Question

Explain giving two reasons
A) what is organic farming?
B) Why is it switching over to organic farming?

Answer 1

Hint: It involves recycling of organic wastes. Crop rotation is one of the methods used where different crops are grown on the same plot of land which helps in the maintenance and development of biodiversity.

Complete answer: Organic farming refers to the production of crops without any use of synthetic chemicals. The main aim of organic farming is to obtain food without harming the environment. Organic farming reduces soil erosion, decreases nitrate leaching into water bodies, etc. The main aim of organic farming is to obtain healthy food and natural products at a beneficial cost. Green manures and compost, biological pest control and mechanical cultivation are the principal methods of organic farming. There is a switch over to organic farming because of the increased soil fertility for a long time without harming the environment. It also controls diseases and pests, and the damage observed in cultivation by the use of synthetic chemicals is also prevented through this method of farming. Foods obtained from organic farming are nutrient-rich compared to those from conventional farms because it is managed using sustainable practices. Depletion of natural resources is also prevented.

Note: Organic farming involves the use of biological fertilizers that are obtained from human sewage, animal manure, composts, and nitrogen-fixing cover crops. The biological methods in organic farming involve organisms such as ladybugs, wasps, parasitoids, etc.