Why say Organic?

With many urban consumers jumping on to the "Organic food" bandwagon, it's easy to loose sight on what this actually means. Read on to find out the basics.

Once upon a time, when there were no chemicals, plants grew naturally, and healthy food was produced. Along came the world of civilization, when people started replacing natural farming methods with chemical fertilizers, synthetic materials and pesticides. Initially, it worked wonders. Vast productivity, no weeds and genetically modified food could be obtained through unnatural cultivation methods. Well, here we stand today, with 75% of the natural species of crops being wiped off and still counting. The varieties of diseases have increased, pests have become immune to chemicals and people are indirectly consuming these chemicals along with food.

Well, here we stand today, with 75% of the natural species of crops being wiped off and still counting. The varieties of diseases have increased, pests have become immune to chemicals and people are indirectly consuming these chemicals along with food.

Take the instance of the simple vegetable-potato. How many varieties of it do you find on the market? One, or hardly two. Four to five decades ago, several varieties of potato were available in the market.

Well, people have realized their folly and are trying to switch back to the old strategy of organic farming. If you are still new to the term, here are the key features that will provide you with a crystal clear picture.

Five key features of organic farming

• Organic farming is more sustainable as it is all about increasing soil fertility in the natural way such as using methods like nitrogen fixation through leguminous plants

• Weed and pest control is done in traditional ways like a biological/thermal intervention, natural predators, crop rotation and using organic manure

• Microorganisms and green manure are used to boost up soil fertility

• Rearing of livestock, breeding and taking care of health and nutrition is focused upon

• Promotion of biodiversity as well as cultivating rare and endangered species

How is organic farming related to health?

Eating organically grown food (or what should rightfully be called just food, as our ancestors called it) is what the human body has been designed to eat and process. The build-up of seemingly small amounts of harmful pesticides and chemicals in our daily food significantly increases the risk of infertility, birth defects and damage to nervous system. Modern research has proven this time and again. Sure enough, washing and peeling can eliminate these toxins, but only to a certain extent. The residues seep into the roots and the skin of the vegetables/fruits. Besides, conventional cleaning methods do not apply to all fruits and veggies. Furthermore, these toxic residues disturb the ecology we live in and jeopardize the health of future generations.

It's an established fact that the quality of soil in any region has a direct impact on the quality of health of it's people. At the heart of organic agriculture lies a solid understanding of the relationship between soil, water and plants, between soil-microbes and waste-products, between the plant kingdom and the animal kingdom at the core of which lies human being. The system does not believe in ripping the soil of it's nutrients and degrade it's quality for today's needs. By intelligently employing sustainable farming methods and optimizing use of available resources, this method serves as the bedrock of environmental preservation and food quality.

How is organic farming beneficial to the farmers?

Farmers too, commercially benefit from organic farming. As organic food is priced around 20% higher than commercial food, the farmers can reap the benefits of this extra margin. They need not depend on money lenders as organic food cultivation involves low input costs. Despite lower inputs costs, the nature of agriculture in itself is labor-intensive. Yes, it's true! Abstaining from artificial fertilizers and pesticides means more effort and it is indeed a thankless job. So a higher margin ensures a healthy cycle of returns and provides a supportive framework to continue the practice. Most importantly, just as consumers benefit from toxin-free food, farmers too benefit by not being exposed to harmful chemicals, which usually degrade their health.

With the world waking up to the reality and benefits of organic farming, the centre of gravity is shifting towards organic cultivation for good.

#Organic #Agriculture #ToxinFree #NoPesticides