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Organic farming to avoid hazards of normal cultivation

By Ijaz Kakakhel

ISLAMABAD: Realizing the dangerous effects of chemical fertilizers, pesticides and spraying, the government has planned to initiate “National Programme for the Promotion of Organic Farming in Pakistan”, officials told Daily Times.

Organic farming is the form of agriculture that relies on crop rotation, green manure, compost, biological pest control and mechanical cultivation etc. to maintain soil productivity and control pests. It also excludes the use of synthetic fertilizers and synthetic pesticides, plant growth regulators livestock feed additives and genetically modified organisms (GMOs).

Therefore, organic production systems are based on specific and precise standards of production, which aim at achieving agro-ecosystem which are socially and ecologically sustainable. Furthermore, “organic” is a labeling term that denotes products that have been produced in accordance with the organic standards throughout production, handling, processing and marketing stages, and certified by a duly constituted certification body or authority.

Conventional farming requires more inputs in the shape of fertilizers, pesticides, which cause soil, air and environmental pollution. The ill-effects of pesticides are manifested in human, animal and wild life health. The excessive use of fertilizers causes deterioration in soil health and leaching of nitrate resultantly higher content of nitrate in drinking water. Conventional food may contain carcinogens, chemicals that cause diseases including cancer. Additive in processing may further activate carcinogens.

The officials claimed that organic farming comes as on the top priorities specifically with relation to food security, diversification / alternatives in agriculture production, income generation for small and medium scale farmers and improves access to regional and international markets mainly through exports from developing countries.

Organic products have premium market, which may not be available to the whole population due to the prices constraints. The prices of organic products was increased by factors such as small scale production, widely dispersed farms, separate packing facilities, and pricing policies of the buyers. The ministry of food and agriculture will be sponsor agency and for execution the ministry would hire some consultants.

Although organic agriculture has attracted a lot of attention during the last decade, it still only accounts for a small proportion of overall agricultural land, an average of about 2.3 percent for the countries of European Union, 2.2 percent for Australia, 0.23 percent for the USA and 1.30 percent for Canada. Organic agriculture is also gaining importance in a number of developing countries including Uganda (1.39 percent), Sri Lanka (0.65 percent), Tunisia (0.36 percent), Egypt (0.19 percent), China (0.06 percent), India (0.03 percent) and Philippines (0.02 percent). Even though it is a small portion, its rate of growth is very fast. During the year 2007, organic farming covered an area of 7.2 million hectares in Europe and 2.2 million hectares in North America. There is strong growth in organic farming in Europe especially due to shifting of agricultural subsidies to organic farmers in recognition of its environmental benefits. As a result, 4percent of the European Union farmland was organically managed compared to just 0.6 percent of US farmland.

In Pakistan main objective of the study was to prepare feasibility report for promotion of organic farming across the country. For this, 50 villages would be selected out of 1012 villages described under the project “Special Programme for Food Security and Productivity Enhancement of Small Farmers in 1012 Villages in Pakistan (Crop Maximization Project-Phase II)” funded by Ministry of Food and Agriculture.

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