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Why organic farming? Photographs (click on caption to see images) : The
approach and outlook towards agriculture and marketing of food has seen a
quantum change worldwide over the last few decades. Whereas earlier the
seasons and the climate of an area determined what would be grown and
when, today it is the "market" that determines what it wants and
what should be grown. The focus is now more on quantity and
"outer" quality (appearance) rather than intrinsic or
nutritional quality, also called "vitality". Pesticide and other
chemical residues in food and an overall reduced quality of food have led
to a marked increase in various diseases, mainly various forms of cancer
and reduced bodily immunity. This immense commercialisation of agriculture has also had a very negative effect on the environment. The use of pesticides has led to enormous levels of chemical buildup in our environment, in soil, water, air, in animals and even in our own bodies. Fertilisers have a short-term effect on productivity but a longer-term negative effect on the environment where they remain for years after leaching and running off, contaminating ground water and water bodies. The use of hybrid seeds and the practice of monoculture has led to a severe threat to local and indigenous varieties, whose germplasm can be lost for ever. All this for "productivity". In
the name of growing more to feed the earth, we have taken the wrong road
of unsustainability. The effects already show - farmers committing suicide
in growing numbers with every passing year; the horrendous effects of pesticide sprays (endosulphan) by a government-owned
plantation in Kerala, India some years ago; the pesticide-contaminated bottled
water and aerated beverages are only some instances. The bigger picture
that rarely makes news however is that millions of people are still underfed, and where they do get enough to eat, the food they eat has the
capability to eventually kill them. Yet, the picture painted for the
future by agro-chemical and seed companies and governments is rosy and
bright. Another
negative effect of this trend has been on the fortunes of the farming
communities worldwide. Despite this so-called increased productivity,
farmers in practically every country around the world have seen a downturn
in their fortunes. The only beneficiaries of this new outlook towards food
and agriculture seem to be the agro-chemical companies, seed companies and
- though not related to the chemicalisation of agriculture, but equally
part of the "big money syndrome" responsible for the farmers'
troubles - the large, multi-national companies that trade in food,
especially foodgrains. This
is where organic farming comes in. Organic farming has the capability to
take care of each of these problems. Besides the obvious immediate and
positive effects organic or natural farming has on the environment and
quality of food, it also greatly helps a farmer to become self-sufficient
in his requirements for agro-inputs and reduce his costs. Chemical agriculture and the agriculture and food distribution systems it has developed, propagated and sustained - and now shares a symbiotic relationship with - affects each of us in many ways. We have listed 18 ways how "modern farming" affects our world, click here to find out how. Related links on this website : The effects of chemical farming 18 ways how "modern" farming affects our world Pesticides in your food (and water) Other links that may interest you : Techniques and practices in organic farming Hunger, and why technology cannot feed the world Traditional agriculture in India : high yields, no waste Natural farming succeeds in Indian village Myths and fallacies about organic farming Other issues related to organic farming General information on organic farming To order satavic.org on CD, click here Copyright © 1999-2008 by Satavic Farms. All rights reserved. Disclaimer |
