The advent of technology has been so much advantageous to man. It has helped to improve the conditions of farming. It increases the output of farming. However, it can not be disputed that it has its adverse effects on farming and on man. This, thus brings about what we call organic farming.
What is organic farming?
Organic farming is the act of farming organically. That is; farming with the use of natural means and procedures to farm instead of the use of synthetic chemicals pesticides, animal medicines, modified seeds, preservatives and additives. Organic farming entails the usage of various practices to replace the use of the above mentioned chemicals in order to preserve the fertility of the soil. It preserves and maintains the good biological status of farm produce and also animals.
The practices in organic farming may vary in different ways. Its basically the usage of practices in farming, without the use if synthetic chemicals. The practice of organic agriculture maybe in of soil rotation, usage of natural animal manures instead of produced chemicals, mechanical cultivation, biological pest and weed control to maintain soil fertility, fine tuning produce to suite the consumption of consumers.
ADVANTAGES OF ORGANIC FARMING
Here are the various advantages of organic farming;
1. As earlier mentioned, it retains and *maintains the fertility of soil
This is feasible with the engagement of various soil practices such as inter cropping, planting of cover crops, symbiotic associations, usage of organic fertilizers. This practices also help to reduce soil erosion.
2. *It reduces the risks of humans and also animals exposure to toxic materials and helps to maintain a favorable atmospheric condition. The reduction in usage of chemical materials helps to encourage living in a favorable environment.
3. It helps consumers to maintain a good and sound health by reducing the intake of chemical products. The intake of “chemically fertilized” products increases the risk of having health failure. Organic farming helps reduces the intake of those “chemically fertilized” products.
4. It reduces the dependence of farmers on chemicals for their farming. The dependence o farmers on chemicals for the getting good agricultural results is one of the major reasons for the existence of organic farming. Conventional farmers tend to rely solely on the chemicals before they could get good agricultural produce. Hence, the need for organic farming arose.
5. It helps to reduce the high cost of agricultural practice in the sense that there’d be little or no need for the purchase of unnecessary chemicals, as almost everything is based on natural practice.
6. It encourages the preservation of agricultural natural resources, thereby preserving it for coming generations. The use of chemicals on the soil and on natural resources does lore harm than good the resources as it weakens the nutrients of those resources, reduces the chances of such resource having lengthy lifespan and leaving the coming generation to little or no resources for farming. It becomes obvious that if this conventional act of farming isn’t stopped, we leave the coming generation with slim chances of survival.
7. The soil’s ability to retain water increases and also, it reduces the need to use more chemicals. The soil maintains its nutrients and the need to use more chemical substances reduces.
CHALLENGES OF ORGANIC FARMING
Listed below are the major challenges of organic farming;
1. It requires adequate knowledge; the practice of organic farming requires having adequate knowledge of those practices, otherwise, satisfied results will not be achieved. This can be solved by making enquiries from more experienced farmers on how to carry out some practices.
2. It may be more difficult and strenuous to practice* it requires more labor to practice and as such, one needs work time and energy to engage in it.
3. Organic manures may be difficult or scarce to get* getting organic manure may be difficult for some farmers and economics teaches that where the scarcity of good, the price of such good becomes higher. Thus, the purchase of organic manures may even be more expensive than that of the chemicals.
4. Due to the chemicalized nature of organic products, they tend to have a short lifespan.*: They tend to decay and rotten easily which may not encourage good and expected income which means that all the efforts of the farmer has might not be sufficiently turned into desired income.
5. Another great challenge associated with organic farming is that pests still love to destroy even the organic products. Pests like rodents and rats, if not strictly controlled, may still have their way into the products and destroy it. Ways of controlling those pests include, setting of traps, setting of birds, diversified crops etc.
6. Limited outcome of products. There would be the production of quality products. However, there would be limited produce of product compared conventionally grown products.
Organic farming can be so challenging to practice because of the tedious tasks that are related with it. However, it remains the more advisable way of practicing agricultural because of its outstanding benefits.
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