Use Organic Farming

Use Organic Farming

Should the US Use Organic Farming?
By Aaron Schwartz
It is a widely known fact that many consumers prefer products of organic farming. Their choice may be explained by those advantages that organic farming has over conventional farming. Especially, when the market is overwhelmed by suspicious products and very often people even don’t know what they really eat. So, advantages of organic farming are as follows: First of all it is traditionally supposed to produce natural food without artificial chemical additives that make such food much more attractive for a person who cares about his/her health because it is well known that pesticides often used in chemical farming may be very dangerous not only for human health but also for environment where people live. Organic farming traditionally uses manure, different composts and other natural products.
Secondly it fertilizes soil and in such a way makes it more convenient for farming. It is especially important because on using chemicals or other conventional means of farming the condition of soil may be seriously deteriorated. Nowadays it is already a problem how to restore the productivity of lands that were exhausted by pesticides and risk to be completely destroyed if such methods of farming won’t be stopped. Also organic farming provides for diversity of plants while large farms where pesticides and other chemicals are used mainly have only one plant because it is more profitable for them as they don’t need to waste money on using different artificial materials depending on a sort of plant. The nature of organic farming demands such diversity because it is needed for higher productivity of land.
One more positive aspect of organic farming is the fact that cattle and poultry on such farms are fed by natural food and the use of any chemicals such as antibiotics is highly restricted and their use is exceptional. Unlike conventional farming, organic farming treats them naturally. It means that they have natural conditions of life and they grow in normal conditions. It guarantees that the products of organic farms will be safe and healthy.
As for economical aspect, organic farming do not receive any financial help from the government unlike conventional farming which is subsidized and supported by means of various special terms of work. Though organic farming is still quite expansive, even if farmers do not buy synthetic pesticides and other chemicals for their farms.
Finally, though it seems a bit paradoxically but organic farming do not use some achievements of modern science. Among them we can name genetically modified organisms. Though they are permitted to be grown on some farms in the USA the effect they produce on nature and human life are vague and not clear. This lack of knowledge about their effect makes products which are genetically modified unpredictable and potentially dangerous. All these facts contribute to the fast development of organic farming and growth of its popularity as well as the growth of interests from the part of the ‘big’ agribusiness. It makes organic farming very prospective branch of American agriculture that sooner or later could compete with conventional farming.
Contras of organic farming
But despite growing popularity of organic farming this way of farming has its own critics and, certainly, some of their arguments had to be thoroughly analyzed. As I have already mentioned organic farming has enough advantages in comparison with chemical farming but some of this advantages are criticized and here I am going to concentrate my attention on this critic.
Firstly, it is necessary to underline that the growth of organic farming and the interest of agribusiness in it can have a negative effect on organic farming because it becomes more commercialized and the profit of the owner becomes the main aim of farming. As a result, nowadays some organic farms are allowed to use some inputs which, potentially, may have a negative impact on environment and human health (eg. sewage). That proves that further chase for profit may threaten to the positive image of organic farming and it also leads to the same problems that conventional farming has already got.
Among these problems I have already named the danger of pesticides used in chemical farming. But critics of organic farming estimate that some synthetic pesticides are made on the basis of natural pesticides. This improvement makes them less dangerous but not absolutely safe.
One more problem of organic farming is the protection of farms from pests. It is a well-known fact that conventional farms solve this problem using different chemicals that is not acceptable in organic farming. But in the case of wide spread of organic farming and its domination over conventional one the problem risks to become a real disaster if methods of natural anti-pests protection won’t be as effective as their artificial counterparts. It is very difficult to foresee the prospects of organic farming in such a situation, especially, if we take into our consideration the fact that conventional farming and use of artificial means of plants protection forced pests to evaluate and to enforce their vitality and resistance.

Another argument of critics against organic farming is the danger of food contamination by products of this way of farming. Some specialists consider that organic food can be quite dangerous and provoke some diseases which are caused by food. They also say that some materials used in organic farming are dangerous too (manure contains a human pathogen, some biological toxins, etc.). But as for me I think that there are some other factors that can cause food contamination: the conditions of storage, the transportation of products, etc.
Finally, the commercialization of organic farming led to the weakening of regulations that permitted to use such inputs or products that were unimaginable a short time before. For example, in April 2004 USDA adopted a directive that permitted to use some synthetic pesticides on organic farms. In general such decisions and trends contradict to traditional principles of organic farming which emphasize the presence of only natural ingredients in organic products.
Thus, organic farming has some doubtful aspects that were listed in this part of my work but before criticize we have to study and compare both organic and conventional farming and nowadays the information concerning two ways of agriculture is obviously not enough, particularly, in relation to organic farming that is not so wide spread as its critics.
Summary
In my work I told enough about positive and negative aspects of organic farming but I still strongly believe that it is much more prospective than wider spread conventional farming. Though I have some doubts about its future because I think that it could hardly survive in its pure form but what I know for sure is that we must do our best to develop this branch of agriculture if we want to save our planet and our own health as well. For I think that any human activity must be as close to nature as possible because any intervention of human beings into natural processes very often has a negative impact on our environment and, consequently, on people themselves. That is why traditional organic farming with its main principles based on use of natural materials in agriculture is the most appropriate way of farming which permit people live in accordance with laws and principles of nature.

 

Sustainable Homes

Sustainable Homes

We have been working over the years towards developing at least one small-scale housing project in India where families and individuals who genuinely believe in 'green living' and a small carbon and ecological footprint, can reside. The aim of the project is not ascetic living, but to facilitate a lifestyle where one is eco-conscious and aware of the effects of one's actions and way of life on the environment; a lifestyle where modernity and eco-sensitivity can coexist. Due to resource constraints we haven't been able to get started on this plan, especially considering the huge increase in land prices in most Indian cities over the past half decade. We have therefore moved our focus to implementing a small-scale sustainable home project somewhere in rural India, and also help interested groups establish such projects any where in India.


We are currently planning an organic farm plot and farm house project outside Shantiniketan near Kolkata, West Bengal. Considering its location, this will perhaps be a second-home or weekend retreat for most residents, but any one who intends to use it for round-the-year living will also be comfortable, and find that all amenities and conveniences are provided for. The project will be exclusively for those who genuinely believe in the philosophy behind it and will not be a 'fad' project that throws about the word 'green' as a marketing label. It will therefore be completely different from any of the (so-called) farm house or bagan bari projects that have come up outside many Indian cities, including Kolkata.


This project will be located within a village outside Bolpur Shantiniketan. Every home unit (or bagan bari as called locally) within the project will come with its own piece of land which the owners can use for organic cultivation or planting as per their choice. We will manage and cultivate the individual plots organically for a period of three years as per the choice of the owner. The home project will be completely independent, but will be located within a larger organic farm, where a farmer training centre, demonstration farm and student orientation centre will also be sited.


The project will be developed as a cooperative, with those aspects that form the ethos and the reasons behind the project - cultivation, construction, lifestyle, waste management, energy usage, animal welfare, etc. - being part of the rules, agreements and by-laws. Sattvic Farms will continue to be associated with the project and provide its services and support as long as these key aspects remain unchanged, but the cooperative would also have the right to decide its own course after three years when the project is complete, all systems are in place, and the owners well-acquainted with each other.


Some of the important features of the project would be :


Housing : Modern, secure homes which are aesthetically-pleasing and comfortable, made using locally-available, environment-friendly building materials to the largest extent possible, and with sensible architecture (including passive solar planning bearing in mind the sunshine, wind and rain patterns of the area). While comfort will not be compromised and the architecture will be largely customised, ostentatious or extravagant construction will not be permitted.


We are also considering the possibility of making traditional mud cottages (matir bari locally) for any one who is interested. We know some of the best talent in the area when it comes to making good mud houses, itself a dying art now. These are possibly the most environment-friendly mode of dwelling, cheaper and extremely comfortable, and anyone who has stayed in one learns to fall in love with them. However, mud cottages require a lot of regular maintenance and we would need to consider if we can provide facilities for their regular upkeep, especially if there are many of such units. If constructed, they would be made keeping modern-day aesthetics in mind and with provisions for all creature comforts inside.


Energy : A combination of solar thermal, solar PV, wind, bio-gas and biomass gasification. As much of the project's energy as possible (if not all) will be self-generated using renewable sources, and generated to the extent of meeting round-the-clock requirements. A grid connection may be available for emergencies.


Water : Proper management and recycling of white (kitchen), grey (washing and bathing) and black (toilets) water. Water harvesting and recycling, aquifer recharge and conservation practices will be implemented.


Food : Every home unit will be able to grow their own food as per their choice, which we will undertake for the first three years. The farm within which this project will be located, will also provide the widest variety of organically grown fresh food.


Waste management : All the waste generated by the residents as well as elsewhere within the project will be segregated at source (for example, a home will provide its own garbage duly segregated into biodegradable, plastic, recyclable and 'others'). The biodegradable wastes will be composted by us, the recyclable and plastic waste will be sold to an external agency who will reuse the same, and the 'others' will be land-filled.


Lifestyle and Recreation : An amenities centre, play fields, sports facilities, open areas, an ecological chemical-free swimming pool, dining facilities, etc. will be part of the project.


As mentioned above, we are interested in anyone who genuinely believes in the thinking behind the project. We will therefore have checks and balances in place so that 'investors' who plan to buy-and-sell, or use their homes for rentals, will not find it easy to do so. Similarly, extravagant or incongruous architecture, lifestyles and landscaping will also be difficult.


For those individuals and families who are genuinely interested however, we plan to keep prices low. For example, as per current estimates we should be able to provide a 435 sq. ft. house with a 4,350 sq. ft. plot (6 cottahs of land in local parlance) for around Rs. 12-15 lakhs (Rs. 1.2 - 1.5 million), including maintenance of the house and farm plot for three years, and usage of the amenities centre and other common facilities. Smaller and larger units would also be available so that a variety of budgets can be accommodated.

VIDEOS Organic Vegetable Gardening

organic farming

BOSTON -- Barbara Wefing has been growing fruits and vegetables organically for nearly 60 years, ever since she kept most of the seed packets she was supposed to sell for her elementary school's fundraiser.
But despite decades of experience, the 65-year-old Morristown woman readily acknowledges she still has plenty to learn as she looks forward to this weekend's Northeast Organic Farming Association conference in Amherst.

AP Photo/Charles KrupaSugarsnap peas are harvested at the Many Hands Organic Farm in Barre, Mass., on July 22. The Northeast Organic Farming Association conference is expected to draw about 1,500 people.

The three-day conference that starts Friday is expected to draw a record 1,500 people, continuing a pattern of growth that prompted the nonprofit organization to move the 35-year-old event from Hampshire College two years ago to the more spacious University of Massachusetts across town.
"Interest is fueled by economics, but more and more people are becoming aware of the issues of sustainability," said conference co-coordinator Julie Rawson.
This year's conference, which draws organic growers from all six New England states, including New Jersey, features more than 200 workshops on just about everything from growing crops and raising livestock, to setting up community-based farming co-ops, to marketing and selling produce, to food politics.
"This is for anyone who has their hands in the dirt," Rawson said.
Most of the people expected to attend this weekend's conference are not large-scale farmers, said Rawson, who cultivates fruit and vegetables and raises livestock with her husband, Jack Kittredge, on about eight acres of land in Barre. In fact, calling it a "farmers" conference is a bit of a misnomer. Most of the attendees run small-scale operations on just a few acres, or are simply people prompted by the recession to save money by growing their own food on small back yard plots.
In California and Wisconsin, the nation's top two organic states, with a larger number of bigger operations, a growing number of farmers are giving up their organic certifications because of economic pressures. Wisconsin dairy farmers have been hard hit by feed prices and Californians struggling with drought.
The Chicago-based research firm Mintel says U.S. sales of organic foods sold mostly at supermarkets are expected to drop 1.1 percent this year, the first decline after annual growth rates that have ranged from 12 percent to 23 percent since 2003. Mintel has said consumers concerned about food quality are maintaining demand for organic vegetables and meat, while slowing on organic snacks.

AP Photo/Charles KrupaThe muddy hands of harvesters are grouped together after weeding a lettuce bed at the many Hands Organic Farm in Barre, Mass. on July 22, 2009.

Still trade groups in California and Wisconsin say there remains a strong interest in organic farming and chemical-free production.
"More and more people are understanding the energy issues, the nutrition issues, the farmland preservation issues, and more people are realizing that organic agriculture is one of the best things we have to fight climate change, to fight diseases, to fight obesity," said Bill Duesing, executive director of the Connecticut chapter of the organic farming association. He grows garlic, potatoes, salad greens, tomatoes and squash on his one-acre plot in Oxford, Conn.
"The demand for organic food is such that it's not hard to get rid of," he said.
Wefing, a hospice nurse who has been attending the conference for 15 years, has picked up hints on how to better grow blueberries and raspberries and improve her soil's acid-alkaline balance.
This year she hopes to learn more about composting, maintaining organic lawns at the apartment complex where she lives, and how to better use cover crops rather than letting land lie fallow between growing seasons.
"They have all kinds of helpful hints every year," she said.
Some conference workshops also are geared to the growing trend in urban agriculture, or growing produce on small inner-city lots.
"It's like victory gardens all over again," said Ruby Maddox, who helped found and still helps run the Gardening in the Community program in Springfield. The organization teaches about 20 teenagers from the city to grow their own food on four abandoned lots in the city, none larger than a half acre.
The participants bike the herbs, squash, tomatoes, potatoes, onions, cabbage, broccoli, blueberries, raspberries and strawberries to local farmer's markets and also sell to local restaurants.
"This conference brings practical experience and scientific knowledge together in one place," Duesing said.

VIDEOS Organic Farming

Welcome To Agriculture & Organic Farming Group India

Welcome To Agriculture & Organic Farming Group India


AOFG India is a network of community based grassroot level development organizations, farmers associations, farmer federations, farmer limiteds and rural NGOs. We work with small and marginal farmer collectives and indigenous communities in the rain-fed, mountain slope farming and shifting cultivation areas.
AOFG India educated, empower and organize the rural communities for self reliance, poverty reduction and economic growth. We promote farmer groups, associations and farmer inspired and farmer owned producer companies for quality production, value addition, storage and marketing. One of our slogans is “Farm to Board Room” and decision making by farmers themselves.
Quality extension services are provided to farmers on organic farming, fair trade, certification, entrepreneurship for rural development, natural resource management and conservation of agricultural ecology and biodiversity. Agro-bio diversity and livelihood options for poverty reductions are addressed and promoted through farmer limiteds. Farmer field schools provide a new direction of quality production, reduction of post harvest loss and competitive marketing.
We promote empowerment of women and reduction of household debts by facilitating Self Help Groups, micro credits (savings and loans) and family farming activities. Integration of family farming activities in a specific geographical area are providing assured quantitative production of crops for localized value addition and marketing opportunities.
We value location specific traditional knowledge and practices which are documented and disseminated in the interest of farmers as best low cost package of practices.
AOFG India have offices at New Delhi, Hyderabad, Kochi and Calicut as well as field offices at Nedumkandam, Pushpagiri, Adimali (Idukki District), Puttad, Wayanadu District, Amaravati and Kagaznagar.
We solicit enquiries from genuine fairtrade and organic companies as well as small farmer organizations.