“In a world of many choices organic agriculture is a serious option for many farmers, enterprises and consumers. Supporting that choice with credible science can be vital for improving the over all productivity, food security, food sovereignty and environmental impact of agriculture in the country. The challenge lies in creating an environment in which organic is treated as complimentary approach and efforts are focussed on harvesting benefit, organic agriculture can give to a section of the Indian farmers” (Tej Pratap 2006).
After almost a century of development, organic agriculture has been embraced by the mainstream and shows great promise commercially, socially and environmentally. While there is continuum of thought from the earliest days to the present, the modern organic movement is radically different from its original form. It now has environmental sustainability at its core in addition to the founders concerns for healthy soil, healthy food and healthy people. Since the 1970s when organic agriculture re-emerged as an eco-agriculture, institutional strengthening and diversity became a part of the movement. Formation of IFOAM in 1972 indicated that the movement has come of age and that it is going to grow and make a place for itself in over all world of agriculture. Explosive growth of organic agriculture has occurred only since 1990s. In India the movement was initially started by the farming communities and agri- enterprises, it is now being carried forward by several stakeholders, including the Government agencies. Launching of National Program on Organic Production (NPOP) by Ministry of Commerce during 2001 and National Project of Organic Farming (NPOF) by Ministry of Agriculture during 2004 is an indicative of growing awareness for systematic promotion of organic agriculture in the country through Government Initiatives.
Need for Organic inputs while converting to organic
For conversion of a conventional field to organic, first step is to build up the lost fertility of the soil. This can be achieved by complete ban on use of synthetic inputs and increased use of organic and biological inputs. For nutrient management and soil fertility build up crop residue, animal dung, forest leaf litter, bone meal, slaughter house waste, blood meal and green manures are important organic sources. All such organic material needs to be composted properly for appropriate impact. Nutrient value of the raw material and composting methodology determines the quality of produce. Biological resources such as biofertilizers and other microbiological inputs have also attracted lot of attention and are being promoted on large scale. Under National Project on Organic Farming incentives are available for establishment ofproduction facility for Vegetable market waste and ago-waste compost, biofertilizers and vermiculture.
Basic spirit on use of inputs in organic agriculture
In present day organic farming, stress is given on on-farm management. In this on-farm management nutrient management is looked after by crop rotation, multiple cropping, mixed cropping, incorporation of legumes as intercrops, crop residue management and by use of on-farm made compost. Plant protection is achieved by habitat management, multiple cropping, cropping combinations, crop rotations, release of pest predators and parasitoids and use of botanical and bio-pesticides. The requirement of these inputs is managed by their production at farm with available on-farm resources in the first stage and by purchase from off-farm resources to a limited extent in the second stage.
Organic input agri-business
In promotion of organic farming use of organic inputs has assume an important position. Contrary to conventional farming where synthetic inputs are used to feed the crop and protect the crop by direct action, in organic farming inputs are used to feed the soil and to create an environment which can collectively keep the pests below economical threshold limit (ETL). In this endeavor although quantity may not be an important issue, but quality of input is of prime importance. In the recent years efforts have been made to promote appropriate production methodologies among farmers for effective conversion of organic waste into nutrient rich compost and for preparing botanical extracts for pest management. Mass adoption of vermicompost technology and use of neem seed kernal sprays by farmers is an indicative of the usefulness of such strategy. But still there is a scope for the entrepreneurs to come forward and establish production facility to produce consistent quality product and made available to farmers at reasonable price. To take the advantage of growing awareness of organic agriculture various types of organic and biological inputs have been launched and are being sold to farmers. Some of such products are the results of research and are being promoted by state agencies also, but some of the products have been launched without much scientific understanding and their quality and usefulness is questionable.
To prevent such unfair practices, awareness among the users is most essential. At Government level some efforts have been made to regulate the production and quality control of some organic inputs. In this organic fertilizers and biofertilizers have been covered under Fertilizer Control Order and their standards and quality control parameters have been defined. Manufacture and sale of biopesticides are being governed by the Central Insecticide Act.
The present compilation deals with the production and quality control aspects of following important and widely accepted organic and biological inputs.
1. Biofertilizers such as Rhizobium, Azotobacter, Azospirillum and PSB
2. Organic fertilizers such as FYM, compost, NADEP Compost and vermicompost
3. Biological control agents such as Trichgramma, Chrysoperla, NPV and Trichoderma.
4. Some innovative formulations developed by farmers for growth promotion and plant protection.
Government Initiatives for establishment of organic input industry
Organic inputs such as various types of composts, biofertilizers etc are not only important in organic farming, but are also of prime importance in integrated agriculture with balanced use of fertilizers for sustenance of soil fertility. With the objective of promoting the use of such environment friendly technologies and inputs, Govt of India, under National Project on Organic Farming has initiated an input production promotion scheme. Under this, a maximum of 25% capital investment subsidy (restricted to specified limit indicated against each component) is provided for the establishment of following input production facilities. This assistance is available for individuals, registered agencies, private entrepreneurs, companies, cooperative societies, Government Departments, municipalities and other Govt and semi-Govt agencies/institutions.
After almost a century of development, organic agriculture has been embraced by the mainstream and shows great promise commercially, socially and environmentally. While there is continuum of thought from the earliest days to the present, the modern organic movement is radically different from its original form. It now has environmental sustainability at its core in addition to the founders concerns for healthy soil, healthy food and healthy people. Since the 1970s when organic agriculture re-emerged as an eco-agriculture, institutional strengthening and diversity became a part of the movement. Formation of IFOAM in 1972 indicated that the movement has come of age and that it is going to grow and make a place for itself in over all world of agriculture. Explosive growth of organic agriculture has occurred only since 1990s. In India the movement was initially started by the farming communities and agri- enterprises, it is now being carried forward by several stakeholders, including the Government agencies. Launching of National Program on Organic Production (NPOP) by Ministry of Commerce during 2001 and National Project of Organic Farming (NPOF) by Ministry of Agriculture during 2004 is an indicative of growing awareness for systematic promotion of organic agriculture in the country through Government Initiatives.
Need for Organic inputs while converting to organic
For conversion of a conventional field to organic, first step is to build up the lost fertility of the soil. This can be achieved by complete ban on use of synthetic inputs and increased use of organic and biological inputs. For nutrient management and soil fertility build up crop residue, animal dung, forest leaf litter, bone meal, slaughter house waste, blood meal and green manures are important organic sources. All such organic material needs to be composted properly for appropriate impact. Nutrient value of the raw material and composting methodology determines the quality of produce. Biological resources such as biofertilizers and other microbiological inputs have also attracted lot of attention and are being promoted on large scale. Under National Project on Organic Farming incentives are available for establishment ofproduction facility for Vegetable market waste and ago-waste compost, biofertilizers and vermiculture.
Basic spirit on use of inputs in organic agriculture
In present day organic farming, stress is given on on-farm management. In this on-farm management nutrient management is looked after by crop rotation, multiple cropping, mixed cropping, incorporation of legumes as intercrops, crop residue management and by use of on-farm made compost. Plant protection is achieved by habitat management, multiple cropping, cropping combinations, crop rotations, release of pest predators and parasitoids and use of botanical and bio-pesticides. The requirement of these inputs is managed by their production at farm with available on-farm resources in the first stage and by purchase from off-farm resources to a limited extent in the second stage.
Organic input agri-business
In promotion of organic farming use of organic inputs has assume an important position. Contrary to conventional farming where synthetic inputs are used to feed the crop and protect the crop by direct action, in organic farming inputs are used to feed the soil and to create an environment which can collectively keep the pests below economical threshold limit (ETL). In this endeavor although quantity may not be an important issue, but quality of input is of prime importance. In the recent years efforts have been made to promote appropriate production methodologies among farmers for effective conversion of organic waste into nutrient rich compost and for preparing botanical extracts for pest management. Mass adoption of vermicompost technology and use of neem seed kernal sprays by farmers is an indicative of the usefulness of such strategy. But still there is a scope for the entrepreneurs to come forward and establish production facility to produce consistent quality product and made available to farmers at reasonable price. To take the advantage of growing awareness of organic agriculture various types of organic and biological inputs have been launched and are being sold to farmers. Some of such products are the results of research and are being promoted by state agencies also, but some of the products have been launched without much scientific understanding and their quality and usefulness is questionable.
To prevent such unfair practices, awareness among the users is most essential. At Government level some efforts have been made to regulate the production and quality control of some organic inputs. In this organic fertilizers and biofertilizers have been covered under Fertilizer Control Order and their standards and quality control parameters have been defined. Manufacture and sale of biopesticides are being governed by the Central Insecticide Act.
The present compilation deals with the production and quality control aspects of following important and widely accepted organic and biological inputs.
1. Biofertilizers such as Rhizobium, Azotobacter, Azospirillum and PSB
2. Organic fertilizers such as FYM, compost, NADEP Compost and vermicompost
3. Biological control agents such as Trichgramma, Chrysoperla, NPV and Trichoderma.
4. Some innovative formulations developed by farmers for growth promotion and plant protection.
Government Initiatives for establishment of organic input industry
Organic inputs such as various types of composts, biofertilizers etc are not only important in organic farming, but are also of prime importance in integrated agriculture with balanced use of fertilizers for sustenance of soil fertility. With the objective of promoting the use of such environment friendly technologies and inputs, Govt of India, under National Project on Organic Farming has initiated an input production promotion scheme. Under this, a maximum of 25% capital investment subsidy (restricted to specified limit indicated against each component) is provided for the establishment of following input production facilities. This assistance is available for individuals, registered agencies, private entrepreneurs, companies, cooperative societies, Government Departments, municipalities and other Govt and semi-Govt agencies/institutions.
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