Organic farming is a system of production that avoids or majorly blocks the use of pesticide, synthetically compounded fertilizers, livestock feed additives and growth regulators. Ideally, flexible organic farming system depend on crop residues, green manure, pest weeds, crop rotations, off-farm organic wastes, legumes, aspects of biological pest control insects as well as intensive use of animal manures.
Organic farming Methods are used widely in most of developing countries. This is because of economics and a fewer resources of chemicals. So far they are emerging as widely approved concepts in the developed countries as a result of years of harmful industry chemicals. The intensive cropping outcome has implicated through deteriorating of the tilth of the soil and decreasing content of organic matter.
Apart from this, the high levels of chemical inputs is contributing to pollution and resulting in further deterioration of soil health. Also, the rising use of agro-chemical is constantly resulting in water pollution and deterioration in healthy atmospheric conditions. It has affected the production of crops and degraded human health as well.
There are a number of problems that are connected to inorganic farming. Unfortunately these problems multiply and synergistically affect a good number of individuals. Such problems include;
- Degradation of soil quality.
- Degradation of fertility of the soil and Environmental and water pollution.
There seems to be obstinate reasons as to why organic farming has not been widely adopted. Some of these reasons includes;
- Affordable chemicals.
- Lack of immediate effects.
- Organic inputs are required in large quantities.
- Difficulty in obtaining organic fertilizer.
- Organically grown produce has unorganized markets.
- No preference is yet established to consume organic foods in developing countries.
- Government efforts to propagate the extensive use of fertilizers and pesticides.
- Scarcity in scientific research.
On the other hand, the practice of organic farming has numerous benefits. These are;
- Organic farming is more profitable than conventional farming methods.
- It significantly reduces the production cost by close to 25-30%. This is for the reason that, it does not involve the use of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides which thus makes organic farming cost-effective.
- It also enables farmers to use soil for a longer period of time to grow crops as soil fertility is maintained for a long time.
- Organic farming helps in preserving the ecosystem. This is because it is vital in supporting the survival of wildlife in the lowlands. Additionally, it provides safe pasture lands for wildlife.
- It is very beneficial to farmers. It is also useful for the dairy industry. For instance the cattle feed from organic farmlands are said to be less prone to diseases. They have been also found to yield more milk. These are great indicators to the consumer of dairy products from a health perspective and for a dairy organization from the profit standpoint.
- Organic products or foodstuff do not contain any sort of artificial flavor or preservatives. They also don’t contain any harmful chemicals.
- It is worth noting that, the original nutritional content of food is preserved since there is no synthetic fertilizers and pesticides.
- Organic products are delicious as compared to the products produced from traditional farming.
- Health researchers postulates that, the consumption of products obtained from organic farming minimizes the menace of physical illnesses for instance heart attacks. Additionally, scientific studies established that organic foods are healthier as compared to inorganic ones.
