Scope And Prospectus Of Organic Farming In Punjab

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Organic Farming For Sustainable Crop Production

Dr. Manoj Sharma Deputy Director ( Training) KVK., Kapurthala

“Organic agriculture, a holistic system that focuses on improvement of soil health, use of local inputs ,and relatively high intensity use of local labour, is an admirable fit for drylands in many ways and the dryland offer many benefits that would make it relatively easy to implement.” Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam

Definition

“..an ecological production management system that promotes and enhances biodiversity, biological cycles and soil biological activity. It is based on minimal use of off-farm inputs and on management practices that restore, maintain and enhance ecological harmony.” National Organic Standards Board

Philosophy •Human health tied to the health of the environment

HEALTHY SOCIETY

HEALTHY PEOPLE

• A healthy soil is the foundation

Feed The Soil, Not

HEALTHY FOOD

HEALTHY SOIL

What is Organic Farming Organic agriculture is farming without synthetic pesticide and conventional fertilizer

A production system that responds to site-specific conditions by integrating cultural, biological and mechanical practices that foster cycling of resources, promote ecological balance and conserve biodiversity.

Adverse effects of inorganic farming • Destruction of soil structure and poor water holding capacity • Reduction in soil fertility and low organic matter content • Increase in salinity, sodicity and land submergence • Indiscriminate killing of useful insects 5. Adverse effect on soil flora and fauna 6. Resistance development in pathogen 7. Deterioration of environment and human health

Pesticide contamination of food and feed in Punjab Commodity

Number of samples Analysed Contaminated

Cereals

30

30

Rice Grain

99

99

Vegetables

96

64

Animal feed

15

15

105

105

24

23

Animal feed and fodder Milk

Why farm organically? Organic farming provides long-term benefits to people and the environment.

Organic farming aims to: • Increase long-term soil fertility. • Control pests and diseases without harming the environment. • Ensure that water stays clean and safe. • Use resources which the farmer already has, so the farmer needs less money to buy farm inputs. • Produce nutritious food, feed for animals and high quality crops to sell at a good price.

•

Factors driving organic farming Diverse agro-climate regions that

provides environment for wide range of crops that can cater to different market demands. • Increasing awareness & health consciousness. • Availability of comparatively cheap labour for labour-intensive organic agriculture • Huge numbers of small farmers, those who do the traditional farming have very limited capacity to pay for most of the chemical

Factors driving organic farming

• Increasing involvement of private companies in field of agricultural extension, trade, consultation and other services • Enhanced government attention and support for organic agriculture through various policy initiations and action programs.

ORGANIC STATUS • Global

• Indian

: 24 mha (1.6% Ag. Area) : Nearly 130 countries produce organic product, Australia (10 mha) – lead country : 37000-41000 ha (SOEL survey), (0.3% of Ag. Area) : 2.50 million ha (APEDA) (Including 2.43 mha of forest area with wild herb & medicinal plants

Major products produced in India by Organic Farming Type

Products

Commodity

Tea, Coffee, Rice, Wheat

Spices

Cardamom, Black pepper, white pepper, ginger, turmeric, vanilla, mustard, tamarind, clove, cinnamon, nutmeg, mace chilly

Pulses

Red Gram, Black Gram

Fruits

Mango, Banana, Pineapple, Grape, passion fruit, Orange, Cashew nut, walnut

Vegetables

Okra, Brinjal, Garlic, Onion, Tomato, Potato

Oilseeds

Sesame, castor, sunflower

Others

Cotton, herbal extract

Market Organic (Export) 2004 Kerala

= 1232

Metric ton

West Bengal

= 937

Metric ton

Karnataka

= 476

Metric ton

Tamil Nadu

= 471

Metric ton

Punjab

= 541

Metric ton

Himachal Pradesh

= 521

Metric ton

Maharashtra

= 375

Metric ton

India APEDA,

Total = 6472

Metric ton

Export Product Basmati rice, cotton, Mangopulp, Cashew nut, Sesame, Piniapple pulp, Honey, Walnut, spices, coffee, Tea, Peanut canned.

Organic Principles Integrity… Benefits: Protects the concept and value of organic. Practices: Buffers, good record keeping

Sustainability… Benefits: reduced energy consumption,soil conservation, efficient water use,increased water quality. Practices: conservation structures,conservation tillage, controlled drainage,rotations, mulching, integrated systems.

Natural Plant Nutrition…

Benefits: Emphasis on soil health translates into healthier food, healthier humans. Less plant disease, fewer weeds, better waterholding capacity, resistance to erosion. Practices: Crop rotations, cover crops, green manures, animal manures, application of allowable substances in limited quantities, composting.

Biodiversity… Benefits: ecosystem (and financial) stability, more beneficial insects, greater below-ground diversity, better nutrient cycling, disease suppression, tilth, and N-fixation. Practices: intercropping, companion planting, establishment of beneficial habitats, crop rotations, cover crops, species/enterprise integration.

Biodiversity and Organic Agriculture Organic farmers are both custodians and users of biodiversity at all levels: •

Gene level: locally adapted seeds and breeds are preferred for their greater resistance to diseases and resilience to climatic stress;

•

Species level: diverse combinations of plants and animals optimize nutrient and energy cycling for agricultural production;

•

Ecosystem level: the maintenance of natural areas within and around organic fields and absence of chemical inputs create suitable habitats for wildlife. Reliance on natural control methods maintains species diversity and avoids the selection of pest species resistant to chemical control methods.

Organic agriculture and soil ecosystems Natural soil fertility must be relied upon in organic systems. Practices such as crop rotations, symbiotic association, cover crops, organic fertilizers and minimum tillage create suitable conditions for soil fauna and flora. Organic agriculture and agro-ecosystems Natural disease resistance and pest predation must be strengthened in organic systems. Crop rotation is considered the cornerstone of organic management, functioning as a tool for pest management and soil fertility. (IFOAM, 2000 )

Organic farming combats global warming

Some apprehensions about organic farming? Can organic farming produce enough food for every body ? Is it possible to meet the nutrient requirements of crops entirely from organic sources? Are there any significant environmental benefits of organic farming?  Is the food produced by organic farming superior in quality?  Is organic agriculture economically feasible?

Comparative data of 3 years average production at Phanda farm S.No.

Crops

Sowing area (Ha) Organic Control

Kharif 1. Soybean 2. Maize 3. Paddy 4. Arhar Rabi 1. Gram 2. Peas 3. Wheat

Production Qntl./Ha. Organic Control

20.000 1.000 8.800 3.750

14.000 1.000 2.000 2.000

12.46 8.00 14.50 7.98

12.16 7.50 13.00 6.63

14.000 1.500 1.500

9.000 1.500 9.500

12.72 10.80 22.00

10.18 11.20 24 20.00

Dr. G.S. Kaushal Director Agriculture Govt. of Madhya Pradesh BHOPAL

Improvement in soil composition under biodynamic practices

Ram et al., 2004

Fruit quality of tomato influenced by organic farming Treatment

Fruit quality Titrable acidity (citrate %)

Ascor bic acid (mg/1 00g)

Total solids (%)

pH

18.3

3.6

3.6

T1 -co nt rol

0.43

T2 -100% N a s u rea

0.52

20.7

4.4

3.8

T3 -100% N a s fym

0.55

20.7

4.6

3.7

T4 -100% N a s ve rmico mp ost

0.61

21.8

4.9

3.7

T5 -100% N a s co ir pit h co mp ost

0.56

20.8

4.5

3.6

T6 -75% N as FYM wi th Azo spirillum

0.62

20.8

5.O

3.7

T7 -75% N as vermicom po st wit h Azosp ir llu m T8 -75% N as coir pith com po st with Azosp ir illu m

0.72

23.0

5.4

3.9

0.66

21.7

5.2

3.8

T9 -50% N asF YM with Azos pirill um

0.48

19.1

4.1

3.5

T1 0-50% N a s ve rmico mp ost with Azosp ir llu m T1 1-50% N a s co ir pit h co mp ost wi th Azosp ir illu m

0.50

19.4

4.3

3.6

0.48

19.1

4.2

3.6

C. D(P= 0.05 )

0.03

0.5

0.3

0.4

Kannan et al.,

Effect of organic farming on fruit characteristics and yield of tomat

Treatment

Fruit characters Fruit height (cm)

Fruit girth (cm)

Fruit weight (g)

Yield (t/ha)

T1-Control

2.2

10.7

29.8

22.7

T2-100% N as urea

2.6

14.4

29.8

31.0

T3-100%N as fym

2.6

14.3

39.7

30.9

T4-100%N as vermicompost

2.7

14.7

40.3

31.2

T5-100%N as coirpith compost

2.6

14.4

39.8

31.0

T6-75%N as FYM with Azospirillum

2.8

14.7

40.5

31.3

T7-75%N as vermicompost with Azospirllum

3.1

15.2

42.7

33.0

T8-75%N as coirpith compost with Azospirillum

3.0

14.9

41.4

31.7

T9-50%N asFYM with Azospirillum

2.4

12.7

38.5

30.6

T10-50%N as vermicompost with Azospirllum

2.5

13.3

39.0

30.5

T11-50%N as coirpith compost with Azospirillum

2.5

13.3

38.7 Kannan et30.7 al., 2006

Rice equivalent yield (t/ha) of different systems under various management practices at PAU

Cropping System GM-Basmati Rice- Wheat Turmeric-Onion Summer GroundnutGarlic Maize-durum Wheat-Cowpea (F) RiceGarlic+Mentha

Productivity Chemi Organi cal c 12.6 13.0

( t/ha) Integrat ed 13.6

19.2 25.3

36.9 29.1

36.6 29.4

11.4

12.6

12.3

24.9

31.0

32.2

Management of soil fertility using on – farm inputs in maize/basmati rice – wheat cropping systems at PAU Organic Inputs Farmyard Manure (FYM) Crop residues (CR) Vermicompost (VC) 1/3 FYM + 1/3 CR + 1/3 VC Control

GM Control

Grain Yield (q/ha) Maize

Wheat

39.9 33.7 41.9 41.5 17.1

35.6 32.4 33.0 34.2 13.2

Basmati Rice

Wheat

30.8 17.2

29.3 13.7

Green fodder yield (t/ha) under different fodder production system at PAU

Treatment

Green fodder yield (t/ha)

Kharif

Rabi

Summer

Total

1 00. 1 9 41. 1 7 24. 1 0 16. 9 1 44. 1 3 15. 1 5 36. 2.3

Main Plots (Green fodder system) Sorghum – Berseem Maize – BerseemBajra Maize-BerseemMaize+cowpea

33.7 13.2 14.2

67.2 67.7 67.9

60.8 41.9

Sorghum + gurara - oats - cowpea

35.0

48.3

33.6

sysem) 71.2 53.3 63.7 1.7

47.2 42.6 46.5 2.0

Sub plots (Management Organic 25.9 Chemical 19.6 Integrated 26.4 CD (0.05) 0.95

Plant Nutrient Supply System in Organic Farming • Organic amendments with organic manure, vermicompost and bio fertilizers. • Biodynamic Approach based on soil biotechnology and microbiology. • Homeopathic Approach • Agnihotra Approach • Panchgavya Approach

Nutrient Cycling Soil microorganisms mediate nutrient cycles through decomposition of organic residues - Microorganisms ‘feed’ on the residues - Biochemical by-products are plant nutrients (N,P,S) and other beneficial compounds like humic acid

• Mineralization Microbial conversion of organic N P and S into ammonium, phosphate, and sulfate - Nutrients become available -

• Immobilization

-Microbial assimilation of inorganic N, P, and S - Nutrients temporarily tied up in microbial biomass

Microbial Functional Groups Bacteria - decomposers, primary players in NP and S cycling - Actinomycetes act on more complex compounds to form humus Fungi - Decomposers, attack lignin - Nutrient acquisition (mycorrhiza) Protozoa and Nematodes - Consume bacteria and fungi releasing plant nutrients (N) - Activity increases decomposition rates

Factors Affecting Microbial Populations Moisture - Microorganisms need water to survive Oxygen - Bacteria both aerobic and anaerobic - Fungi, protozoa and nematodes aerobic Temperature - Adaptable - Activity generally increases as temperature rises Soil pH - Bacteria sensitive to acidity - Fungi function at low pH Organic Matter - OM source of C and nutrients - OM additions stimulate microbial growth

Agricultural Practices Affecting Microbial Populations

Tillage - Destroys fungi, meso and macrofauna - Reduces OM - Reduces aggregation Fertilizers - N and P fertilizers create acid zones killing microorganisms Fumigation - Indiscriminant destruction of microbial community Monocropping - Reduces microbial diversity - Promotes pest build-up

What About the Soil Food Web?

What About the Soil Food Web?  Important to recognize the role of each functional group and their interdependence  Remember that management practices affect microbial interactions  Soil tests to quantify soil food web are expensive and difficult to interpret  Hot area for research

Tools and Practices for organic farming Crop Rotation  Soil fertility - Legumes for N fixation - Diverse rooting habits Pest Management - Break pest cycles - Promote diversity  Know the family of the crops Crops rotated so that crops from different families follow each other Lettuce, Beans ,Corn ,Tomatoes

Green Manures in the Crop Rotation: Soil fertility - Legumes for N fixation - Grasses for OM accumulation - Diverse rooting habits Pest Management - Break pest cycles - Promote diversity, attract beneficials - Biofumigants (brassicas, sudan grass, sunn hemp) Weed Management - Perennial rye - Oats

Composts and Manures: .. Soil Conditioner - Feed the soil - Improve physical properties .. Nutrient Availability - C:N ratio - Total N content - . 15% of total N in mature composts available in the first year (Bettina et al., 2003) - Field trials estimate that composts alone can satisfy crop N demands after 40-80 years Feather meal Dairy Manure Compost C:N ratio: 3.2 18 10-17 Total N 12% 2.0% 1.0%

Composts and Manures: Timing -Continuous additions to build up SOM - Mineralization potential of soil increases as OM inputs increase with time - SOM acts as nutrient reserve continuously releasing nutrients - High N materials can be used as a rapid source of N in the short term

Intercropping and Companion Planting: Interplanting 2 or more mutually beneficial plants to increase biodiversity

Biological Pest Control: Depends on managing beneficial insect predators/parasites Seen as default benefit of organic soil management practices that promote above and below ground diversity Can include the release of control agents Farmscaping: long/short term design to create habitats for beneficials

Tillage and Cultivation Tools for weed control, residue management, manure incorporation, hardpan destruction, pest control Negative impacts: - Costly - Destroy humus reserves and soil organisms - compaction Conservation and ridge tillage - Organic growers pioneers

Mulching Weed control, moisture and temperature control, soil organic matter Large quantities of resistant organic materials (wood chips, straw, etc…) Not practical on a large scale

List of bio-pesticides available in market

Name

Purpose

Neemazal

Against borers

Neem oil (5 %)

Against borers

Neem seed extract (5 %)

Against borers

Neem cake

For controlling nematodes Against stored

Dried neem leaves Cow dung ash dusting

grain pests Against sap sucking insects

Water spray

Against aphid

Trichogramma cards

Against borers

Trixho- XP ( Trichoderma harzaianum) Sudocel

Against diseases

Sour butter milk (10 %)

Pseudomonas fluoresens (PSF) Larvocel Bauvaria baviana

Against diseases Against diseases

Products for use in fertilization and soil conditioning in organic farming Sr Items . No Material produced on an organic farm unit . Matter produced on an organic farm unit

Condition s for use

1

Farmyard and slurry, urine

Permitted

2

Crop residues and green manure

Permitted

3

Straw and other mulches

Permitted

4

Composts and vermicomposts

Permitted

Matter produced outside the organic farm unit

1

Blood meal, meat meal, bone meal and feather meal without preservatives

Restricted

2

Compost made from plant residues and animal excrement

Restricted

3

Farmyard manure, slurry, urine

4

Fish and fish products without preservatives

5

Guano

6

Human excreta

7

Wood, bark, sawdust, wood ash, wood charcoal

8

Straw, animal charcoal, compost and spent mushroom and vermiculture substances

9

Compost from organic household

10 Compost from plant residues 11 Sea weed and sea weed products

Restricte d Restricte d Restricte d Restricte d Restricte d Restricte d Restricte d Restricte d

By products from the industries 1

By- products from the food and textile industries of biodegradable material of microbial, plant or animal origin without any systematic additives

Restricte d

2

By products from oil palm, coconut and cocoa (including fruit bunch, palm oil mill effluent, cocoa peat and empty coca pods. By products of industries processing ingredients from

Restricte d

3 4

organic agriculture Extracts from mushroom, chlorella, fermented product from Aspergillus, natural acids (vinegar)

Restricte d Restricte d

Mineral Origin

Basic slag

Restricted

Calcareous and magnesium rock

Restricted

Lime, limestone, gypsum

Restricted

Calcified sea weed

Restricted

Calcium chloride

Restricted

Mineral potassium with low chlorine content (e.g. sulphate of potash, kainite, sylvinite, patenkali) (rock phosphate) Natural phosphates

Restricted

Trace elements

Permitted

Sulphur

Permitted

Clay (bentonite, perlite, zeolite)

Permitted

Restricted

Microbiological origin Bacterial preparation (bio fertilizers)

Permitted

Biodynamic preparations

Permitted

Plant preparation and botanical extracts

Permitted

Products for plant pest and disease control

Items

Material from plant and animal origin

Conditio n for use

Plant based repellents (Neem preparations from Azadirachta indica

Permitt ed

Algal preparations (gelatine) Casein

Permitt ed Permitt

Extracts from mushroom, chlorella, fermented products from Aspergillus

ed Permitt ed

Propolis

Restrict ed Permitt

Beeswax, natural acids (vinegar), plant oils, Quassia Rotenone from Derris elliptica, Lonchocarpus, Trphrosia spp Tobacco tea (pure nicotine prohibited Preparation from Rryania species

ed Restrict ed Restrict ed Restrict

Items

Conditio n for use

Mineral Origin Chloride of lime/soda Burgundy mixture Clay (bentonite, perlite, ermiculite, zeolite Copper salts/inorganic salts (Bordeaux mix, copper hydroxide, copper oxychloride) Quick lime Mineral Origin Diatomaceous earth Light mineral oils Permagnate of potash Insect Origin

Restrict ed Restrict ed Permitte d Not allowed Restrict ed Permitte d Restrict ed Restrict ed

Release of parasites, predators of insect pests Sterilized insects

Restrict ed Restrict

Sterlized insects males

ed Not allowed

Items

Conditio n for use

Microorganisms used for biological pest control Viral, fungal and bacterial preparations Restrict ed Others(biopesticides) Carbon dioxide and nitrogen gas Soft soap, soda, sulphur dioxide

Permitt ed Permitt

Homeopathic and ayurvedic preparations Herbal and biodynamic preparations

ed Permitt ed Permitt

Sea salt and salty water

ed Permitt ed Not

Ethyl alcohol

allowed Traps, barriers and repellants Physical methods (e.g. chromatic traps, Permitt mechanical traps) ed Mulches, nets Pheromones-in traps and dispensers

Permitt ed Permitt

Average nutrient content of organic manures Source of Nutrition Organic manure Farmyard Manure Farm

Percentage composition N

P2O5

K2O

0.5

0.2

0.5

0.5

0.15

0.5

compost Town compost Night soil

1.4

1.00

1.4

5.5

4.0

2.0

Vermicompos tCrop

3.0

0.0

1.5

1.5-2.0

1.0

1

-

25-30

-

residues Bio gas slurry Rock phosphate

-

Source of Nutrition Non edible oil N cake Castor cake

Percentage composition P2O5

K2 O

4.3

1.8

1.3

3.9

1.8

1.6

3.9

0.9

1.2

Mahua cake

2.5

0.8

1.8

Neem cake

5.2

1.0

1.4

Safflower 4.9 cake Green Manure crops

1.4

1.2

2.3

0.5

1.80

3.5

0.6

1.20

2.71

0.53

2.21

Cotton seed cake Karanj or honge cake

San hamp (Crotolaria juncea) Dhaincha ( Sesbnia aculeata) Sesbania speciosa

Source of Nutrition Green leaf manure

Percentage composition N

P2O5

K2 O

2.76

0.28

4.6

3.31

0.44

2.39

2.76

0.46

0.50

2.83

0.28

0.35

Blood meal

10-12

1-2

1.00

Meat meal

10.5

2.5

0.5

Fish meal

4-10

3-9

0.3-1.5

Horn and hoof meal

13

-

-

Raw bone meal

3-4

20-25

-

Steamed bone meal

1-2

25-30

-

Glycricidia (Gluicidia sepium) Pongamia (Pongama glabra) Gulmohur (Delonix glabra) Neem (Azadirachta indica) Animal based

Constraints Lack of technical know-how. • Lack of required amount BD preparations in market. • Lack of awareness among people about hazards •

caused by use of agrochemicals. • Bulky nature of BD preparations and compost. • In-situ production is not feasible. • Lack of scientific data on the long-term benefits and limitations of biodynamic farming. • Limited domestic market for bio-dynamically grown produce. • Quality certification.

Constraints Producers’/Distributors’/Traders’ point of view: • Lack of proper infrastructure for distribution and conservation of bioinputs is a major constraint that hinders the access of these inputs to farmers. • Some climatic regions and soil conditions are not suitable for specific

Constraining factors Farmers’ point of view:

• Given the mandated period of around three years for a conventional farm to become an organic farm, the benefits perceived by farmers tend to be limited as they have a short term orientation. • As a result even if they are aware, they are hesitant to switch over to

The government perspective • Changing the cropping and cultivation patterns is slow and time-consuming process. • Given the high levels of illiteracy and large number of small and marginal farmers it makes the change process difficult. • Subsidies on chemical fertilizers and pesticide impede the growth of organic agriculture.

Major Limitations under Punjab conditions • • • • • • • •

Bulky nature of organic manure. Divergent nutritional value. Small land holding. Lack of awareness among farmers. Marketing of organic produce. Labour and cost intensive. Low incentives from government. Non availability of bio pesticides.

Major Limitations------contd. • Dramatic and large benefits in terms of yield and returns. • Cultivation of high nutrient responsive cultivers. • Promotion of biological agents. • Urgency to meet food security.

Why farmers are reluctant to adopt organic farming in Punjab • Perceived high costs of doing organic farming due to incomplete knowledge about principles and practices of organic agriculture among farmers. They were arranging inputs from outside. • Non-availability of adequate quantities of organic manures and other organic inputs in the local market. • Knowledge of organic farming has not filtered down to actual users i.e. small farmers and the information reached to target groups, is often not backed by scientifically proven results.

Discussion points • What arguments are there in favour of organic agriculture in India? • What vested interests would oppose the growth of organic agricultures and why? • What strategies could be employed to further promote the greening of agriculture in India?

Can India adopt organic farming in a big way ? • Is organic farming non-scientific and unproven ? • Does practicing organic farming means reduced yield ? • Why were crop yields low before invention of Agro-chemicals ? • How is organic farming different from conventional ? • What are the strengths and weaknesses of organic farming

• Where is the large quantity of compost for OF ? • Does the soil fertility decline when fertilizers are not used ? • Scientifically, where crop nutrients come from in organic farming ? • How are crops protected in organic farming ? • Why restricted when India is a low user ? • Where are the evidences that high yields are possible in organic farming ?

Conclusion

 Sustainable, economic and eco friendly

approach

 Minimum risk of residual toxicity  Improvement in soil fertility with high yield, quality produce  Maintenance of organic matter content of the soil 

Reduced energy use



Increased yields without over reliance

Summary Organic agriculture is not for everyone. Yet it is a viable approach that can be beneficial. It can: • Be particularly useful in the more difficult environments where resources are scarce and cultivation problematic • Potentially reduce risks by: a) “localizing” input production, b) fostering soil and water conservation, c) encouraging diversification (food security) • Improve ability to compete in today’s fast globalizing, standards-critical trade.

Strategies needed to promote organic farming in India • Adequate research and extension support needs to be provided • Research to quantify the role of organic farming in minimizing the ill effects of modern agriculture and its effect on environment • Helping farmers to promote organic farming • Government should recognize agriculture in Kyoto protocol carbon credit mechanism • Developing infrastructure for supply chain and ensuring competitive price for organic products • Capacity building through on farm demonstrations and trainings • Government support in cheaper access to organic certificates

Thanks