The Hindu Business Line : `Systematic approach can optimise returns from organic farming'

RETURNS from organic farming could be maximised by adopting a systematic approach to reduce expenses, increase production besides resorting to value addition on the farms.

There is immense potential for organic farming in the country, as most of the land is suitable for it. However, certified organic farming here is still in its infancy. Only around 41,000 hectares of land i.e., 0.03 per cent of the total agricultural area is under organic management.

It is believed generally that when the farmers shift towards organic cultivation, production and yield of the organic crops decline. But that is not true in all cases, as the factors influencing the cost of production, before and after conversion, are diverse and depend on the type of farm, the kind of production and the environmental and socio-economic conditions, says an UNCTAD report.

Small holders farm input costs initially go up because farmers have to purchase organic manures to build up soil organic matter. Once good soil fertility has been achieved and the farm system has reached a certain balance, production costs usually go down to the pre-conversion level or even below, provided the costs of agro-chemicals were high and the farm manages to reply mostly to its own resources.

An effective way to reduce expenses on manure input is to recycle a maximum of material on the farm. "Most important for an efficient recycling of nutrients is the management of the farmyard manure.

Besides a better recycling of nutrients, there are some more ways to reduce expenses, such as use of local plants to prepare own botanical pesticides; production of own crop seeds and seedlings; looking out for locally available source of manure; growing of own food items; production of fodder from the farm itself; sharing of equipment and machines with neighbours and get them assembled locally instead of buying or importing.

Also, total farm productivity could be improved by using more suitable varieties of crops, which give better yield in local conditions. Additional crops could also be integrated in the cropping system through mixed cropping or crop rotation, thus using the available space more efficiently.

On the other hand, in order to increase the market value of the farm products, the farmers should choose products, which are of high market value such as medicinal plants and spices. Besides, they should achieve better quality for the products. On farm processing and production of processed goods such as jams, dried fruits and pickles could also be undertaken.

The economic risk could also be reduced by diversification. Diverse farms with a range of crops will suffer less from price fluctuations or yield reductions than that of single crops. To get rid of the exploitation by middlemen, the report said that the farmers should directly market their organic products to the right kind of consumers. Organic farmers, it said, could have contract farming arrangement with big buyers for regular off-take of their produce.

High premium price is available in major markets such as the US, Japan and the European Union and farmers or their association could try to get access to these markets to fetch better returns for the organic produce, it added.

More Stories on : Cultivation | Environment

Article E-Mail :: Comment :: Syndication :: Printer Friendly Page

Stories in this Section
Bengal reaps rich dividend from wheat initiative

`Systematic approach can optimise returns from organic farming'

FAO aqua meet to focus on organic methods

Fila Rozil sees big money in floriculture

Saraf Foods knows its onions and bananas

Rubber improves on moderate buys

Coonoor tea auctioneers may keep demand for contingency deposit in abeyance

Hind Copper to alter wire bar price declaration system

Edible oil offtake up despite higher prices

Cashew imports seen up

Anti-Tobacco Law: `Ad ban will rob consumers of informed choice'

Kerala defers recoveries on farm loans

Seminar on agri exports in Hyderabad