Organic farming

By
Muhammad Ahsan Qureshi
Ph.D. scholar.
(IHS, UAF)
 Organic Farming
• Organic farming is a holistic production management system
which promotes and enhances agro-ecosystem health,
including biodiversity, biological cycles, and soil biological
activity.

• It emphasizes, the use of management practices in preference

to the use of off – farm inputs, taking into account that
regional conditions require locally adapted systems.
• As per the definition of the United States Department of
Agriculture (USDA) study team on organic farming
• “organic farming is a system which avoids or largely
excludes the use of synthetic inputs (such as
fertilizers, pesticides,hormones, feed additives etc)
and to the maximum extent feasible rely upon crop
rotations, crop residues, animal manures, off-farm
organic waste, mineral grade rock additives and
biological system of nutrient mobilization and plant
protection”.
Father of Organic farming
• Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam stated that “Organic
agriculture, a holistic system that
focuses on improvement of soil health, use of
local inputs and relatively high intensity use of
local labor, is a admirable fit for dry lands in
many ways and the dry land offer many benefits
that would make it relatively easy to
implement.”
source: w w w . g j a r . o r g
 NEED FOR ORGANIC FARMING

1. Using less technological innovations,

2. Sustainable soil management,
3. Pollution free environment,
4. Efficient use of agriculture inputs as well as
production of poison free foods ..
5. Rapidly degrading soil fertility status.
6. Increased cost of production
7. Health hazards.
Inorganic V/s Organic farming
Inorganic Farming Organic Farming

Against Nature Harmony with Nature

Soil structure destroyed Soil structure improves

More chemical residues present in crops No chemical residues

Low quality produce Premium quality

Highly fluctuation in yield Satisfactory and reliable yield

The International Federation for Organic Agriculture Movement’s (IFOAM)
Organic manures &Fertilizers
 Effect of Organic farming

• long-term productivity of the land

• Food security and stability
• Environmental impact
• Social impact
• “Food Security exist when all people at all times have physical, social and
economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food which meets their
dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life.”
(FAO, 2002).
Three dimensions of Food Security:
Availability of Food: Food production within the country, food imports
and the previous years stock stored in government granaries,
 Accessibility: Food is within reach of every person and
Affordability: An individual has enough money to buy sufficient, safe
and nutritious food to meet one's dietary needs.
The poorest section of the society might be food insecure most of the times
while persons Above the Poverty Line (APL) might also be food insecure
when the country faces:
a)Earthquake
b)Drought
c)Tsunami
d)Flood
e)Famine
 Organic certification

• Organic certification means having the farm and the

farmer’s methods inspected by an organic certifying
group to ensure that they comply with the guidelines
on organic farming.
• Organic certification improves the image of organic
agriculture and provides transparency in certification.
• Organic standards are defined as minimumproduction
practices including storage, transportation, processing,
handling, packing and labeling requirements which
must be followed for certifying the products as organic.
 CERTIFICATION IN
PAKISTAN
• The Ministy of Commerce launched NPOP(National
Programme for Organic Production) in March 2000,
designed to establish national standards for organic
products, which could then be sold under the logo
“Pakistan organic”.
• For the proper implementation of NPOP,
NAPP(National Accreditation Policy and Programme)
has been formulated with Accreditation Regulations
announced in May 2001.
 Constraints in organic farming
• Government Support
• Lack of Financial support
• Defined Market structure
• Consumer awareness
• Training
• Certification cost
• Low yield in early stages
• Labour Intensive
 Challenges

• Transition time to organic

• Policy Initiatives
• Marketing of produce
• Infrastructure and Funds for scientific
studies
 Organic farming Disadvantages

• Skilled labour is required

• Cost effective

• Lack of market facilities

 Recommendations

• Provide financial incentives

• Research and technology development
• Incentive campaign
• Ensure food security and low-cost
sustainable agriculture.
Typical marketing channel of organic
products in Pakistan

(Singh, 2009)