Problems and Prospects of Organic Farming in India

Abstract

Abstract: Conventional farming not only helped India produce enough food for its own consumption but also generated surpluses for exports. However, the increasing population and income will lead to further increases in demand for food and for raw materials for industry. The modern system of farming, it is increasingly felt, is becoming unsustainable, as evidenced by declining crop productivities, damage to the environment, chemical contamination, etc. The necessity of having an alternative agriculture method that can function in a friendly eco-system while sustaining and increasing crop productivity is realized now. Organic farming is recognized as the best-known alternative to conventional agriculture. Organic farming is a system of cultivation of food grains that sustains the health of the soil and ecosystem. It is the system that avoids or largely excludes the use of artificial chemical inputs such as fertilizers, pesticides, hormones and feed additives in the field of agriculture. The major weaknesses of organic agriculture in the country are the absence of linkages between farmers and markets and the absence of financial support from governments. In this article, an attempt was made to highlight different issues resulting from recent developments, problems, and prospects in organic farming in India.