ORGANIC FARMING AND INPUTS USE IN ORGANIC FARMING
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What is Organic Farming?
Organic farming is a method of agriculture that produces crops using natural and biological inputs while avoiding or restricting synthetic chemical fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, and other prohibited chemicals.
The main goal is to maintain healthy soil, healthy crops, biodiversity, and long-term farm sustainability.
🌾 Key Features of Organic Farming
- Uses compost, FYM and vermicompost for soil fertility.
- Uses biofertilizers and beneficial microorganisms.
- Uses biopesticides and botanical products for pest management.
- Uses crop rotation, intercropping and green manuring.
- Uses mulching and crop residues to improve soil health.
- Promotes efficient use of water and natural resources.
- Restricts synthetic inputs according to the applicable organic standard.
Organic Farming and Inputs Used in Organic Farming
Organic farming is an agricultural system that focuses on growing crops using natural, biological and organic inputs while avoiding or restricting synthetic chemical fertilizers and pesticides according to organic standards.
🌾 Major Inputs Used in Organic Farming
| Input Category | Examples | Main Use |
|---|---|---|
| 🌿 Organic Manures | FYM, compost, vermicompost | Improve soil fertility and organic matter |
| 🪱 Vermicompost | Earthworm compost | Provides nutrients and improves soil structure |
| 🌱 Biofertilizers | Rhizobium, Azotobacter, Azospirillum, PSB, KSB | Improve nutrient availability |
| 🍄 Mycorrhiza | VAM / AM fungi | Improves root nutrient and water uptake |
| 🦠 Biocontrol Agents | Trichoderma, Bacillus, Pseudomonas | Help manage plant diseases |
| 🐛 Biopesticides | Bt, Beauveria, Metarhizium | Help control insect pests |
| 🌿 Botanical Inputs | Neem oil, Azadirachtin, neem cake | Natural pest management |
| 🌾 Green Manure | Dhaincha, sunhemp, cowpea | Adds organic matter and nutrients |
| 💧 Liquid Organic Inputs | Jeevamrut, Panchagavya, compost tea, vermiwash | Support plant and soil biological activity |
| 🍂 Mulching Materials | Straw, dry leaves, crop residues | Conserve moisture and suppress weeds |
Organic Farming Practices
- Soil testing before nutrient application.
- Apply FYM, compost and vermicompost.
- Use appropriate biofertilizers.
- Apply VAM/mycorrhiza for better root development.
- Use Trichoderma and other biological agents for disease management.
- Use neem-based products and biopesticides for pest management.
- Practice crop rotation and intercropping.
- Use green manure and crop residues.
- Use mulching to conserve soil moisture.
- Follow the applicable organic certification standards for permitted inputs.
Examples of organic products farmers can use
For soil fertility:
FYM → Compost → Vermicompost → Neem cake → Biofertilizers → VAM
For disease management:
Trichoderma → Bacillus → Pseudomonas → Other approved microbial biocontrol products
For insect management:
Neem oil → Azadirachtin → Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) → Beauveria → Metarhizium
For plant growth:
Compost tea → Vermiwash → Jeevamrut → Panchagavya → Seaweed-based organic inputs
Important: A product being marketed as “natural” or “organic” does not automatically mean it is permitted in certified organic farming. For commercial organic certification, always check the applicable organic standard and the product's permitted-input status.