Definition: Organic farming is a

farming technique that involves

cultivating of plants and rearing
of animals in natural ways, using
biological materials & minimizing
the use of synthetic substances.
 Crop Diversity:
 Planting of various crop varieties in same area
(Polyculture).
 Supports beneficial insects, microorganisms
 Nutrient balance in soil.
 Soil Management:
 Natural methods to improve soil health
 Using Green manure & composting
techniques to replace nutrients taken from
soil
 Crop Rotation.
 Bacteria from animal waste for nutrient
production.
Weed management:
 Lowering the weed plants using techniques
such as:
1. Mulching: using plastic films or plant residue
on the surface of the soil to block the growth
of weed.
2. Cutting: Removal of weed tops.
3. Tillage.
Controlling other organisms:
 Other organisms that effects the plants
include insects, bacteria, fungi etc.
 Encouraging predatory beneficial insects that
feast on pests
 Using herbicides and pesticides that are
natural or contain less chemical
 using row covers to protect crops
 Planting companion crops & pest repelling
plants (Oils from the
families Lamiaceae (mints), Poaceae (true
grasses)

LIVESTOCK:
 Organic farming encourages the use of
domestic animals to increase the
sustainability of the farm
 Organic farming uses livestock animals
for fertility, through recycling of manure
 GENETIC MODIFICATION:
 Organic farming encourages natural ways and
not genetic modification of plants.
 NUTRITION: Organically grown fruit is
superior in quality to that grown by modern
conventional methods

 WEED COMPETITIVENESS: Healthier, are

also better able to compete with those weeds
that are present.
 REDUCED COSTS: reduced production
costs because there is no need to buy
expensive fertilizers

 LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT: More labor

opportunities

 DISEASE RESISTANCE: Organically grown

plants are more resistant to disease and
insect
 INCREASES SOIL FERTILITY

 LESS POLLUTIVE METHOD: Ground water

pollution is greatly reduced by this method

 POISON FREE: The oragnic food has no or

minimum amount of poison
 Reduced needs for purchase inputs.
 EXPENSIVE: Organic food is more
expensive because farmers do not get as
much out of their land as conventional
farmers do. Organic products may cost up to
40% more.

 LESS PRODUCTION: Organic farming

cannot produce enough food that the world’s
population needs to survive.
 LABOUR COSTS: Production costs are
higher because farmers need more workers.

 FOOD ILLNESS HAPPENS MORE OFTEN

 DISTRIBUTION ISSUES:
Marketing and distribution is
not efficient because organic food is
produced in smaller amounts
 HIGH FOOD PRICES: Prices of organic
goods are very high and not all the people
can enjoy its benefits