Organic Farming

[editorialteam]

Dear Readers,

Are farmers in India actually seeing benefits of organic farming? Or, is all this talk about benefits of organic farming only a city based discussion?

Regards,
Shweta - Editorial Team

 

[editorialteam]

Mr.Preetendra Singh Aulakh, Monsoon Harvest Farms says-

Having practically done organic farming for the last 12 years, my experience has brought me to certain logical conclusions. The primary conclusion is that for a small farmer, where the whole family that includes father, mother, children, and other extended family members, and all are involved with the land, it is easier for them to do organic farming, The reason being that all the labor is from home and no external costs are incurred on the labor. Secondly, because the family has a small land holding, just a few cattle that they keep will suffice for them to produce organic manure and other inputs such as cow urine, etc.

Now to replicate the same on a larger farm without the family toiling on the fields, you can compare the costs that will have to be incurred. It is reasons like this that are acting as a deterrent for the organic movement.

Personally, I would agree with other organic farmers on the statement “it tough to go the organic way because the input cost is high when compared to returns”. Contrary to popular belief, the input costs are very high now and since we have to use a lot of labor in lieu of weedicides, the labor costs get much higher.

And when the organic farmers says, “organic manure/fertilizer is insufficient for big farms “ I again agree with them. The reason being, yes, one requires a large quantity of organic manure and fertilizer which is mostly not possible to produce fully at one’s own farm. If it’s a small land holding, one can manage with one’s own cattle, but for slightly larger farms, it is not possible to create everything on the farm.

The big point is that every action on the farm has a cost factor attached to it. Now with the labor costs being so high, it is getting extremely difficult to have a good economic situation. Even if one is to get say 30% premium on ones produce that is grown organically, it still is not sufficient to keep you at par with the conventional farmer. And that is working as a huge deterrent for many farmers to either not go the organic way or to give up on the organic way of farming.

Monsoon Harvest Farms
381, 7th Street, New Suraj Nagri, Abohar, 152116
Punjab, India
Mobile: 9810004480 / 095019 32997
Email: preetendra.singh@gmail.com
Web: Monsoon Harvest Farms Contact Details

 

[editorialteam]

Mr.Sakthivel S, Manager Business Development, Rudras Breeders Poultry Farm says-

We started a plan to produce organic country chicken in 2011 but dropped mainly because organics products are sold a premium price. Not by farmers but by middle men. When we visit YouTube, we see a lot of western farmers owning a front yard shop and branding their products in internet. So organic farming will reach masses and profit our farmers only when our farmers are educated to take the risk in selling their own products. Government and NGOs should help here.

Rudras Breeders Poultry Farm
40/9 Babu Rao Street, Edayampatti, Jolarpettai 635851, Vellore district, Tamilnadu
Mob: 9943330061, 7418341038
Email: ishasathish@gmail.com
Web: PIONEERS IN ORIGINAL KADAKNATH CHICKEN

 

[archidambaram]

I agree with Mr. Sakthivel. Organic farmer does not make any money, but sellers do. From my experience, I had grown organic paddy and sold as rice at less than market price for non organic rice. Main reason, being a farmer, I cannot do retail selling. And doing organic farming in a large farm land is almost impossible due to high labour cost and non availability of labour.

AR. Chidambaram.

 

[editorialteam]

Mr. Hrishikesh Manian, Director, RenXSol ECotech Pvt. Ltd says-

There are enough examples of farmers being benefitted by organic farming. It is just going back to our age old practices; it is only now that we city folk are warming up to organic produce. In due course the results will match the potential.

RenXSol ECotech Pvt. Ltd.
No 252, 1st Floor 6th Main, 7th Cross, MICO Layout, BTM 2nd Stage, Bengaluru-560076, Karnataka India
Mob: 9686670330
Email: hrishi@renxsol.com / hrishikesh.manian@gmail.com
Web: RenXSol Ecotech - renewable energy solutions

 

[editorialteam]

Mr. Satish Belhekar, Founder member, Managing Director, Shree Consultants, Pune. Direct - Flora Biotech, Pune, Managing Director says-

In current scenario, due to this long supply chain in the food market, costs of produce till it reaches to the end customers becomes such high that no one wants to pay further than that only because is organic. I would like to give an example that one of my friends had grown "organic bananas" last year. As this was organic, ultimately the production (tonnage/acre) was much less than inorganic farming. Also we searched a lot to sale the same as "organic" branding but no one was ready to pay any single extra penny for organic. So he lost money due to less production as well as quality. Increased production is the only best tool for farmers to fight price fluctuations.

Shree Consultants
E5/502, Shivsagar Residency, Suncity Road, Sinhagad Road,
Pune - 51 Maharashtra
Mob: 9822750258
Email: satishgb1234@gmail.com

 

[editorialteam]

Mr. Srinivas Kavuri, Chief Consultant, VSR Consultants says-

As on date, Organic farming didn’t catch-up at ground level because of the cost factor. The Government should provide sufficient incentives to farmers and manufacturers as well for developing Organic farming. In the long-run, say about 10-15 years, organic farming will definitely have positive effect on the food quality. But lot to be done on this front, to make it a success.

VSR Consultants
D.No.8-3-191/228, Flat No.G-1, SM Residency, Plot No.114/B,
Vengalarao Nagar, Hyderabad.
Mobile: 09177129798
Email: kavurisrinivas66@yahoo.com / kavurisrinivas66@gmail.com
Web: VSR Consultants

 

[editorialteam]

Mr. S.Gopakumar, Founder Director, Mark Green Warren Estates says-

My personal feeling is that agriculture in India should take the organic route keeping in mind global scenario’s and human health. In general the farmers response to organic is a mixed bag with good enthusiasm from serious planters and many with lot of reluctance. The main reasons which can be attributed is the lack of indepth awareness, fear of sales, no concrete govt. backup etc.

Mark Green Warren Estates
Mr. S.Gopakumar, Founder Director
Email - gopakumar@markgreenwarren.com

 

[atspl]

Dear Sir
The poor farmer is being misled and cheated in the name of organic farming.In the ideal situation, it may work for family depending on the farm for their sustinence.The family has to eke out at least their livelihood, which is impossible in current scenario. People ar mislet under the guise of organic farming.
Of course, the farmer should look out for a mixture that gives good return and maintain the quality of the soil.
He should use chemical weeding as well as mulching.He should recourse to foliar application of fertilisers to control cost and to get better result.He should go for such organic fertilisers that he can get from the land and the animals he keeps.He should tap every
every avenue like vermicompost, gobar gas slurry compost, etc etc so that the cost is minimal and transport zero.To day the cost of transport can be pretty high.The handling expenses or wages are also high.
The farmer should concentrate on cutting the costs down as he has little control on the product price. The so called proponents of organic farming are the white collar lot who have other means of income for the livelihood.

Joseph Karukappally
Agritect Trades & Services P Ltd,
W.Island,Cochin-682 003.
email:jkagritech@yahoo.com

 

[deepakyb]

Dear sir,

Farmers are getting benefit and the main benefit is cost, by organic farming farmers are saving money. Government should approach farmers the benefits of organic farming.

Regards

Deepak Kumar
Yogita Biofarming
Jamshedpur, Jharkhand

 

[editorialteam]

Mr. Ilangkumaran, Managing Director, Pisces Impex says-

I am also doing organic farming. All the farmers in that area are not ready for organic farming.

Pisces Impex
No. 18, South Mada Street, Kolathur
Chennai - 600099, Tamil Nadu, India
Mob: 98843 18999
Email: contactilankumaran@gmail.com
Web: Enquiry Form | Pisces Impex

 

[editorialteam]

Dr. Vrunda Kate, Mr. Rajendra Kale, Partners, Sri Shail Medi Farms says-

Benefit of organic farming is going to the rich farmer who has holding capacity. Poor farmers or marginal farmers fall prey to the trap of high yield, instant market and quick returns. Even tough, it is at the cost of their health.

SHRI SHAIL MEDI FARMS
66-A, Vidhya Vihar Colony, Partap Nagar Chowk, Nagpur,
Maharashtra, India – 440022
Mob: 9922172488
Email: vrundakate@gmail.com
Web: Medicinal Herbal Plants,Acorus Calamus Plant,Abrus Precatorius Plant Suppliers

 

[guargum]

Organic cultivation and its economic viability

Dear Team,

I would like to give you many thanks on this discussion. Organic cultivation is latest trend in agriculture. but the major question is on its economic viability.

Organic cultivation is possible because the trend can be latest but the practice is very old. if we forget the last 40-50 years, the agriculture was totally organic.

The chemical application started with the population growth. which is growing day by day. Now the question is that , Are we able to supply the food to this population ??? or we can say that are the organic practices able to increase the productivity with quality.

It is clear in that in current situation farmers can't get profit from organic agriculture. In addition there is additional cost of certification in organic agriculture. The return is not too much profit making. Or i can say that, this not possible for the general public to eat the organic food due to its higher cost of cultivation. generally it can be around 3 time or 4 time.

The worst fact is that there is no assurity that organic certified product is chemical free.

I will discuss rest of the fact here in later comments.

 

[venkat6979]

yah you are right venkat6979

 

[govind1956]

Sir,
As rightly pointed out organic farming is not benefiting small farmers.It is mostly city based sophasticated discussion.But organic farming is certainly is liked .It is certain that in future people prefer organic farming on health point of view.

 

[govind1956]

organic farming ;current status and reality in rural areas

Sir,
As rightly pointed out organic farming is not benefiting small farmers.It is mostly city based sophisticated discussion.But organic farming is certainly liked .It is certain that in future people prefer organic farming on health point of view.The awareness among the public with respect to quality of agricultural produce and taste of produce of organic farming is increased manyfold. The demand for organic produce would be higher in future.

 

[guargum]

In this time of high inflation rate where the normal vegetable and food items are sold thr times of last year then how can an individual afford organic item which is 3-4 times of normal rate. The normal farmer earns more in comparison to the farmer who is practicing the organic.

Some big players in organic industry don't by pass the profit to the farmers. the organic product byer is more concerned about the packing, packing material, branding. already the cultivation cost is too much for the farmer, these processing cost make it more vulnerable for the normal customer.

The ultimate profit goes to the seller not to the producer.

The certification system make it more costlier for the small farmer.

 

[guargum]

Still there is no standard insect pest control method in organic agriculture. The farmers suffer a heavy loss in organic cultivation due to the insect pest attack

 

[guargum]

There is no assured marketing or supply chain rout for organic agriculture. There is problem of the organic identification. if some seller is standing in the market he cant differentiate his product from the normal produce. or I can say the buyer can not differentiate the inorganic and organic.

 

[editorialteam]

Mr. P. Dinesh, Joint Managing Director and CEO says -

No, farmers are not seeing benefits of organic farming.

Cochin Frozen Food Exports Private Limited
IV / 475
Arookkutty Ferry Road
Alappuzha, KL, 688534
Ph: 478-2872706
Mob:
Email: dineshprabhakar93@yahoo.in /
Web: Cochin Frozen Food Exports Private Limited, Alappuzha in Aquaculture. Get address and contact details of Cochin Frozen Food Exports Private Limited Bussiness from Indiacatalog.com