Organic farming By Mr Allah Dad Khan Visiting Professor the University of Agriculture Peshawar Pakistan

What is Organic Farming ?
Organic farming is a technique, which involves
cultivation of plants and rearing of animals in natural
ways. This process involves the use of biological
materials, avoiding synthetic substances to maintain
soil fertility and ecological balance thereby
minimizing pollution and wastage. It relies on
ecologically balanced agricultural principles like crop
rotation, green manure, organic waste, biological
pest control, mineral and rock additives. Organic
farming make use of pesticides and fertilizers if they
are considered natural and avoids the use of various
petrochemical fertilizers and pesticides.

Organic Farming and Nature
O Organic farming works in harmony with nature
rather than against it. This involves using
techniques to achieve good crop yields
without harming the natural environment or
the people who live and work in it. The
methods and materials that organic farmers
use are summarised as follows: To keep and
build good soil structure and fertility: •
recycled and composted crop wastes and
animal manures • the right soil cultivation at
the right time • crop rotation • green manures
and legumes • mulching on the soil surface

Why is modern farming unsustainable?
1. Loss of soil fertility due to excessive use of chemical
fertilizers and lack of crop rotation.
2. Nitrate run off during rains contaminates water
resources.
3. Soil erosion due to deep ploughing and heavy rains.
4. More requirement of fuel for cultivation.
5. Use of poisonous bio-cide sprays to curb pest and
weeds.
6. Cruelty to animals in their housing, feeding, breeding
and slaughtering.
7. Loss of biodiversity due to mono culture.
8. Native animals and plants lose space to exotic
species and hybrids.

Need for Organic Farming
O The population of the planet is skyrocketing
and providing food for the world is becoming
extremely difficult. The need of the hour is
sustainable cultivation and production of food
for all. The Green Revolution and its chemical
based technology are losing its appeal as
dividends are falling and returns are
unsustainable. Pollution and climate
change are other negative externalities
caused by use of fossil fuel based chemicals.

Benefits of Organically Grown Food items and
Agricultural Produce
 Better Nutrition: As compared to a longer time conventionally grown food,
organic food is much richer in nutrients. Nutritional value of a food item is
determined by its mineral and vitamin content. Organic farming enhances the
nutrients of the soil which is passed on to the plants and animals.
 Free of poison: Organic farming does not make use of poisonous chemicals,
pesticides and weedicides. Studies reveal that a large section of the
population fed on toxic substances used in conventional agriculture have
fallen prey to diseases like cancer. As organic farming avoids these toxins, it
reduces the sickness and diseases due to them.
 Enhanced Taste: The quality of food is also determined by its taste. Organic
food often tastes better than other food. The sugar content in organically
grown fruits and vegetables provides them with extra taste. The quality of
fruits and vegetables can be measured using Brix analysis.
 Longer shelf–life: Organic plants have greater metabolic and structural
integrity in their cellular structure than conventional crops. This enables
storage of organic food for a longer time.

Four Principles of Organic
Farming
• Principle of Health: Organic agriculture must contribute to the
health and well being of soil, plants, animals, humans and the earth.
It is the sustenance of mental, physical, ecological and social well
being. For instance, it provides pollution and chemical free,
nutritious food items for humans.
• Principle of Fairness: Fairness is evident in maintaining equity
and justice of the shared planet both among humans and other
living beings. Organic farming provides good quality of life and
helps in reducing poverty. Natural resources must be judiciously
used and preserved for future generations.
• Principle of Ecological Balance: Organic farming must be
modeled on living ecological systems. Organic farming methods
must fit the ecological balances and cycles in nature.
• Principle of Care: Organic agriculture should be practiced in a
careful and responsible manner to benefit the present and future
generations and the environment.

Key features of Organic
Farming
• Protecting soil quality using organic material and
encouraging biological activity
• Indirect provision of crop nutrients using soil
microorganisms
• Nitrogen fixation in soils using legumes
• Weed and pest control based on methods like crop
rotation, biological diversity, natural predators,
organic manures and suitable chemical, thermal
and biological intervention
• Rearing of livestock, taking care of housing,
nutrition, health, rearing and breeding
• Care for the larger environment and conservation
of natural habitats and wild life

Principles of Organic Farming
To produce food of high quality in sufficient quantity.
To interact in a constructive and life-enhancing way with natural
systems and cycles.
To consider the wider social and ecological impact of the organic
production and processing system.
To encourage and enhance biological cycles within the farming
system, involving micro-organisms, soil flora and fauna, plants and
animals.
To develop a valuable and sustainable aquatic ecosystem.
To maintain and increase long term fertility of soils.
To maintain the genetic diversity of the production system and its
surroundings, including the protection of plant and wildlife habitats.
To promote the healthy use and proper care of water, water resources
and all life therein.

Principles of Organic Farming Contd
To promote the healthy use and proper care of water, water resources and all life therein.
To use, as far as possible, renewable resources in locally organised production systems.
To create a harmonious balance between crop production and animal husbandry.
To give all livestock conditions of life with due consideration for the basic aspects of their
innate behaviour.
To minimise all forms of pollution.
To process organic products using renewable resources.
To produce fully biodegradable organic products.
To produce textiles which are long-lasting and of good quality.
To allow everyone involved in organic production and processing a quality of life which
meets their basic needs and allows an adequate return and satisfaction from their work,
including a safe working environment.
To progress toward an entire production, processing and distribution chain which is both
socially just and ecologically responsible.

To control pests, diseases and
weeds:
O • careful planning and crop choice • the
use of resistant crops • good cultivation
practice • crop rotation • encouraging
useful predators that eat pests •
increasing genetic diversity • using natural
pesticides

Organic farming also involves:
O • careful use of water resources • good
animal husbandry

Why farm organically?
O Organic farming provides long-term benefits to people and the environment.
Organic farming aims to: • increase long-term soil fertility. • control pests and
diseases without harming the environment. • ensure that water stays clean
and safe. • use resources which the farmer already has, so the farmer needs
less money to buy farm inputs. • produce nutritious food, feed for animals and
high quality crops to sell at a good price. Modern, intensive agriculture causes
many problems, including the following: • Artificial fertilisers and herbicides are
easily washed from the soil and pollute rivers, lakes and water courses. • The
prolonged use of artificial fertilisers results in soils with a low organic matter
content which is easily eroded by wind and rain. • Dependency on fertilisers.
Greater amounts are needed every year to produce the same yields of crops.
• Artificial pesticides can stay in the soil for a long time and enter the food
chain where they build up in the bodies of animals and humans, causing
health problems. • Artificial chemicals destroy soil micro-organisms resulting in
poor soil structure and aeration and decreasing nutrient availability. • Pests
and diseases become more difficult to control as they become resistant to
artificial pesticides. The numbers of natural enemies decrease because of
pesticide use and habitat loss.

Crop nutrition
O To produce a healthy crop an organic farmer needs to manage the soil well.
O This involves considering soil life, soil nutrients and soil structure.
O Artificial fertilisers provide only short term nutrient supply to crops. They
O encourage plants to grow quickly but with soft growth which is less able to
O withstand drought, pests and disease. Artificial fertilisers do not feed soil life
O and do not add organic matter to the soil. This means that they do not help to
O build good soil structure, improve the soils water holding capacity or drainage.
O The soil is a living system. As well as the particles that make up the soil, it
O contains millions of different creatures. These creatures are very important for
O recycling nutrients.
O Feeding the soil with manure or compost feeds the whole variety of life in the
O soil which then turns this material into food for plant growth. This also adds
O nutrients and organic matter to the soil. Green manures also provide nutrients
O and organic matter. These are plants with high nitrogen content that are sown
O as part of a rotation and are dug into the soil when young.
O It is important to remember, however, that using too much animal manure or
O nutrient rich organic matter, or using it at the wrong time, could be as harmful
O as using man-made, artificial fertilisers.
O The organic farmer must cultivate the soil at the right time and in the right ways
O to provide the best living conditions for the soil life and plant roots

Choice of crops
O Each crop and crop variety has its own specific needs. In
some places it will grow well and others it will not. Crops
are affected by; • soil type • rainfall • altitude • temperature •
the type and amount of nutrients required • the amount of
water needed These factors affect how a crop grows and
yields. If a crop is grown in a climate to which it is not
suited, it is likely to produce low yields and be more
susceptible to pest and diseases. This then creates the
need to use agrochemicals to fertilise the crop and control
pest and diseases. The successful organic farmer learns to
grow the crops and varieties which are suited to the local
conditions. He should grow crops which are suited to his
geography and climate. He should choose varieties which
are suited to the local conditions such as local varieties.

Rotations
O Growing the same crops in the same site year after year reduces
soil fertility and can encourage a build up of pests, diseases and
weeds in the soil. Crops should be moved to a different area of land
each year, and not returned to the original site for several years. For
vegetables a 3 to 4 year rotation is usually recommended as a
minimum. Crop rotation means having times where the fertility of
the soil is being built up and times where crops are grown which
remove nutrients. Crop rotation also helps a variety of natural
predators to survive on the farm by providing diverse habitats and
sources of food for them. A typical 4 year rotation would include a
cycle with maize and beans, a root crop and cereals with either of
the following; 1. Grass or bush fallow (a fallow period where no
crops are grown). 2. A legume crop where a green manure, which is
a plant grown mainly for the benefit of the soil, is grown (more
information about green manures can be obtained from HDRA)

Composting
O Compost is organic matter (plant and animal residues)
which has been rotted down by the action of bacteria and
other organisms, over a period of time. Materials such as
leaves, fruit skins and animal manures can be used to
make compost. Compost is cheap, easy to make and is a
very effective material that can be added to the soil, to
improve soil and crop quality. • Compost improves the
structure of the soil. This allows more air into the soil,
improves drainage and reduces erosion. • Compost
improves soil fertility by adding nutrients and by making it
easier for plants to take up the nutrients already in the soil.
This produces better yields. • Compost improves the soil’s
ability to hold water. This stops the soil from drying out in
times of drought. • Compost can reduce pests and diseases
in the soil and on the crop.

O There are many ways to make compost
depending on available materials and
climate, for example: • Indore method •
Bangalore method • Heating
process/Block method • Chinese high
temperature stack • Pit composting •
Trench composting • Basket composting •
Boma composting

Mulching
O Mulching means covering the ground with a layer of loose
material such as compost, manure, straw, dry grass, leaves
or crop residues. Green vegetation is not normally used as
it can take a long time to decompose and can attract pests
and fungal diseases. Mulches have several effects on the
soil which help to improve plant growth: • Decreasing water
loss due to evaporation • Reducing weed growth by
reducing the amount of light reaching the soil • Preventing
soil erosion • Increasing the number of micro-organisms in
the top soil • Adding nutrients to the soil and improving soil
structure • Adding organic matter to the soil Alternative
mulching materials include black plastic sheeting or
cardboard. However these materials do not add nutrients to
the soil or improve its structure.

How to use mulches
O • Always apply mulches to a warm, wet soil.
Mulch applied to a dry soil will keep the soil
dry. • Care should be taken as to the
thickness of the mulch applied. Too much
mulch will prevent air flow and encourage
pests. • To allow the germination of planted
seeds through the mulch, a layer of less than
10cm should be used. • To clear an area of
land of persistent weeds a layer of 10cm or
more can be used.

Green manures
O Green manures, often known as cover crops, are plants which are
grown to improve the structure, organic matter content and nutrient
content of the soil. They are a cheap alternative to artificial
fertilisers and can be used to complement animal manures.
Growing a green manure is not the same as simply growing a
legume crop, such as beans, in a rotation. Green manures are
usually dug into the soil when the plants are still young, before they
produce any crop and often before they flower. They are grown for
their green leafy material which is high in nutrients and provides soil
cover. They can be grown together with crops or alone. Green
manures: • Increase and recycle plant nutrients and organic matter
• Improve soil fertility • Improve soil structure • Improve the ability of
the soil to hold water • Control soil erosion • Prevent weed growth •
Stop nutrients being washed out of the soil, for example, when the
ground is not used between main crops.

Weed control
O In organic farming systems, the aim is not necessarily the
elimination of weeds but their control. Weed control means reducing
the effects of weeds on crop growth and yield. Organic farming
avoids the use of herbicides which, like pesticides, leave harmful
residues in the environment. Beneficial plant life such as host plants
for useful insects may also be destroyed by herbicides. On an
organic farm, weeds are controlled using a number of methods: •
Crop rotation • Hoeing • Mulches, which cover the soil and stop
weed seeds from germinating • Hand-weeding or the use of
mechanical weeders • Planting crops close together within each
bed, to prevent space for weeds to emerge • Green manures or
cover crops to outcompete weeds • Soil cultivation carried out at
repeated intervals and at the appropriate time, when the soil is
moist. Care should be taken that cultivation does not cause soil
erosion. • Animals as weeders to graze on weeds Weeds do have
some useful purposes. They can provide protection from erosion,
food for animals and beneficial insects and food for human use.

Natural pest and disease
control
O Pests and diseases are part of nature. In the ideal system there is a natural
balance between predators and pests. If the system is imbalanced then one
population can become dominant because it is not being preyed upon by
another. The aim of natural control is to restore a natural balance between
pest and predator and to keep pests and diseases down to an acceptable
level. The aim is not to eradicate them altogether. Chemical control Pesticides
do not solve the pest problem. In the past 50 years, insecticide use has
increased tenfold, while crop losses from pest damage have doubled. Here
are three important reasons why natural control is preferable to pesticide use.
Safety for people Artificial pesticides can quickly find their way into food chains
and water courses. This can create health hazards for humans. Human health
can also be harmed by people eating foods (especially fruit and vegetables)
which still contain residues of pesticides that were sprayed on the crop. There
is also much concern for those people using chemical pesticides. The
products may be misused because the instructions are not written in the
language spoken by the person using them. This has led to many accidents
such as reports of people suffering from severe skin rashes and headaches as
a result of using chemical pesticides. There are an estimated one million
cases of poisoning by pesticides each year around the world. Up to 20,000 of
these result in death. Most of the deaths occur in tropical countries where
chemical pesticides which are banned in Europe or the USA are still available.

Cost
O Using natural pest and disease control is
often cheaper than applying chemical
pesticides because natural methods do
not involve buying materials from the
outside. Products and materials which are
already in the home and around the farm
are most often used.

Safety for the environment
O There are a number of harmful effects that
chemical pesticides can have on the environment:
• Chemical pesticides can kill useful insects which
eat pests. Just one spray can upset the balance
between pests and the useful predators which eat
them. • Artificial chemicals can stay in the
environment and in the bodies of animals causing
problems for many years. • Insect pests can very
quickly, over a few breeding cycles, become
resistant to artificial products and are no longer
controlled. This means that increased amounts or
stronger chemicals are then needed creating
further economic, health and environmental
problems.

Natural control
O There are many ways in which the organic farmer can control pests
and diseases. • Growing healthy crops that suffer less damage from
pests and diseases. • Choosing crops with a natural resistance to
specific pests and diseases. Local varieties are better at resisting
local pest and diseases than introduced varieties. • Timely planting
of crops to avoid the period when a pest does most damage. •
Companion planting with other crops that pests will avoid, such as
onion or garlic.
O Trapping or picking pests from the crop. • Identifying pest and
diseases correctly. This will prevent the farmer from wasting time or
accidentally eliminating beneficial insects. It is therefore useful to
know life cycles, breeding habits, preferred host plants and
predators of pests.
O Using crop rotations to help break pest cycles and prevent a carry
over of pests to the next season. • Providing natural habitats to
encourage natural predators that control pests. To do this, the
farmer should learn to recognise insects and other animals that eat
and control pests

Genetic diversity
O Within a single crop there can be many differences between plants.
They may vary in height or ability to resist diseases, for example.
These differences are genetic. Traditional crops grown by farmers
contain greater genetic diversity than modern bred crops.
Traditional varieties have been selected over many centuries to
meet the requirements of farmers. Although many are being
replaced by modern varieties, seeds are often still saved locally.
Crops which have been bred by modern breeding methods tend to
be very similar and if one plant is prone to disease, all the other
plants are as well. Although some modern varieties may be very
resistant to specific pests and diseases they are often less suited to
local conditions than traditional varieties. It can therefore be
dangerous to rely too much on any one of them. In organic
systems, some variation or ‘genetic diversity’ between the plants
within a crop is beneficial. Growing a number of different crops
rather than relying on one is also very important. This helps to
protect against pests and diseases and acts as insurance against
crop failure in unusual weather such as drought or flood. It is
important to remember this when choosing which crops to grow.

An organic farmer should try
to:
O • grow a mixture of crops in the same field
(mixed cropping, intercropping, strip cropping)
• grow different varieties of the same crop •
use as many local crop varieties as possible •
save the seed of local and improved crop
varieties rather than relying on buying seed
from outside the farm every year. Exchange of
seed with other farmers can also help to
increase diversity, and ensure the survival of
the many traditional crop varieties which are
being lost as they are replaced by a few
modern varieties.

Careful use of water
O In arid lands the careful use of water is as much a
part of organic growing as is any other technique.
As with other resources, organic farmers should try
to use water which is available locally, avoiding
using water faster than it is replaced naturally.
There are many ways to use water carefully,
including: • The use of terracing, rain water basins
or catchments and careful irrigation • The addition
of organic matter to the soil to improve its ability to
hold water • The use of mulches to hold water in
the soil by stopping the soil surface from drying out
or becoming too hot

Animal husbandry
O In an organic system, the welfare of the animals is
considered very important. • Animals should not be
kept in confined spaces where they cannot carry
out their natural behaviour such as standing and
moving around in an inadequate amount of space.
However, care should be taken that animals do not
damage crops. • Food for animals should be grown
organically. • Breeds should be chosen to suit local
needs and local conditions and resources These
factors help to ensure that livestock are more
healthy, better able to resist diseases and to
provide good yields for the farmer.

International standards
O The International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM) has
produced a set of international organic standards, laid down by people from
many countries. These give guidelines about what organic farming is and how
it should be practised on the farm. International standards are also used to
help countries set their own standards, which take into account different
farming systems. Many countries have an organic standards authority which
lays down national standards and awards a symbol to farms which have
followed the standards. This symbol then allows farmers to market certified
organic produce. This is important, as it ensures that people know that the
food which they buy is organic. The main principles of organic farming were
laid down by IFOAM in 1992. • To produce food of high nutritional quality in
sufficient quantity. • To interact in a constructive and life enhancing way with
all natural systems and cycles. • To encourage and enhance biological cycles
within the farming system, involving micro-organisms, soil flora and fauna,
plants and animals. • To maintain and increase long term fertility of soils. • To
use, as far as possible, renewable resources in locally organised agricultural
systems. • To work, as far as possible, within a closed system with regard to
organic matter and nutrient elements. This aims to reduce external inputs. • To
work, as far as possible, with materials and substances which can be reused
or recycled, either on the farm or elsewhere.

International standards contd
O To give all livestock living conditions which will
allow them to perform the basic aspects of their
innate behaviour. • To minimise all forms of
pollution that may result from agricultural practices.
• To maintain the genetic diversity of the
agricultural system and its surroundings, including
the protection of plant and wildlife habitats. • To
allow agricultural producers a living according to
the UN human rights; to cover their basic needs
and obtain an adequate return and satisfaction
from their work, including a safe working
environment. • To consider the wider social and
ecological impact of the farming system.

Organic farming By Mr Allah Dad Khan Visiting Professor the University of Agriculture Peshawar Pakistan

Organic farming By Mr Allah Dad Khan Visiting Professor the University of Agriculture Peshawar Pakistan

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Organic farming By Mr Allah Dad Khan Visiting Professor the University of Agriculture Peshawar Pakistan