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
