Organic Farming - Need Of Present Day World

Prof. G.S.Murthy

HISTORY OF ORGANIC FARMING Albert Howard 1873-1947 pioneer, botanist by profession . ( President Indian National Congress 1926). Supported traditional Indian agricultural practices. His theme was healthy soil, healthy people, live stock and crops. Documented Organic training techniques. Slow poisoning of the soil by chemical fertilisers Book: Agricultural Testament. The approach for Ag should be from land not from lab.

History of Organic Farming Rudolf steiner 1924 (German) Balancing the interaction of animals- plantsSoils (Ecology )management. Built Biodynamic farming in Germany Lord NorthBourne The term organic farming was first coined by him in his book Look to the land 1939.  A treatise on holistic ecology and agriculture.

History of Organic Farming Lady Eve Belfour UK  systematically experimented on organic and conventional farming from 1939-1943 Book- LIVING SOIL 1944. Emphasised on the spiritual and ethical values Manobu Fukuoka (Japan) microbiologist Developed a model “No-Till” organic farming and practiced and preached from 1940 for thirty years. (Now known as fukuoka farming)

The five major principles of Fukuoka's farming methods are

1.No tillage 2.No fertilizer 3.No pesticides 4. No weeding 5.No pruning Fukuoka has learned how plants can grow naturally and vigorously with little or no human effort. For over fifty years he has achieved surplus yields of rice, barley, plums, citrus fruits and vegetables by means of natural farming. Fukuoka's methods have also been used to green the deserts. Books: One straw revolution, Road back to nature and Natural way of farming.

Western Researchers on Organic Farming J.I Rodale USA 1950: Popularised the term sustainable agriculture and the method of organic farming in USA and published several scientific reports. Rodale research Institute NY 1972 International federation of organicAgriculture (IFOA) movement in France. Co-ordinates all efforts in organic farming world wide.

Conspiracy of Industrial World Post war scenario Ammonium nitrate lost it’ s importance after the invention of Nuclear Bomb. Chemical fertilisers are imposed on the farmers market in the name of productivity. Silentspring. RachelCarson.1962., Tragedy of using toxic chemicals and pesticides

Disaster of Chemical Fertilisers The result is  Loss of soil fertility- Land degradation  Loss of biodiversity, Water scarcity, Biodiversity erosion, climate change, Chemically contaminated foods Destruction of traditional knowledge systems

Organic Farming and Bringing Life to the Soil Organic farming offers “Living soil” theory.

Living soil is Rich in nutrients N P K Sufficient minerals for plant nutrition B,Cl,Co,Cu,Fe,Mn,Mg,Mo,S and Zn Rich in micro-organisms that support plant growth Contains large amount of top soil

Organic Farming – Improving the Fertility of Soil Rich in organic matter( improves soil structure

and moisture) improves water retaining capacity-improves underground water level Note: Latest Nasa satellite survey reports ground water levels of north India have been declining 33cm ( one foot) per year. Times of India 14th Aug, ’09.

Cow – Mother of Farming

Subhas palekar Amaravati Maharashtra Mob: 09423702877 Palekar’s views Mother earth is Annapurna It’s degradation is our doing All the useful organisms billions and billions were destroyed by chemical fertilisers. We have to put a full stop for this indiscriminate use of fertilisers To replenish and bring back the soil to living condition the source is COW and its products mainly its Dung and Urine.

COW- Mother of Farming Manure from one cow can maintain 30 acres of

cultivation profitably. Jivamrutam a value added manure from cow’s dung and urine.( See Natural farming –By palekar) Dung is gold mine - A Book by International society for cow protection ISCOWP.ORG says The only way to the problems of shortage of food

grains, water, fuel, shelter, good health, nutrition, eradication of poverty and unemployment is dungDung and only Dung

Firodia, Chairman, pune

Kinetic

group,

Technical article The TOI, Dec, 2004 Methane farming a concept of alternate energy In India 250 Mn cattle, 1250 Mn tonnes of cow dung The methane produced can entirely replace LPG, Kerosene

use for cooking and petrol for transportation The By-product is an excellent organic manure Gobar gas research stn in U.P. finding : Each cow produces methane equivalent to 225 Lts of petrol/yr

COW - Economic Prosperity Gobar from 75 Mn cows can meet the kerosene

and LPG requirement for 100 crore population 40 Mn cows can produce energy equivalent to 8 Mn tonnes petrol ( Our annual national petrol consumption (2003-04 figs) The gobar slurry produced in this process will yield 50Mn tonnes of organic manure rich in N and P Meets all the fertiliser requirement for 150 Mn Ha of crop lands of India

COW - A Potential Economic Tool Most important phase of basic Indian economy (Cowbased)

was ignored by the frenzied industrial tempo. we need not oppose industry but emphatically insist that all industrial development must be in consonance and in conformity with basic (cow based) indian economy. This requires will at Govt. as well as people’s level Industry should support, not distort and destroy this basic cow economy of the country.

Some questions to make people think What else you want? Why import oil and face oil and energy crisis? Do we have the national will? Are we on the right direction in shaping the

industrial and economic policies of our country? Or else are we playing to the tune of Industry driven technologies and policies to serve the interests of few and few countries? Is it not the proper time to think?

Some questions to be answered Can organic farming produce enough food for

everybody?  In the so called green revolution areas (irrigated lands ) conversion to organic agriculture usually gives the same yields. In traditional rainfed agriculture ( with low external inputs)org.Ag has shownpotential to increase yields.

U.N. FAO Report 2002 Organic sustainable agriculture practices can provide

synergic benefits that include mitigating climate change It has major potential for reducing Agricultural GHG s Energy use in conventional Ag systems is 200 times than that of Org.systems. Because most of the energy is used in the manufacture of pesticides etc., Note : They are thrust by the big business, influences the policy centers, MNC s, money , economics Ref: Innovations Agronomiques (2009),4,P. 269 several such reports are available

Institute of science in society ISIS UK report 31/1/08 Dr.Mac wan HO Synthetic fertilisers and oil based fertilisers

release CO2 through quick decay of soil organic matter(Carbon) On the other hand organic approach sequesters carbon it takes carbon from the air and puts back into the soil Agriculture as we practice now is one of the major contributers to global warming.But it could be the biggest mitigator.The choice is ours.

Cow – Rejuvenator of Soil There were soils in US with 20% occarbon at

one time. Now some of them have 1% carbon We need to put back the carbon into soil and rebuild ecological and human health. Healthy carbon rich soil holds water. 1 Kg of carbon holds 40 Kgs of water Organic systems avoids the formation of dead zones (Hypoxic)formed through NO3 , P2O5 run off

Organic FarmingScientificEvidence Several scientific reports support Science Daily NY Jan 26,2006, July 13 2007,

reports crop yields in organic farming systems in developing countries rose nearly 80 per cent in four yrs. Organic farming produce thrice as much food as in conventional farming. ( with a caution) on the same amount of land.

Organic FarmingScientificEvidence org. Ag. Out performs the conventional in production especially in stress years that we may face more frequently in future.

Anna Lappe NY

founder of “Take a bite out of climate” With the onset of Peak

oil the conventional systems

fail to feed the world (www.oilcrisis.org).

Organic FarmingScientificEvidence

Dr.Paul Happerley, Research director Rhodale

Institute USA “ We have shown that organic practices can do better than any one thought, at sequestering carbon and could counter act up to 40% of Global GHGs. Re: Hunger, environment and nutrition - spring 2009, Christine Mc cullum , Food and nutritional. consultant “ Org .Ag. Past present and future

Questions on Organic Farming Is it possible to meet the nutrient requirement In this system plant nutrition depends on biologically derived nutrients( Slow kinetics but perpetual) instead of readily soluble forms. Animal dung ( cow),crop residues,green manure, biofertilisers, biosolids from agro industries and food processing wastes are the natural sources. Note: 600-700 million ton of Ag. waste is available in the country which is not properly utilised.

Organic Farming – Some Vital Statistics  India produces 1800 million tons of animal dung Even 2/3 of dung is used produce 120 million

cubic meters of bio gas daily and 440 million tons of manure per year.( equal to 2.5mn tons of nitrogen,2.75 m tons of P2O5 and 1.8 m tons of K2O. Note: It is estimated 25 million workers in developing countries are poisoned each year by pestides. It Can be avoided by organic farming.

Organic Farming – Economic Potential Is it economically beneficial ? The business in 2005 was 30 bn us dollars,with a

growth rate of 20-25%. Govt.Agencies should help the small scale farmers get proper returns for their organic produce. 30% land holding with small farmers and they possess 70% cattle. They need to be trained in cattle rearing for right economies. Answer is palekar’s approach of natural farming linked to cow.

Are there any environmental benefits 30 years of research at Rodale institute Ny

USA showed that it is possible to substantially mitigate the impacts of global warming UNCTAD/WTO report says Agriculture is both affected by climate change but also contributes to it. Org. farming mitigates and reduces green house gas emission where as intensive chemical fertiliser farming increases ghg emission

Conclusions of a recent intl. symposium conducted by AAAS Feb 2009 at Chicago Theme: living soil-food quality Conclusions: Organically grown spinach contains less nitrate concn.

Which carcinogenic.(Review of a decade’s work) Scientists agree org.farming delivers healthier rich soil and nutritionally enhanced food. 30% increase in anti oxidants and tastier. Average child in US is exposed to five pesticides daily. Organic foods are free from them. Public health costs of pesticides use in US are 1.1 Bn $

Agriculture holds the key to global warming Barbara kessler, Science Ny june 2, 2009 Five ways to reduce and seqester GHG s 1)enriching the soil carbon( the third largest

carbon pool) by burying carbon in the form of Bio-char. 2) farming with periannials: periannial trees including (forests) shurbs, palms, and grasses that produce food ( live stock food and fuel)

Organic Farming – Climate Friendly 3)climate friendly live stock production. Live

stock produce 50% of GHG s. 4) Manure management and methane capture for bio-gas production. 5) protecting natural habitat,restoring degraded watersheds, restoration of vegetation.

Mahatma Gandhi ji’s swadeswhi movement Charakha is a means for independance Swadeshi is a movement 1930 entire country

involved. In his words The concept of swadeshi is not vindictive. It is a necessity for national existance. We got freedom in 1947. How independent are we? It is a big question. .

Gandhi – Cow - Organic Farming Gandhiji said rural india is real india. Is it safe

and secure particularly for small farmers i.e 60% of our rural population Modern technology and the business, propelled by the forces of market and politics is responsible for disappearing of forests, drying of rivers, degradation of farm lands and for the disappearing of bio-diversity.

Organic Farming - Points to Ponder If man is making mess of his personal social and

ecological life, it is not because of want of knowledge, “ It is because of lack of discipline” The gap between knowledge and practice is widening continuously. This distance is greater than the distance between knowledge and ignorance

Organic Farming - Points to Ponder ” Ponder on this “Who am I” “What do I own” You are apparently rich but your direction is

wrong. Where it leads to? Finally How good are the financial returns if the water you drink , the food you eat and the air you breathe are dreadfully contaminated.

Organic Farming - Points to Ponder Industry robs, exploits the poor, the ignorant

rural masses propagating Consumerism . MNC s play deterministic roles. Govt is helpless. Economics got divorced from social concern because the study of management is merely concerned with materials and wealth. What is the remedy to make rural poor rich enough to provide two meals a day.

Organic Farming - Points to Ponder Org. farming has the answer. Eleminates farmer suicides. Mitigates economic recession Improves rural economy Empowers the farmer

Organic Farming - Points to Ponder Org farming is a movement originated in developed

countries to mitigate the evils of market driven economies. Everybody is a victim. rich and poor developed and developing countries everybody. The reason Mans’greed. Mahatma said There is enough for man’s needs but not to his greed. If man does not learn through wisdom, nature teaches him by force. E.g. global warming, climate change,soil degradation etc.,

Organic Farming - Points to Ponder Eternal vigilance is the price of the freedom. To be aware and make people aware is called

Jnana yagna. B.G.  It is going on in this country since ages.  It is time to remember our mother earth and the closely related cow in our own future interests.

VMGG YATRA IS ONE SUCH EFFORT Web: www.gougram.org An effort to keep the Indian villages on the

path of sustainable development through cow and cow based economy.

Action Plan To encourage farmers to rear indigenous cows

and bulls To educate the farmers towards wholistic approach towards cow based economy To encourage to develop rural technologies applied to organic farming methods and improve employment potential in villages To create conditions for reverse migration from cities to villages

A Historical Movement To keep our land fertile and be independent To keep the rural poor self sufficient To withstand the market driven economies

and the consumerism To mitigate recession and its effects  Note: Our failure to evaluate justly the nature’s gifts to mankind is the serious problem

A Historical Movement Some features the Yatra Yatra starts on 30th sept 2009 vijayadasami day

from Kurukshetra. Covers 20,000 km in108 days There will be several regional yatras connecting the main Crores of signatures will be obtained Touches lakhs of villages Hence: Participate and co operate in this movement of national necessityand importance.

Eminent personalities leading this movement Sri Raghavendra Bharati swami ji Sri sri Ravishankarji Sri Ramdevji Sri Mata Amritananda mai ji Sri Acharya vidya sagarji Sri Acharya Mahapragna ji Swamy Dayananda sarswati ji Sri Murari Bapu ji SriPranav Pandyaji Hon.President Dr H.R .Nagendra working president

References: An agricultural testament-by sir.Albert Howard,1940

Other Indian press, Goa. Secrets of the soil-peter Tompkins and Christopher Bird Rupa and co, second Ed.,2004. Philosophy of spiritual farming(zero budget natural farming)-subash palekar. Oraganic agriculture-P.K.tandon,1995. Sustainable agriculture, www.sustainet.org Center for Indian knowledge systems, TN. www.ciks.org

Recent references New study confirms the ecological virtues of

organic farming. Mark shwartz., Stanford nes service.,6th March 2006. Carbon sequestration potential of Org.Ag. Bente Foeried., e.al., Nutrient cycling in Agro systems, Vol.6. No 1. p13-26 (jan 2004). article based on USDA report Carbon credits to farmers p 10,NovDec 2008 GHG gases mitigation in Org.Ag.,, Pete smith et..al.,  Phil. Trans. of the Roy.So.,B.,vol363(815-363) 2008.

 “Africa: Reinventing Agriculture”, Stephen Leahy, Inter Press Service,  (Johannesburg), 15 April 2008,

http://allafrica.com/stories/200804150171.html

 “Urgent changes needed in global farming practices to avoid environmental destruction” Greenpeace International

Press Release, 15 April 2008.

 “GM foods ‘not the answer’ to world’s food shortage crisis, report says”, Sean Poulter, The Daily Mail, 16 April 2008

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=559965&in_page_id=1770

 GM food, biofuels and a hungry world, Editorial,         

The Daily Mail, 16 April 2008 http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/newscomment.html?in_page_id=1787&in_article_id=559945 What is the International Assessment of Agricultural Knowledge, Science & Technology, IAASD? A compilation from its plenary decisions and official documents, http://www.agassessment-watch.org/docs/IAASTD_on_three_pages.pdf International Assessment of Agricultural Knowledge, Science & Technology (IAASTD) Synthesis Report 25 November 2007, http://www.agassessment.org/docs/Synthesis_Report_261107_text.pdf Ho MW. Food without fossil fuels now. Invited Keynote Lecture, 2nd Mediterranean Conference on Organic Agriculture in Croatia, Organic Agriculture – Contribution to Sustainable Ecosystem, 2-6 April 2008, Dubrovnik University. Dubrovnik, Croatia, http://www.i-sis.org.uk/foodWithoutFossilFuels.php Ho MW, Burcher S, Lim LC et al. Food Futures Now, Organic, Sustainable, Fossil Fuel Free, ISIS TWN Report, London & Penang, 2008. “Global food system ‘must change’” BBC News, 15 April 2008, http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/7347239.stm “Change in farming can feed world – report”, John Vidal, The Guardian, 16 April 2008, http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2008/apr/16/food.biofuels Saunders PT. Marketing masquerading as scientific survey. Science in Society 38 (to appear). Ho MW and Saunders PT. “UK faremers upbeat about GM crops” debunked. Science in Society 38 (to appear). printer friendly version

Recent references contd : www.sustainable.org Recent growth patterns of

US organic food markets, US dept. of agriculture, Bulletin. No 777,Sept,2002. www.twnside.org.sg (third world network) benefits of organic farming report, March 08 Beware of pesticides in food chain-Prof. R.S.Chauhan,organiser august 16,2009,p.31 Org.Ag., past, present and future, Christine Mc Cullum-Hunger and Env nutrition, Spring 2009. Rodale research institute reports,N.Y. www.govigyan.com. Research Centre at Nagpur

Thaindian News July, 2009. (ANI) Change in fertiliser subsidy policy can save crores of rupees.

Ensures food security – Green peace 2008-09 fert. Sbusidy Rs. 1,20,000 crores. Recommendations: Look for alternative subsidy systems to sustainable Ag. Refocus scientific research and ensure food security under changing climatic conditions Dr.B.Croy, Dr.G.Nchattopadyay, Viswabharati Univ. And Dr.Reyes Tirado, Green peace Res. Labs. Univ. of Exter

Some quotes to think Cow is the source of progress and prosperity.

Mahatma Gandhiji Cow protection is the eternal Dharma of India Babu Rajendra Prasad Cow is the foundation of our country. Giyani Zailsingh Neither Koran nor Arabian customs permit killing of cow –Hakim Ajmal Khan According to me there is nothing more scientific and intelligent act than banning cow slaughter—J.P.Narayan

Quotes Cow’s milk is tonic, it’s ghee is ambrosia and

its’ meat is disease. Hazarat Mohamad Killing a bull s equivalent to killing a cow. Jesus christ  I have studied both koran and Bible. According to both of them to kill a cow even indirectly is a great sin. Achaya vinoba Bhave  Several such quotes are available  THINK 

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