The era of synthetic materials resulting increase in the produce is past. The use of chemical fertilisers, insecticides, etc. is a strict no-no in the current era of conscious farming. To provide and ecological balance, prevent pollution of soil & water, withstand climate change etc., age old natural practices to conduct the process of farming is rapidly being adopted.

Thanks to increased transparency in various industries and constant field education, people are closely monitoring their food product intake. People are increasingly being educated with the negative impacts of chemically induced farming practices on our ecology.

The field of agroecology incorporating scientific knowledge of ecology promotes the traditional farming practices. This has initiated an eco-farming drive. Practices such as organic and natural farming are gaining popularity and is now being widely practiced in various parts of the world.

What is Organic Farming?

Organic farming is the practice adopted for growth of crop and/or livestock with application of practices in harmony with the ecology...

As conveyed in the words by

International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM):
“Organic Farming relies on ecological processes, biodiversity and cycles adapted to local conditions...

Organic farming aims at:

• Minimizing disturbance,
• Maximizing biodiversity,
• Maintaining living roots, and
• Keeping soil covered.

Conducive Methods to promote Organic Farming

Organic farming is a perfect combination of new technology and old farming practices.

• Crop Diversity: Organic farming follows the principle of crop diversity...
• Soil Management: To promote soil fertility farming techniques such as reduced land tilling...
• Weed Management: Organic farming involves integration of cultural, biological...
• Pest Control: Traditional practices are followed to control pests and problematic organisms...
• Livestock: Adding livestock and poultry such as cows, chickens...

Further, organically raising livestock and poultry adds to providing quality meat, dairy and eggs...

What is Natural Farming?

Natural farming is a practice incorporating laws of nature. The technique aims at growth of crops in the existing biodiversity harmonizing balance of food plants and existing farm area ecosystem. It follows the policy of no human-supplied inputs for crop growth.

Evolution of Natural Farming

Though practiced worldwide in different forms over decades, natural farming gained its popularity when introduced in the book “One Straw Revolution” by Masanobu Fukuoka.

A Japanese farmer and philosopher, Masanobu Fukuoka, described his way of farming in the book as “the natural way of farming”. As a protagonist in the book, Fukuoka talks about the farming technique and his journey towards its learning. The book radically changed ideologies and challenged the common practices followed.

“The Fukuoka Method” primarily depending on cultural and local biodiversity instills five natural farming principles:

• No tillage
• No fertilizer
• No pesticides or herbicides
• No weeding
• No pruning

Elaborately discussing the natural technique of farming, Fukuoka highlights the balance in the ecology and biodiversity and how it helps in aiding growth of healthy food in abundance.

Benefits of Organic and/or Natural Farming

Age-old practices such as organic and natural farming have additional benefits not only to humans but also to the environment in many ways.

• Soil Conservation:

  Adoption of natural fertilisers (such as animal compost, plant compost), reduced tilling of land, controlled weed produce, etc. helps to enhance the soil fertility...

  A healthy soil is the most commonly cost-effective and natural way of removing excess carbon dioxide from the atmosphere...

  Healthy soil allows the absorption and retention of moisture enabling maintenance of adequate soil aeration...

• Water Management and Water Quality:

  Organic or Natural farming is practiced keeping nature in cognizance. The practices followed under these techniques of farming enable water management...

  No use of chemicals or synthetic fertilisers helps maintain water quality...

• Reduced Emission of Greenhouse Gases:

  Reduced use of chemicals and synthetic agents to promote crop growth helps maintain quality in soil and water quality...

  Adopting natural means to farming drastically reduces the use of machinery using fossil fuels...

• Land Use:

  Healthy soil curbs continuous search of land for agriculture purposes...

• Food Quality and Safety:

  Rich soil and water also initiate purification of air giving healthy food plants...

• Restraint of techniques such as no plowing or other labour-intensive activity in natural farming is an additional benefit...
• Practices of organic and natural farming strictly reject genetically engineered plants and animals which promote optimal means to sustainable agriculture...