The author recalls his association with the farmer Mr.V.Anthonysamy , Puliangudi during his tenure as Seed Certification Officer, Tirunelveli during 1982-85. At that time the farmer was a pioneer in Seed Production encouraging other farmers to produce quality seeds and supply to Govt. TN Dept.of Agriculture,National Seeds Corporation . Now he is an Organic farmer – switching over to safe food grains production adopting eco friendly concepts.Let us salute him and his team for his valuable contribution to the society.
What is organic farming?
Organic farming system in India is not new and is being followed from ancient time. It is a method of farming system which primarily aimed at cultivating the land and raising crops in such a way, as to keep the soil alive and in good health by use of organic wastes (crop, animal and farm wastes, aquatic wastes) and other biological materials along with beneficial microbes (biofertilizers) to release nutrients to crops for increased sustainable production in an eco friendly pollution free environment.
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”.
FAO suggested that “Organic agriculture is a unique production management system which promotes and enhances agro-ecosystem health, including biodiversity, biological cycles and soil biological activity, and this is accomplished by using on-farm agronomic, biological and mechanical methods in exclusion of all synthetic off-farm inputs”.
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