvannamalai and Krishnagiri districts.

The eco-friendly initiative would be set up "To strengthen integrated pest


management, 150 eco-friendly villages will also be set up,"

The announcement came in the wake of concerns over the deterioration of


organic content in soil.

According to sources, the programme under the Centre's National Mission for
Sustainable Agriculture would ensure the five villages adhered to no-pesticide,
no-insecticide concept to promote organic farming. "Based on these pilot
studies, the number of the villages will be raised," said a senior government
official.

OOTY

Nilgiris Situated within the Western Ghats, which are an important area of
tropical rain forests, the Nilgiris are ecologically important reserves of a vast
natural heritage. The people, forests and the land are unique in many ways. The
District consists of one of the most ecologically fragile areas in India, primarily
due to its diversity in flora and fauna. It is part of the Nilgiris Biosphere
Reserve, as declared under the Man and Biosphere Programme of UNESCO.
The hills have a steep gradient and varied natural vegetation ranging from the
Shola and Grassland in the Upper areas to the dry scrub forests in lower
elevations. Traditional forests have been depleted and are under further threat,
because of the increase in large tea plantations and commercial tree plantations.
Consequently, problems of soil erosion, mono cropping and heavy use of
chemical fertilizers and pesticides are pervading the district. The remaining
forests are crucial for conservation of the flora and fauna and the sustenance of
water bodies, consisting of two major rivers Bhavani and Moyar and their
numerous tributaries. They irrigate large areas in the plains and generate
hydropower for a large command area in the State of Tamil Nadu.
THE PEOPLE

The adivasi population, which occupies small portions of the hills, amounted to
around 25,000 (Census of India 1991) there has been little change since then.
The main hunting and gathering communities consist of the Alu Kurumbas
(5,000); Irulas (6,000), Jenu Kurumbas (1,000), Betta Kurumbas (3,000) and
Kasavas (4,000). They are predominantly forest dwellers - hunters and
gatherers, but have been gradually involved in agriculture as small cultivators.
They used shifting cultivation and slashand-burn techniques, until they were
settled by the Government, post-independence. Primarily, it is a subsistence
economy in which hunting, fishing and collecting are combined with
subsistence agriculture and some daily wage labour on the plantations.

Willingness to Grow Organic


Some of the people engaged in kitchen gardening were of the opinion that
although they were also using pesticides for the vegetables, they would avoid
chemical use for green, leafy vegetables and the taste was much better, though
the crops were slightly more prone to insect attacks. Although, 100% of the
participants in the focus group discussions held, were very keen to consume
organic produce, hardly 10% were keen on converting to organic on their farms.
This is because they say that the land has lost its fertility and the pests could
only be controlled through spraying chemical pesticides. Close to half the
participants in the discussion were willing to convert to organic way of farming
given a buy back guarantee or even if an organic outlet was setup in the nearest
town. Most of the willing consumers wanted the vegetables to be delivered to
the hattis on a weekly basis or even an organic outlet in the nearest town was
also preferable.
SPICES
The spices grown in the Nilgiris are very famous and popular. They command a
very good price in the market. The spices require very delicate growing
conditions which are suitably availably in the Nilgiris. The spices plantations
and trade are a thriving industry in the Nilgiris. The commonly grown spices are
as follows:
FRUITS
A variety of fruits are grown in the Nilgiris. Most of the varieties are
developed and introduced by the Pomological Research Station under the
Horticulture Department. Some very rare varieties with medicinal values are
also grown. Temperate fruits like peaches, pears, strawberries, etc., are grown
extensively and in good demand. Some of the Fruits grown in Nilgiris are :

Vegetables and Cereals


The British were keenly interested in Horticulture. They introduced many
varieties of vegetables which had their origin in Europe. The vegetables were
suitable to the European Culinary dishes and these vegetables now become very
popular in India. The vegetables of Nilgiris are sourced by many traders from
the cities and they are often transported in cold vans to ensure freshness.
Vegetables Grown are :
There are many cereals which are the staple food of the local population and the
tribes. The cereals grown here are consumed locally and there is not enough to
send out from Nilgiris. The cereals are mostly rain fed and grown organically.

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