Organic Vegetable Farming: A Comics

GUIDE TO CONSCIENTIOUS FARMING What happens to the land? What happens to the food it produces? What happens to the people who eat it? What will eventually happen to the communities?

Difference Between Chemical and Organic Farming Chemical farming is the cultivation and production of crops using inorganic inputs.

Organic farming is the cultivation and production of crops using biodegradable organic inputs.

Continuous use of chemical fertilizers leads to changes in the pH of the soil. The soil becomes either acidic, too salty or toxic often kills plants.

Abundant organic matter in the soil maintains a near neutral pH where nutrient availability is optimum. This also promotes the natural ecosystem of the soil to grow.

Soil particles in the absence of binding agents of chemically managed farms lead to erosion. The steady loss of fertile topsoil ultimately leads to barren land unfit for farming.

Organically managed soils have improved soil structure increasing its water retention capacity, reducing the risk of soil erosion.

Crop Differences Between Chemical Farming and Organic Farming. Chemical grown crops doesn’t have much resistance or power against pest and disease because of a weak cell wall.

Availability of a full range of nutrients in an organically managed soil provides the natural resistance to crops against pest disease.

The non-availability of nutrients and a low supply of potassium reduce the quality and shelf life of the product.

Nutrient availability in the entire crop growth and increased absorption capacity of the crop improves the keeping quality of fruits and vegetables. 2

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DIFFERENCES BETWEEN CHEMICAL FARMING AND ORGANIC FARMING Health and Social Differences ORGANIC FARMING

CHEMICAL FARMING An unutilized chemical fertilizer and pesticide residue in the soil and water leads to environmental pollution which sometimes cause toxic effects to other forms of life including man.

Organic practice is a pollution free approach because the end products are all decomposable.

Inorganic fertilizers do not decompose properly and leave residues in the plant parts, When used as feed material for animals and food for man it may create a disease and possible malformation in newborn babies.

The plant parts from organically managed soils are not only rich but more importantly safe. Organic measures and remedies do not release harmful residues in the soil and crop.

Economic Differences CHEMICAL FARMING

ORGANIC FARMING

Inorganic input materials are very expensive.

Organic input materials are less costly because it is readily available and very easy to apply.

Fertilizer managed soil has fluctuating yields due to varying nutrient availability during the whole crop cycle. A deficiency in one element directly affects the growth and metabolism of a crop resulting to an erratic yield.

When nutrients are available in a balanced way during the entire crop cycle, the plant will produce satisfactory yields and quality according to its genetic potential.

Chemical farm products have a shorter shelf life and lower nutrient content therefore offer low prices in the market.

An organic product is superior in nutritive quality and shelf life so commands better prices in the market.

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