Title: Comparing Conventional and Organic Farming Crop Production Systems: Inputs, Minimal Treatments and Data Needs
Abstract: Residues of synthetic pesticides food chain prompted the demand for “organic food,” which is rapidly growing. Certified “organic food” is presently grown on about 31 million ha in the world ( 1.1 million ha in India). There are strong do’s and dont’s in the production of organic food as dictated by certification agencies operating globally (in India accredited by Ministry of commerce) for which farmers have to pay certification fee. Interactions with practitioners of organic farming (OF) revealed that reduced cost of production was a stronger reason for their conversion from conventional agriculture to OF. In addition, most farmers said that their yields were not lower than the yields of their neighbors who are conventional farmers. This is a researchable issue for mainstream scientists. The fact that nutrients needed for a crop can be met through plant biomass grown at the same field and the plant protection needs are met through innovative biological options are also important researchable issues, among several others. Some biological protocols of crop production and protection were used at ICRISAT-Patancheru, India, in an ongoing long-term experiment (completed seven years in March 2006). The research experience at ICRISAT and the experience collected from the OF practitioners have been shared. Suggestions for future demonstration cum verification experiments have been offered to facilitate statistically analyzable data on OF. Stakeholders are encouraged to use locally available natural resources for growing crops in a farming system perspective relevant to small and marginal farmers that form the bulk of farmers in developing countries (74% in India). Better still if the experiments are done on farmers’ fields. Several unanswered questions and researchable topics on OF have been indicated.
Publication Year: 2006
Publication Date: 2006-01-01
Language: en
Type: article
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Cited By Count: 7
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