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Limitations with organic farming

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November 11, 2017

What is the issue?

Organic farming, which is increasingly being promoted in recent days, has many limitations for it to be taken on a large scale.

What are the challenges?

  • Manure - Huge quantities of manure would be needed to replace the chemical fertilisers.
  • Notably, tribal farmers do not own plots large enough to keep cattle.
  • It is also not possible to free the landscape for enough quantities of the dung of free-range cattle to supply crops the nutrients they need.
  • Impact of green revolution - The practices employed as a result of Green Revolution have delved deeper into the agricultural system.
  • Certainly, it has now become harder for true traditional farming because the country’s agricultural system is engulfed in high-input agriculture.
  • However, it is felt that traditional farming would thrive, if subsidies offered for high-input agriculture is graded down.
  • This can probably help the small scale farmers to be self-contained with the traditional, non-chemical agriculture.
  • Consumers - Organic produce in the markets along with the non-organic produce make their prices highly unaffordable for many.
  • E.g. Organic produce with higher prices from Sikkim, certainly faces competition with low priced non-organic produce from nearby West Bengal.
  • It is thus still uncertain if customers are willing to spend more, for organic farming to be taken on a large scale.

What lies before the policy makers?

  • The varied efforts and campaigns for organic farming may not all sustain it, unless it is consistently remunerative for the farmers.
  • The whole discussion on organic farming should take into consideration, apart from agriculture, the business and livelihood aspects as well.

 

Source: Financial Express

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