ARCHITECTURAL THESIS
Organic Farming Research Training and Development Centre
- Swapnil Tulshiram Bhamare
ORGANIC FARMING
INTRODUCTION
It is evident that the world wide bio-diversity has been deteriorating with the human
interference in all aspects of nature. This has been leading to changes in climate and the eco
system, rendering the earth into a toxic place for every living being to live in. With the human
population increasing every day, each person’s bare minimum effort towards saving the planet
can collectively go a long way.
Taking into consideration the most basic elements that spring up the bio diversity - soil and
water. The primary human activity related to soil and water has been producing food.
Agriculture has been the primary profession since the homo sapiens gave up hunting and
gathering. The agricultural activity, having started with growing local species in the beginning
started developing further as science and technology improved. The industry has gone as far
as creating conducive climate and soil for a foreign crop and further use of other synthetic
chemicals to protect it. As much as these developments have had their advantages, the
disadvantages have been showing up only recently. - deteriorating soil quality, disturbance in
the local eco systems and worsening human health. As a solution to this we have come full
circle by commencing the practice of organic / local farming all over again.
There are a variety of definitions of organic farming. Mannion (1995) refers to it as a holistic
view of agriculture that aims to reconnect the profound interrelationship that exists between
farm biota, its production and the overall environment. ScoÆeld (1986) stresses that organic
farming does not simply refer to the use of living materials, but emphasizes the concept of
`wholeness',implying the ``systematic connection or co-ordination of parts in one whole.'' (p.
5)As ScoÆeld points out, the concerns that motivated the early exponents of organic farming
are still very much part of the current debate over agricultural sustain-ability, including issues
of soil health and structure, the exhaustible nature of artificial fertilizers, and human health.
Northbourne (1940), the person credited with first using the term organic farming, advocated a
society made up of small, self-contained units, a view that has a strong role in modern
environmental movements,where there is often a rejection of large impersonal units of
production, where both people and nature are viewed as being subordinated to the machine or
corporate identity. This rejection of the concentration of specialized production in fewer, larger
units, was most famously articulated in recent years by Schumacher (1973) in`Small is
Beautiful' (1973) (ScoÆeld, 1986).As Lampkin points out, contemporary organic farming is
based on a number of different approaches which have blended over time to produce the
current school of thought. As the above discussion has indicated, seeking to provide a
definition of any of these approaches is always difficult. A modern definition of organic farming
provided by Lampkin (1994), an authoritative source, states that the aims: ``to create
integrated, humane, environmentally and economically sustainable systems which maximize
reliance on farm developed renewable resources and the management of ecological and
biological processes so as to provide acceptable levels of crop, livestock and human nutrition,
protection from pests and diseases and an appropriate return to the human and other
resources.
In popular opinion, organic farming is perceived to be expensive. As compared to the modern
agricultural techniques, the organic farming process can seem a little cumbersome for starters
but has been proved to be beneficial in a longer run. Benefits of organic farming have a wide
range, with improved human health, restoration of soil quality and the local ecosystem,
economic benefits - export, use of natural pest and disease control, local employment.
HISTORY
Definition
"Organic Agriculture is a production system that sustains the health of soils, ecosystems and
people. It relies on ecological processes, biodiversity and cycles adapted to local conditions,
rather than the use of inputs with adverse effects. Organic Agriculture combines tradition,
innovation and science to benefit the shared environment and promote fair relationships and a
good quality of life for all involved."
History of organic farming
"The health of soil, plant, animal and man is one and indivisible."
Sir Albert Howard (1873-1947) is often referred to as the father of modern Organic Agriculture.
He noted the
relationship between the rise and fall of civilisations and their agricultural practices.
In 1905, with his wife Gabrielle, he began work as an agricultural advisor in Indore India. There
he observed the methods of cultivation adopted by the local farmers and peasants. It was
there that he learned and began promoting composting methods that return nutrients to the
soil.
He went on to document and develop organic farming techniques, and he spread his
knowledge through the UK-based Soil Association, and the Rodale Institute in the U.S.. His
1940 book An Agricultural Testament
(link is external) is a classic organic farming text. His work influenced and inspired many
farmers and agricultural scientists who furthered the organic movement, including Lady Eve
Balfour and J.I. Rodale.
MOTIVATION
Has I Belong to a Farmer’s Family, I have seen changes in the practice of
agriculture since childhood, in the initial year of 2000 the uses of chemicals were
very less and have increased since then till the date, even the climate change
played a huge role into this factor. In the current scenario problems faced by the
small farmland holders are way more big with each and every aspect. Dividetion
of farm lands among the family members.
As India was an agricultural land for all the farmers. Even in late 1920’s India was
practicing Organic Farming but, later World War ll uses of chemical was at a
large scale in farming sector. Other countries got the importance of organic
farming way before like Australia, Bhutan and America. But on the other India
releasied it late in 2016. Sikkim was the first state to practice Organic Farming in
India.
OBJECTIVE, SCOPE AND LIMITATIONS:
IMPORTANCE OF AGRICULTURE IN INDIAN ECONOMY
Agriculture is an important part of India’s economy and at present it in the 2 nd largest farm
producer in the world. This sector provides approximately 60% of the total number of jobs
available in India and contributes to around 25% to the GDP.
Agriculture is the only means of living for almost two-thirds of the employed class in India. As
being stated by the economic data of financial year 2013-14, agriculture provides up-to 25
percent of India’s GDP. The agriculture sector in India occupies almost 43% of its
geographical area.
It plays a vital role in the Indian economy with over 70% of the rural household depending on
agriculture. Indian agriculture has registered impressive growth over the last few decades. The
food grain production has increased from 51 millon tones in 1950-51 to 250MT during 2011-12,
highest since independence.
Why Agriculture is a crucial force in India:
1. Share in National Income
2. Largest Employment Providing Sector
3. Contribution to Capital formation
4. Provides Raw Material to industries
5. Market for Industrial Products
6. It contributes 25 percent to India’s GDP
How different is organic farming from regular farming?
The differences between organic farming methods and conventional farming are the methods
used during food production. Organic farming works towards increasing sustainability and
biodiversity and needs good soil and air quality. This must then be maintained by using natural
growing practices, avoiding harmful chemicals and continued practice of crop rotation along
with other natural farming methods.
Organic agriculture is typically more profitable – upto 35% more than conventional farming. It
also provides more rural employment opportunities because organic management is more
labour intensive than conventional practices. For workers, though, the biggest advantage is
that organic decreases their exposure to toxic agrochemicals.
The demand vs supply analysis of organic food brands in India
The organic food market in India is still at a nascent stage wherein we are noticing an
increasing demand from end buyers but due to limited availability the supply remains slow. The
major problem faced currently is that organic products are priced at a high rate which makes
market penetration challenging. The limited availability of organic foods coupled with the fact
that majority of sales is concentrated in larger cities shows that supply chains of organic food
from farms to domestic consumers are not very well established. There is a lack of knowledge
about organic products leading to a low penetration amongst potential customers.
CASE STUDIES
Project’s Name: WESTERN DESERT Agricultural Research Center
University: Alexandria University, Faculty of Fine Arts, Architecture Department
Country: Egypt
Name: Amr Sherif Mohamed Ahmed
Ref.
https://www.behance.net/gallery/55028879/WESTERN-DESERT-Agricultural-Research-Center_-Amr-Sherif
AGRICULTURE TRAINING CENTER , Nianing, Senegal
https://www.akdn.org/sites/akdn/files/media/documents/akaa_press_kits/1980_akaa/agricultur
al_training_centre_-_senegal.pdf
AGRICULTURE TRAINING CENTER Nimblak, Maharashtra 414111, India
https://www.archdaily.com/889658/agricultural-training-center-studio-advaita
Referance:
1.https://www.ifoam.bio/
2.https://www.britannica.com/
3. Ministry of External Affairs (2015) India in Business. Investment and Technology Promotion
Division, Govt. of India.
4. http://www.ccsniam.gov.in/research/KCG%20Final%20report.pdf
5. Indian Brand Equity Foundation (2015) Indian Agriculture Industry: An Overview.
6. Department of Agriculture and Cooperation. Ministry of Agriculture, Govt. of India.
7. Pandey MM (2009) Indian Agriculture–An Introduction. Fourth Session of the Technical Committee
of APCAEM Chiang Rai, Thailand, pp. 1-39.
8. Arjun KM (2013) Indian Agriculture- Status, Importance and Role in Indian Economy. International
Journal of Agriculture and Food Science Technology 4: 343-346.
