ORGANIC FARMING

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       Organic farming is the best and most alternative for traditional forming tecqunicis. The producer of organic forming has high nutritional value in comparison to conventional food.

      Organic farming help in reducing soil pollination and air pollination. Use of harmful chemical fertilizers and pesticides will poison our food cycle. India has the most organic farmers in the whole world

      The only disadvantage of organic farming is costlier in comparison to conventional farming method. Consumption of organic food has many health benefits as compared to conventional food. The two types of organic farming are pure organic forming and integrated organic forming. The economy of scale cannot be achieved through organic farming since the production is in smaller amounts in comparison to conventional agriculture method. Health conscious consumers around the world are increasingly demanding organic foods in the market.

        Feeding of increasing population of India is difficult with organic forming alone. Sudden switch over to completely organic is not possible. Moreover higher premium prices exist for organic certified products in domestic and international markets. 

        Organic farming is a modern and a sustainable form of agriculture that provides consumers fresh natural form products. Organic farming works in synchronisation with nature rather than against it. This objective is achieved by using techniques to improve crop yields without harming the nature environment as well as the people who live and work in it. Organic agriculture offers an exclusive amalgamation of environmental – friendly practice, which requires low external input, thereby contributing to increased food availability.

        Organic forming has a very positive influence especially on Bird, insects, weeds wildlife, and soil flora and fauna. Conventional farming is capital intensive, which requires more manufactured inputs and energy as compared to knowledge and labour – intensive organic farming. Organic agriculture uses energy more competently than conventional agriculture. As compared to conventional agriculture, organic farming products cost – effective food products, free of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides. It also provides employment opportunity and economic benefits to local communities.  The methods utilised in organic farming are more costly and labour intensive, but prove to be more cost effective in the long run. Since organic agriculture supplies more greenhouses gasses in the soil, the farmers across the globe can solve the climate disaster by switching to organic methods.

         In Addition, organic agriculture has the potential to address food security issues. Enough evidence is available to prove that organic crops are a better of nutrients then there corresponding conventional forms. Organic system give higher animal immunity and increased diseases resistance to plants, with 50% less mycotoxins in crops and persistent shelf life.

YAMUNA.R.MYLI

1st M.Sc PSYCHOLOGY

KATEEL ASHOK PAI MEMORIAL INSTITUTE- SHIVAGOGA

 

FARMER: I feed the world IRONY: I feed you with problems

FARMER: I feed the world              

IRONY: I feed you with problems

India is an influential agricultural powerhouse worldwide, having farmers as its backbone. But the irony is backbone (farmers) of the country is one of backward sector.

What hits your mind when you think about Indian farmers? Poverty! Illiteracy! Committing suicide! Thin looking brown guy whose half skeleton is visible! Waiting for rain!!??

Yes, that’s the harsh reality of our farmers.

Farmers are always being victim of nature’s action.

Farmers are already facing difficulties in coping up with climate change, biodiversity, soil erosion, infertility of land, poor storage facilities, insufficient water supply, over dependence on traditional crops, debt issues with high interest rates, in spite of all these, concerns have been raised regarding negative implications of COVID19 pandemic on the farm economy.

Current situation due to pandemic

The ongoing health crisis around COVID19 has affected all ways of life. There is huge interference in agricultural sector during this pandemic. Due to non-availability of laboures , harvesting and processing of crops have been affected. Transportation of agricultural products has become a biggest problem, even if they manage to arrange transportation, they are not are being able sell their yields due to restriction of time to sell. This is not only the barrier being faced, due to floods, crops are getting washed away, due to pandemic customers who buy from local market farmers are reducing as they are availing the option of online grocery shopping, global markets grabs local farmers marketing opportunities. In many places due to over production and deficit in sales, farmers are throwing their crops on to the roads as there is disruption for the sale of perishable crops and left empty handed.

Being indebted has been custom for farmers

Our farmers are binded with debts. They have incurred major debt for purchase of farm inputs, it is difficult for our farmers to get out of that debt as they are not getting appropriate price for their crops. Their debt is increasing to buy inputs for next harvest as there are no enough earnings from previous sales. As debt increases, interest keeps increasing without having any yield out of the investment on crops.

Psychological problems

Due to various problems, farmers face many psychological problems. Financial pressure is one amongst the major problem.  This may develop anxiety, farmers under goes into deep stress, depression, sleeping disorders, increase rate of substance abuse (alcohol consumption), helplessness, suicidal thoughts.

Statistical facts

A survey of more than 1110 farmers found 45% reported high stress, 58% had various level of anxiety and 35% reported depression.

According to earlier governments reports, in 2014, 5650 farmers committed suicide, in 2017 and 2018 on an average 10 farmers are committing suicide daily. In this pandemic year 2019 -20 suicide rate in farming sector 7.4% of the total suicides in the country, resulting deaths of 5957 farmers and 4324 agricultural labourers.

When will this stops? When will farmers have satisfaction in their work? When they will be free from debt? When can we see permanent smile on their faces? When will farmer stop being victim???

 

Vinay R

1st MSc Psychology

Kateel Ashok Pai Memorial Institute – Shivamogga