In this blog Post I will be writing on the Importance Of Organic Agriculture, Meaning, types of organic agriculture and Disadvantages of organic Agriculture.
Meaning: Organic agriculture simply means the use of ruminant decay and decays of plants and animal by products to improve agricultural production. In order words, This improves the uses of remains of plants and animals to improve the production of crops and improved yield in agriculture. Organic agriculture involves the use of prepare manures which are natural to improve agricultural production. In this regard, the use of artificial chemical like organic fertilizers does not constitute which is called organic agriculture.
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- Meaning And Importance of Agriculture
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Types or Forms of Organic Agriculture
The use of material obtained from plants and animals in form of organic materials are available for use in Agriculture. Below are the types of organic agriculture
1. Organic Manure: This refers to the decayed plants and animal products which have been carefully prepared to supply new trends to plants and crops.
Types of Organic Manure
There are three types of organic manure, these are:
- Green manure
- Farmyard manual
- Compose Manure
2. Cover Cropping Types of Organic Agriculture: Cover cropping is a process of planting certain plants mainly to cover soil surface. By so doing, the nutrients are conserved in the soil.
3. Mulching Types of Organic Agriculture: Mulching is another form of organic agriculture whereby certain dead and decaying plants are used to cover the soil in order to conserve soil water and prevent evaporation.
4. Crop Rotation types of organic agriculture: This is planting of different types of crops on the same piece of land in a definite sequence so as to maintain the fertility of the soil. Study more about crop rotation here
Importance Of Organic Agriculture
Organic Agriculture as a way of improving soil fertility has the following advantages, so here we are going to be looking at the importance of organic agriculture.
1. It promotes the activity of the soil living organisms such as earthworms, termites and microbes. This organisms promote aeration of the soil, easy percolation of water, mixing organic materials with soil, form humus and fix nitrogen into the soil. All these help to promote the fertility of the soil.
2. Mineralization of humus adds nutrients to the soil.
3. Another importance of organic agriculture is that It reduces rapid soil temperature fluctuations. As a result of its dark colour, humus easily absorb heat during the day and losses it slowly at night
4. Organic Manure helps to improve the structure of the soil by building the particles of coarse texture soil together.
5. Organic Manure helps to conserve moisture and prevent evaporation from the soil.
6. Organic Manure (humus) has a buffering effect on the soil. That is, it’s balances the acid base condition of the soil or soil pH.
7. It prevents erosion because it improves the structure of the soil and reduces the speed of the run off.
8. It increases the activities of the soil micro-organism.
9. Organic matter increases water holding capacity of the soil.
10. It improves the aeration of the soil.
11. It increases the rate of water percolation through clay soil.
12. Organic agriculture often relies on local resources and labor, contributing to the economic vitality of rural communities. By fostering sustainable farming practices, organic farming helps maintain agricultural land and supports small-scale farmers.
13. Organic agriculture minimizes exposure to harmful chemicals for farmers, farmworkers, consumers, and surrounding ecosystems. This can lead to improved air and water quality in agricultural areas.
14. Organic farming practices, such as composting and crop diversification, can help sequester carbon in the soil and reduce greenhouse gas emissions compared to conventional agriculture. This contributes to climate change mitigation efforts.
Overall, organic agriculture offers a holistic approach to food production that prioritizes environmental sustainability, human health, and community well-being.
DISADVANTAGES OF ORGANIC AGRICULTURE
While there are numerous importance of organic agriculture, it also comes with some disadvantages, here are the Disadvantages of organic agriculture:
- Risk of Pest Damage: Organic farmers rely on natural methods for pest control, such as biological control and crop rotation, which may not always be as effective as synthetic pesticides. As a result, there can be a higher risk of pest damage to crops in organic systems.
- Limited Availability and Higher Prices: Organic products often command higher prices in the market due to their perceived quality and production costs. However, the limited availability of organic products compared to conventionally grown ones can also contribute to higher prices, making them less accessible to some consumers.
- Transition Challenges: Transitioning from conventional to organic farming practices can be challenging and time-consuming. It often involves a period of several years during which farmers must follow organic practices without receiving the premium prices associated with certified organic products.
- Nutrient Management: Organic fertilizers release nutrients more slowly than synthetic fertilizers, which can make nutrient management more complex. Organic farmers must carefully manage soil fertility to ensure adequate nutrient levels for crop growth without overloading the soil with nutrients.
- Lower Yields: Organic farming typically yields lower quantities of crops compared to conventional methods. This can be due to factors like pest and weed pressure, slower nutrient release from organic fertilizers, and limited use of synthetic inputs.
- Higher Labour Costs: Organic farming often requires more labour-intensive practices such as manual weed control and crop rotation. This can increase labour costs for farmers, particularly in regions where labor is expensive or scarce.
READ ALSO – Differences Between Organic and Inorganic Manure in Agriculture
Despite these challenges and disadvantages Of Organic Agriculture, many farmers find that the long-term benefits of organic agriculture, such as improved soil health, environmental sustainability, and consumer demand for organic products, outweigh the disadvantages.