Organic Farming – Definition
Organic farming is the process of producing food naturally. This method avoids the use of synthetic chemical fertilizers and genetically modified organisms to influence the growth of crops. The main idea behind organic farming is ‘zero impact’ on the environment. The motto of the organic farmer is to protect the earth’s resources and produce safe, healthy food.
Organic farmers and gardeners grow their crops without the aid of artificial fertilizers and harmful chemical pesticides. Organic ranchers and dairymen raise their livestock free of drugs and animal hormones. Supporters of the organic lifestyle believe that food produced in this manner is of higher quality, tastes better, and possesses higher nutritional value in comparison to food produced by conventional, chemical-based methods.
Many developed countries, including the United States and those in Europe, have certification programs to restrict the liberal use of the term “Organic”. This has benefited the consumer by ensuring that quality assurance standards have been met and that the source is reliable. The definition of organic varies from place to place but may include things such as a minimum time period that a field is free of chemical use before being used for organic farming.
Organic farming and organic food production have some other basic rules:
- no use of chemical fertilizers or synthetic drugs
- no use of genetically modified organisms
- prevention from soil loss and erosion
- promotion of ‘bio diversity’ – support a range of crops, not a single species
Organic farming has re-emerged as the outcome of consumer reaction against harmful toxins and the desire for more health and environmental safeguards. This method is a re-implementation of a primitive process followed by our ancestors before they discovered chemicals that could save time and improve crop quality, but had the unfortunate side effect of ruining our air, water, and soil.
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it is really nice to read about organic farming. i wish i can do someting for our villagers here in india.
if anything i can do or i can attached with any of NGO’s working on this, please guide me.
The definition of organic farming per se is OK. Question is whether the modern society, which is much different from the primitive society, can be supported by primitive farming practices. The people in the primitive society had little do other than farming. Their main job was farming to feed themselves. In modern society, there are tens of thousand jobs that are needed to support modern society. If by adopting primitive farming, majority of labor forces is to be engaged in farming alone, who will take care of the other jobs? This is the reason why despite the loud voices on organic farming has been there for a long time, only few farmers(in some countries, 5%) are practising organic farming. We live in modern society. Primitive farming practices cannot go with modern society!! If you want to adopt the primitive farming, before you do that you have abandon your modern life style.
hello i agree
thnx for the definition i needed it for a agricultural science project thnxx alot
Chong Woon Hong, You should start by offering your definition of what constitutes “modern lifestyle”. I think you are speaking more about the carrying capacity of the environment rather than the purity of the food we eat. Humans are definitely living beyond the natural carrying capacity of the Earth through the use of petroleum based fertilizers, fuels and toxins to kill “pests”. This aspect of the “modern” lifestyle is not sustainable and will eventually come to an end. Whether or not that end is painful is completely up to you and the rest of humanity living within our means. Populations in nature always experience a large “correction” through massive “die-offs” when the carrying capacities of their environments are exceeded. Humans are no exception.
Chong Woon Hong,
I agree with what you are saying. Purity of food is becoming more and more important to people but the fact remains is that society is not the same as it was in the primitive time. Prices for organic are higher than the prices for “non-organic” so if everything were organic that would leave the poorer people hard pressed to be able to afford food and contribute further to the hunger problem. There are large companies that although are not called organic have similar regulations on their products. For example Crowley milk products which is a local milk company although not organic does not accept milk from cows that have been given horomones.
Organic farming is a part of my modern lifestyle. I actually have a grandfather who opperates a 200 acre organic farm. He produces corn, soybeans, clover every other year or so. He has the same lifestyle as any other boss would. He hires local farmers to tend the fields for prep til finish. As far as I know people need work, why not put people to work in a way that will help our entire world. If you do not agree with it, then keep eating toxic chemicals and keep wondering what causes cancer. I am sure glad to have been aware of the dangers or conventional farming and strayed away from it for the rest of my life. By going organic I know that I am helping myself, the enviornment and the people who work in and around those organic farms. If I decided to save a buck or two I am more than also killing someone slowly who is spraying toxic chemicals on a farm that is overrun with pests from a host of foods that keep them coming back for more. Much love, Great post.
Definition is ok but i want to modify littlebit as The crop or produce which donot contain any residue is organic. Synthetic fertilisers use should be integrated way.