organic farming

Benefits of organic farming and organic foods

This is a type of farming that which encourages against use of synthetic fertilizers, growth regulators, pesticides and other additives. Organic farming relies on crop rotation, animal manures, crop residues, legumes, green manure, mechanical cultivation as well as organic wastes/fertilizers. These methods improve soil productivity through improving plant nutrients and biological pest control, controlling weeds, insects and other pests.

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Almost all types of agricultural products can be produced organically, such a crop farming, dairy farming, poultry farming, flowers e.t.c. Thus, organic farming creates a sustainable lifestyle for generations to come. Organic farming increases soils fertility by improving the living component of the soil, the microbial inhabitants that release, transform, and transfer nutrients. Soil organic matter contributes to good soil structure and water-holding capacity.

Farmers through organic farming feed soil biota and soil organic matter with cover crops, compost, and biologically based soil amendments. These produce healthy plants that are better able to resist disease and insect predation. In organic farming, pests and diseases is prevented through good plant nutrition and management. Organic farmers use cover crops and sophisticated crop rotations to change the field ecology, effectively disrupting habitat for weeds, insects, and disease organisms. Weeds are controlled through crop rotation, mechanical tillage, and hand-weeding, as well as through cover crops, mulches, flame weeding, and other management methods.

Organic farming relies heavily on a diverse population of soil organisms, beneficial insects, and birds to keep pests in check. When, pests increase, farmers use a variety of strategies such as insect predators, mating disruption, traps and barriers.

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Importance of organic farming and organic foods

  • Organic farming can be learnt by any conventional farmer.
  • It eliminates the use of expensive synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, minimizing soil erosion by up to 50% and increasing crop yields up to five-folds.
  • Conventional farmers can adopt new, more effective organic farming methods easily through a well-planned transition strategy.
  • Organic farms can support substantially higher levels of wildlife especially in low lands and where animals can roam in pastures or graze on grassland. Not only does wildlife benefit, but entire ecosystems and ground water are improved by simply following organic farming methods.
  • This type of farming practices not only benefit farmers and consumers; but the dairies can benefit. When dairies feed their cows organic feed and graze them on organic fields, the cows experience better health, less sickness, diseases and ultimately produce better tasting milk for consumers.
  • Products grown organically are free from chemicals, preservatives that at times cost the consumers. The taste is just awesome.

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