COURSE FILE

Problematic soil and their management

(A1UA401T)
[Link]./Agriculture/2022/Vi Sem.

Name of School: School of Agriculture

Prepared By: Dr. Pradip Tripura

Session:
2022-2023
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 Galgotias University
COURSE FILE INDEX
Page
Task No Task Description No

1 Syllabus Description
Course Description- Table of details of sessions and Bloom's Taxonomy
Level, method of teaching such as team based learning/flipped class room,
references, web links, etc., COs, POs, PSOs, CO-PO-PSO mapping, with
2 justification.
Session Planner / Syllabus Coverage with Text/Reference books used, with
columns for planned date, actual date of delivery and reason for deviation
if any & Unit Completion Date (course handout, session planner and
3 course description(item #2) to be given to students).

4 Time Table of class & self

Student list, parent and student communication details (Mobile No,
5 Address & E-Mail ID of parent & Student)
6 Material to be ordered unit wise

a) Class notes - Hard copy Sample notes may be added in the file
(presentation and session wise handout to be given to students during each
session), other learning materials
b) Thirty objective bits with answer for each unit - multiple choice
questions (50%) and fill in the blank questions (50%)
c) Six Assignment Questions per unit along with solution
d) Six Tutorials questions per unit with answers

7 Student seminar topics and evaluation of student presentation.

a) Lisf of simultaneously on-going Massive Open Online Courses
(MOOCs) having similar contents of the course, NPTEL and SWAYAM
video links relevant to course topics, relevant MIT OCW/other similar
OCW links, links to eminent professors blogs/course contents, links to
surveys and tutorials from IEEE.
b) Documents relating to the use of these resources by students under
8 faculty supervision and performance outcome evaluation.
a) Two complete sample Micro (I Year) / Mini projects (II, III & IV Year),
and list of tentative mini/micro projects
b) Documents in support of mini/micro-projects carried out by students and
9 the evaluation.
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 c) Any innovative mini/micro-projects leading to major projects/patents.
Quiz(1-5) (with 20 questions for each unit with 50% mcq and 50% fill in
the blank questions), Assignment 1, Assignment 2, CAT-1 and CAT-2
Question Papers with CO-s and Bloom's Taxonomy Level, ETE, Quality
and Scheme of Evaluation along with marks and Ideal Solutions for all.
10 (Note: One Quiz exam per unit)
Sample Solution Copies (One from each category of best, medium & poor)
11 for Assignments as submitted by students
Samples of quiz(1-5), CAT-1, CAT-2 answer sheets of high, average and
12 low performing students
List of slow learners with their grade so far, quiz and CAT marks & Action
plan for enhanced learning(tutoring, more handouts/materials, etc.) and
13 proof of action and outcomes through evaluation.
List of fast learners with their grade so far, quiz and CAT marks & Action
plan for higher achievement (such as projects, papers, etc.) and proof of
14 action and outcomes through evaluation.

15 Target for University result in terms of pass percentage and average grade.
PBL - documents related to Les Driving Question, Need to Knows, Entry
Event, Voice and Choice and performance outcome evaluation of students
16 at each stage of revision and presentation to the public audience.
Activity based learning - Quiz and discussion, Think-Pair-share, Learning
Cell, Team-based learning, Flipped class room with proof of learning
17 outcomes through evaluation (see the attached document).
Innovative teaching-learning techniques adopted for active-teaching-
18 learning process with proof of learning outcomes through evaluation.
Performance Analysis and continuous monitoring of each student with
proof of counseling and/or mentoring, and actions taken by students with
19 proof of improved learning outcomes.

20 Last year university question paper copy

Content beyond syllabus - attach documents in support of delivery with
justification, list PO-s covered and evaluation of students learning
21 outcomes.
Self-learning outcomes from Eminent Professors
Blogs/Websites/MOOCs/NPTEL/SWAYAM/MIT OCW/Journals & E-
22 Links through evaluation.

Documents in support of extramural/guest lecture with list of PO-s covered

23 and evaluation of students learning outcomes.
24 Details of units/topics handled by industry professionals and learning
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 outcomes through evaluation.
Result analysis, with CO attainment calculation for Quiz, Assignments,
25 CAT-1, CAT-2, and ETE for all tests/exam.

26 Attendance Register Complete in all information and analysis.

Minutes of Quality Circle Meeting related to the course involving student
27 representatives.
Suggestions made by course committee/ instructor/ students for
modification in course contents and for enhanced teaching and learning of
28 the course.

29 Course survey questionnaires and results

Syllabus Description
Unit CONTENT
1. Soil quality and health, Distribution of Waste land and problem soils in India. Their
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 categorization based on properties.
Reclamation and management of Saline and sodic soils, Acid soils, Acid Sulphate soils,
2 Eroded and Compacted soils, Flooded soils, Polluted soils.

Irrigation water – quality and standards, utilization of saline water in agriculture.

3

4 Remote sensing and GIS in diagnosis and management of problem soils.

Multipurpose tree species, bio remediation through MPTs of soils, land capability and
5 classification, land suitability classification. Problematic soils under different Agro-
ecosystems.

COURSE OUTCOMES (COs)

After the completion of the course, the student will be able to:
CO No. Course Outcomes
CO1 Define the soil quality and their health
CO2 Understand the handle, reclaim and manage issues associated with problematic soils
CO3 Identify the utilization of saline water in agriculture
CO4 Analyze the diagnosis and management of problem soils through remote sensing and GIS
CO5 Explain about multipurpose tree species, bio remediation

Books recommended
1. Indian Society of Soil Science. 2012. Fundamentals of Soil Science, IARI, New Delhi.
2. Das, D. K. 2015. Introductory Soil Science. 4th Edition, Kalyani publishers, New Delhi
3. Das, D. K. 2019. Problematic Soil and their Management, Kalyani publishers, New Delhi

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1. Arun

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COURS
EPACK
SCHEME
The scheme is an overview of work-integrated learning opportunities
and gets students out into the real world. This will give what a course
entails.

Course Title Principle of organic farming Course Type Integrated

Course Code Class [Link]. (Ag) VI Sem
Activity Credits Credit Hours Total Number of Assessment in
Lecture 1 1 Classes per Semester Weightage

Tutorial

Practical
Tutorial
Instruction

Theory

study
delivery

Self-

SEE
Practical 1 2

CIE
Self-study
Total 2 3
30 15 50% 50%
Course Lead Dr. Pradip Tripura Course Dr. Pradip Tripura
Coordinator
Names Theory Practical
Course Dr. Pradip Tripura Dr. Pradip Tripura
Instructors

COURSE OVERVIEW
The students will become well versed in principles and practice of organic farming systems
in Indian context, organic nutrient resources and its fortification, restrictions to
nutrient use in organic farming, choice of crops and varieties in organic farming. This
course also provide knowledge of role of organic farming in maintaining soil fertility,
ecosystem health and plant productivity. Students know about policies which influence
extent and adoption of organic farming by the famers.

PREREQUISITE COURSE

PREREQUISITE No
COURSE REQUIRED
If, yes please fill in the Prerequisit Prerequisite
Details e course course
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 code name

COURSE OBJECTIVE
1. To teach the objectives, principles and practice of organic farming systems in Indian context
2. To provide knowledge of role of organic farming in maintaining soil fertility, ecosystem
health and plant productivity.
3. To teach policies which influence extent and adoption of organic farming by the famers.
COURSE OUTCOMES (COs)
After the completion of the course, the student will be able to:
CO No. Course Outcomes
CO1 Summarise the aims and objectives of organic farming and identify the regulations
governing organic farming
CO2 Identify and explain the key principles and practices involved in maintaining soil
fertility and plant productivity and health in organic farming systems
CO3 Discuss the role of the market and other factors influencing the physical and financial
performance of organic farming and their implications for the adoption of organic
farming
CO4 Discuss the contribution of organic farming to food quality, environmental and social
policy objectives and outline the future policies
CO5 Explain marketing and export potential of organic products

BLOOM LEVEL OF THE COURSE OUTCOMES

Remember Understan Apply Analyse Evaluate Create
CO No.
KL1 d KL 2 KL 3 KL 4 KL 2 KL 6
CO1 √
CO2 √
CO3 √
CO4 √
CO5 √

PROGRAM OUTCOMES (POs):

PO1 Apply science by carrying out pertinent research and test projects for the
benefit of industry
PO2 Establish sound agricultural practices, assess new approaches, drive
innovation, and be able to effectively contribute to the growth of the
sector
PO3 Determine, put forward, examine, and assess the scientific and technical
data
PO4 To operate productively by having improved personal and employ ability
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 skills and being able to communicate clearly about complex
PO5 Know the different agricultural techniques that can be used for food
security agriculture
PO6 Become tenacious individuals who practice and employ the knowledge
gained to craft expert answers to practical issues in agriculture
PO7 Apply management and agricultural ideas to one's own work or to the
management of projects in a team
PO8 Apply ethical principles and uphold professional ethics and responsibility
of the agricultural

COURSE ATRICULATION MATRICS

COs#/ POs
PO1

PO2

PO3

PO4

PO5

PO6

PO7

PO8
CO1 2 1 3 2 3 2 2 2

CO2 2 3 3 2 3 3 2 2

CO3 1 3 2 3 3 2 3 3

CO4 2 3 2 2 3 3 3 2

CO5 2 2 2 3 3 3 3 2
Note: 1-Low, 2-Medium, 3-High

COURSE ASSESMENT

Assessment CI
E
Tools QUIZ1 CAT QUIZ2 CAT LAB LA Course- Total
1 2 based CIE
/AAT AAT B marks SEE
Project
EXA
M

Integrated X X X X
0 30 0 30 20 20 0 100 100

* Assignment, Quiz, Class test, SWAYAM/NPTEL/MOOCs and etc.

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COURSE CONTENT

THEORY+ PRACTICAL
Content

Unit I Organic farming, principles and its scope in India; Initiatives taken by Government
(central/ state), NGOs and other organizations for promotion of organic agriculture

Unit II Organic ecosystem and their concepts; Organic nutrient resources and its
fortification; Restrictions to nutrient use in organic farming; Choice of crops and
varieties in organic farming.
Unit III Fundamentals of insect, pest, disease and weed management under organic mode
of production
Unit IV Operational structure of NPOP; Certification process and standards of organic
farming
Unit V Processing, leveling, economic considerations and viability, marketing and export
potential of organic products.
Practical Visit of organic farms to study the various components and their utilization;
Preparation of enrich compost, vermicompost, bio-fertilizers/bio-inoculants and
their quality analysis; Indigenous technology knowledge (ITK) for nutrient, insect,
pest disease and weed management; Cost of organic production system; Post
harvest management; Quality aspect, grading, packaging and handling.

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LESSON PLAN FOR COMPREHENSIVE COURSES (15 weeks*1hours = 15 Classes)

L-No Topic for Delivery Skill Competency

1 Organic farming: Introduction Understand about Importance of

2 History of organic farming organic farming organic farming in
3 Key milestones on organic farming India
4 Organic farming: principles
5 Importance of Organic Farming
6 Advantages of organic farming
7 Essential Characteristics of Organic Farming Know the scope
8 Constraints / Limitations of organic farming in India and limitation of
9 Natural farming vs Organic farming organic farming in
10 Organic farming: scope in India India
11 Initiatives taken by Government (central/ state) in
organic farming
12 Initiatives taken by NGOs and other organizations for
promotion of organic agriculture
13 Organic ecosystem definition Describe the Organically
14 Organic ecosystem: Introduction importance nutrient and
15 Organic ecosystem and their concepts nutrient insect, pest,
16 Organic nutrient resources management in disease and weed
17 Organic nutrient resources and its fortification organic farming management
18 Fortification of organic nutrients
19 Restrictions to nutrient use in organic farming
20 Use of nutrient in organic farming
21 Choice of crops in organic farming Fundamentals
22 Choice of crops varieties in organic farming knowledge about
23 Fundamentals of different management system under crop selection and
organic farming insect, pest, disease
24 Fundamentals of insect management and weed
25 Fundamentals of pest management management
26 Fundamentals of disease management
27 Fundamentals of weed management
28 Fundamentals of insect management under organic
mode of production
29 Fundamentals of pest management under organic
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 mode of production
30 Fundamentals of disease management under organic
mode of production
31 Fundamentals of weed management under organic
mode of production
32 NPOP: Introduction Describe the role Understand the
33 Operational structure of NPOP of NPOP in role of NPOP,
34 Difference between NPOP and NOP organic farming Quality standard
35 Main objectives NPOP in organic farming of organic
36 Certification process of organic farming Stardardize and product,
37 Standardization of organic farming quality control of marketing and
38 Processing of organic products organic product export
39 Leveling of organic products
40 economic considerations of organic products
41 Viability of organic products
42 Marketing of organic products Knowledge about
43 Export potential of organic products marketing and
44 Certification and inspection agencies export
45 Products for Use in Fertilising and Soil Conditioning

LESSON PLAN for PRACTICAL COURSES (15 Lab Classes)

Sl. No. Topic Skill
1 Study the various components of organic farming BTL 1
2 Various components and their utilization in organic farming BTL 1
3 Preparation of enrich compost BTL 1
4 Preparation of vermicompost BTL 2
5 Preparation of bio-fertilizers/bio-inoculants BTL 2
6 Indigenous technology knowledge (ITK) for nutrient weed management BTL 2
7 Indigenous technology knowledge (ITK) insect management BTL 3
8 Indigenous technology knowledge (ITK) for pest management BTL 3
9 Indigenous technology knowledge (ITK) for disease management BTL 3
10 Indigenous technology knowledge (ITK) for weed management BTL 3
11 Cost of organic production system BTL 4
12 Post-harvest management BTL 4
13 Quality aspect of organic product BTL 5
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14 Grading of organic product BTL 5
15 Packaging and handling of organic product BTL 5

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Books Recommended
1. Arun K. Sharma. 2002. A Hand book of organic farming. Agrobios, India. 627p. 2. Palaniappan, S.P
and Annadurai, K.1999. Organic farming-Theory and Practice. Scientific publishers, Jodhpur,India.
257p.
2. Mukund Joshi and Prabhakarasetty, T.K. 2006. Sustainability through organic farming. Kalyani pub-
lishers, New Delhi. 349p.
3. Balasubramanian, R., Balakishnan, K and Siva Subramanian, K. 2013. Principles and practices of or-
ganic farming. Satish Serial Publishing House. 453p
4. Tarafdar, J.C., Tripathi, K.P and Mahesh Kumar, 2009. Organic agriculture. Scientific Publishers, In-
dia. 369p.
5. Tiwari, V.N., Gupta, D.K., Maloo, S.R and Somani, L.L. 2010. Natural, organic, biological, ecological
and biodynamic farming. Agrotech Publishing Academy, Udaipur. 420p.

PROBLEM-BASED LEARNING
Exercises in Problem-based Learning (Assignments)

SN Problem KL
o
1
Define organic farming. Who is the Father of Modern Organic Agriculture? K1
2
Explain the principle of care in organic farming. K2
3 Identify the role of organic farming in food security and sustainability of human
society. K3
4
Discover the standards set for packaging of organic products in NSOP. K4
5
Dissect the characteristics of organic farming. K4
6 What are the advantages and disadvantages of soil management in organic
farming? K1
7
Summarize the properties of concentrated organic manures with examples. K2
8 Organize weed management in organic farming at various levels. K3
9 Examine the management methods of soil-borne and air-borne pests and diseases
in organic agriculture. K4
10
List of the constraints of using manures and composts. K4
11
Summarize the benefits of biofertilizers. K2
12
Identify the applicability of green manures in organic farming. K3
13
Identify the role of APEDA in the regulation of organic agriculture. K3
14 Classify various sources of manures. K4
15 Explain soil management methods as permitted in organic farming. K5
16 Outline the parameters which are important for deciding the suitability of crop
varieties for organic agriculture. K2
17 Analyse the aims of the NPOP. K4
18 Survey on Codex Alimentarius, IFOAM standards and AGMARK. K4
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19 Examine the competency of the traditional practices with the standards of FORMAT
organic farming. K4
 20 Assess the role of first and second level of control for pest, disease and weed
management in organic agriculture. K5
21 Organize the rules for labelling of organic products as specified in NPOP. K3
22 Survey the status of global markets for organic products. K4
23 Analyse the conditions which are to be maintained during storage and transport
of organic products as per NPOP. K4
24 List the rules for labelling of organic products as specified in NPOP. K4
25 Define the regulations fixed in NSOP for processing of organic products. K5
26 Justify the scope of organic agriculture in India. K5
27 Elaborate the concept of system stability and yield stability in organic agro-
ecosystem. K6
28 What is the principle of fairness in organic farming? K1
29 Explain the benefits of organic agriculture. K2
30 Identify the scopes of organic farming in India. K3
31 Simplify the steps of integrated pest management with the help of a flowchart. K4
32 Inspect the challenges faced by the farmers in organic farming. K4
33 What is organic agro-ecosystem? K1
34 Explain the self-regulating ability of organic agro-ecosystems. K2
35 Identify the advantages and disadvantages of soil management in organic
farming. K3
36 Dissect the means of pest and disease management in organic production system. K4
37 Examine the weed management methods in organic agriculture. K4
38 Select the criteria for selection of suitable varieties for organic farming. K2
39 Identify the constraints of using manures and composts. K3
40 Organize the uses of green manures in organic farming. K3
41 Compare bulk and concentrated organic manures with examples. K4
42 Evaluate the role of APEDA in the regulation of organic agriculture. K5
43 Summarize the importance of AGMARK. K2
44 Inspect the standards set for pest and disease control in NSOP. K4
45
What is the principle of fairness in organic farming? K1

A) COURSE-BASED PROJECT (Psychomotor skills)

To enhance their skill set in the integrated course, the students are advised to execute course-based
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design projects. Some sample projects are given below: FORMAT
SN Suggested Projects KL
o
1 Introduction of organic farming BT1
2 Principles of organic farming BT2
3 Scope of organic farming in India BT2
4 Initiatives taken by the govtment, NGO and others for organic farming BT4
5 Introduction of organic ecosystem BT5
6 Concepts of organic ecosystem BT5
7 Requirement of organic farming BT3
8 The self-regulating ability of the organic farm-ecosystem BT4
9 Organic agro-ecosystem BT2
10 The challenge in organic ecosystem BT4
11 Soil management in organic farming BT4
12 Advantages and disadvantages of soil management in organic farming BT3
13 Criteria of variety selection for organic farming BT2
14 Weed management in organic farming BT4
15 Pest and disease management in organic farming BT4
16 Introduction of organic nutrient resources BT2
17 Fortification of organic nutrient resources BT1
18 Biomass production and N accumulation of green manure crops BT2
19 Green leaf manure application in organic farming BT1
20 Biofertilizer production and uses in organic farming BT3
21 APEDA and regulations for organic production BT2
22 Restrictions to nutrient use in organic farming BT2
23 Rules set by APEDA on the Choice of Crops and Varieties BT3
24 Criteria for Selection of Crops and Varieties BT3
25 Important parameters of crop varieties suitable for organic farming BT2
26 Organic farming vs conventional farming BT3
27 Strategies for pest, disease and weed management in organic agriculture BT2
28 Foundation of organic agriculture BT2
29 Pest control practices at different levels in organic agriculture BT2
30 Disease control practices at different levels in
organic agriculture BT3

31 Weed control practices at different levels in organic

agriculture BT3

32 Integrated Pest Management (IPM) BT4

NPOP: Introduction, Definition COURSEPACK |
33 BT4
FORMAT
34 Operational structure of NPOP BT2
35 Aims of the NPOP BT5
36 Scopes of the NPOP BT4
37 Organic Quality Control BT3
38 Organic Farming Certification in India BT4
39 Procedure for Obtaining Organic Farming Certification BT3
40 Processing and handling of organic product BT4
41 Labelling of organic product BT3
42 Storage and Transport of organic product BT2
43 Significance of organic agriculture for Indian farmers BT4
44 Global and India Market for Organic Food BT5
45 Opportunities of Organic Farming in India BT3

B) SELF-LEARNING THROUGH MOOCs (Cognitive Skills): Certification

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CHAPTER -1
INTRODUCTION, DEFINITION, CONCEPT, IMPORTANCE, ADVANTAGES AND
DISADVANTAGES, OBJECTIVES, ESSENTIAL CHARACTERISTICS OF ORGANIC
FARMING
Introduction:
Green revolution technologies such as greater use of synthetic agro chemicals like fertilizers and
pesticides, adoption of nutrient responsive, high-yielding varieties of crops, greater exploitation
of irrigation potentials etc… has boosted the production out put in most of cases. Without proper
choice and continues use of these high energy inputs is leading to decline in production and
productivity of various crops as well as deterioration of soil health and environments. The most
unfortunate impact on Green Revaluation Technology (GRT) on Indian Agriculture is as
follows:
Change in soil reaction
Development of nutrient imbalance /deficiencies
Damage the soil flora and fauna
Reduce the earth worm activity
Reduction in soil humus / organic matter
Change in atmospheric composition
Reduction in productivity
Reduction in quality of the produce
Destruction of soil structure, aeration and water holding capacity
Breeding more powerful and resistant pests and diseases
All these problems of GRT lead to not only reduction in productivity but also deterioration of
soil health as well as natural eco-system. Moreover, to day the rural economy is now facing a
challenge of over dependence on synthetic inputs and day by day it change in price of these
inputs. Further, Indian Agriculture will face the market competition due to globalization of
trade as per World Trade Organization (WTO). Thus apart from quantity, quality will be the
important factor. Agriculture gave birth to various new concepts of farming such as organic
farming, natural farming, bio-dynamic Agriculture, do-nothing agriculture, eco-farming etc.
The essential concept of these practices is “Give back to nature”, where the philosophy is to feed
the soil rather them the crop to maintain the soil health. Therefore, for sustaining healthy
ecosystem, there is need for adoption of an alternatives farming system like organic farming.
Definition of organic farming
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Many scientists at different levels have elaborated the concept of organic farming; theFORMAT
important
descriptions are as follows;
Lampkin (1990) Organic farming is a production system which avoids or largely excludes the use
of synthetic compounded fertilizers, pesticides, growth regulators and live stock feed additives.
Koferi (1992) (Korean organic farming environment Research Institute) It is the farming
method by which we never use compound chemical fertilizers, agricultural chemicals, pesticides,
growth hormones and uses natural sources such as organic matters, minerals, and microbes.
According to national organic standards board of the U.S. defines organic farming as an
ecological production management system that promotes and enhances bio diversity, biological
cycles and soil biological activity.
Organic farming refers to organically grown crops which are not exposed to any chemicals right
from the stage of seed treatments to the final post harvest handling and processing (Pathak &
Ram, 2003).
Organic farming relies on crop rotation, crop residues, animal manures, legumes, green
manures, off-farming organic wastes, agricultural cultivation, mineral bearing rocks and aspect
of biological pest control to maintain soil productivity and tilth to supply plant nutrients and also
to control insects, weeds and other pests (Lamkin-1990). In a broader sense it includes
biofertilizers, bio diversity and biotechnology.
Concept of organic farming
The basic concepts behind organic farming are:
It concentrates on building up the biological fertility of the soil so that the crops take the
nutrients they need from steady turnover within the soil nutrients produced in this way and are
released in harmony with the need of the plants.
Control of pests, diseases and weeds is achieved largely by the development of an ecological
balance within the system and by the use of bio-pesticides and various cultural techniques such
as crop rotation, mixed cropping and cultivation.
Organic farmers recycle all wastes and manures within a farm, but the export of the products
from the farm results in a steady drain of nutrients.
Enhancement of the environment in such a way that wild life flourishes.
In a situation where conservation of energy and resources is considered to be important
community or country would make every effort to recycles to all urban and industrial wastes
back to agriculture and thus the system would be requiring only a small inputs of new resources
to “Top Up” soil fertility.
Importance of Organic Farming
The agriculture today in the country is hampered by erosion of natural resources viz., land,
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water, biodiversity, fast declining soil fertility and use efficiency of inputs, such FORMAT
as water,
fertilizer and energy. Demographic pressure accelerates the former and the faulty agronomic
practices account for the latter problems. The modern agriculture with its potential takes the
country out of the food trap and to reach an era of self sufficiency in food grain production.
The present day for self sufficiency in food grain production may not last longer unless we
develop a sustainable agricultural system which maintains and /or improves soil fertility and
productivity with greater acceptance of biological principles so as to assure adequate/more food
production in future. Besides plants are more prone to pest and diseases in intensive agriculture,
use of chemicals can have residues on the produce, in the soil and in ground water. With more of
purchased inputs cost of production is also mounting up. Pesticides use in paddy, cotton and
vegetables which occupy less than 30 per cent of total area account for more than 80 per cent of
the chemicals used.
Organic farming practices that reduces the pressure on land, water and bio-diversity without
adverse effects on agricultural production and nutritive value of food comprise, judicious use of
organic manure, viz. farm yard manure, compost, crop resides, Vermicompost etc. integrated is
an efficient nutrient management practices, cropping systems, conjunctive use of rain, tank and
under ground water, integrated pest management and conservation of genetic resources. Among
them, soil fertility is give top attention due to its dynamic action with various physical, chemical
and biological properties. Besides this, following advantages derived from organic farming:
Advantages of organic farming
Organic manures produce optimal conditions in the soil for high yields and good quality crops.
They supply all the nutrients required by the plant (NPK, secondary and micronutrients).
They improve plant growth and physiological activities of plants.
They improve the soil physical properties such as granulation and tilth, giving good aeration,
easy root penetration and improved water holding capacity. The fibrous portion of the organic
matter with its high carbon content promotes soil aggregation to improve the permeability and
aeration of clay soils while its ability to absorb moisture helps in the granulation of sandy soils
and improves their water holding capacity. The carbon in the organic matter is the source of
energy for microbes which helps in aggregation.
They improve the soil chemical properties such as supply and retention of soil nutrients and
promote favourable chemical reactions.
They reduce the need for purchased inputs.
Most of the organic manures are wastes or byproducts which on accumulation may lead to
pollution. By way of utilizing them for organic farming, pollution is minimized.
Organic fertilizers are considered as complete plant food. Organic matter restores the pH of the
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soil which may become acidic due to continuous application of chemical fertilizers. FORMAT
Organically grown crops are believed to provide healthier and nutritionally superior food for
man and animals than those grown with commercial fertilizers.
Organically grown plants are more resistant to disease and insects and hence only a few
chemical sprays or other protective treatments are required.
There is an increasing consumer demand for agricultural produces which are free of toxic
chemical residues. In developed countries, consumers are willing to pay more for organic foods.
Organic farming helps to avoid chain reaction in the environment from chemical sprays and
dusts.
Organic farming helps to prevent environmental degradation and can be used to regenerate
degraded areas.
Since the basic aim is diversification of crops, much more secure income can be obtained than to
rely on only one crop or enterprise.
Disadvantages of organic farming.
Small holding: The average size of an operational holding is 1.57 ha and further decreasing
gradually due to population pressure.
Poor infrastructure facilities: i.e. lack of sufficient soil testing laboratories.
Lack of technological knowledge, lack of knowledge for use of bio-fertilizers, bio-
pesticides, bio-control, IPM and INM etc.
Organic farming takes four years for a farmer to free his land completely stopping the use of
chemical as nutrients & crop savers.
The neighbouring farmers do not well co-operate regarding use of fertilizer, pesticides,
weedicides etc.
Decrease in production of high yielding crops like rice, wheat which needs high fertility status to
get potential yield.
The competitive uses of organic materials such as dung-cakes for domestic cook fuel in villages
and bagasse as fuel in sugar factories & villages.
Wheat & rice straws are disposed by burning, instead of return to the soil.
Dung, slurry & pig manure and other waste used directly in the field (without compositing),
which damage the crop & pollute the ground water.
Most of organic material is bulky in nature, hence very difficult to store, carry and use.
Sewage, sludge contains pathogens and, some of them survive more than six months,
which may hazard the human life and prove fatal for the animal .
City garbage contains un-decomposed materials such as metal, plastic, glass, stones,
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needles etc. which causes many problems, FORMAT

Bio control agents are available only for few selected insect pests.
Complicated organic certification process and also high cost of certification.
High price expectations, delayed delivery, quality restrictions, lack of certification &
marketing net work are the major problems for organic producers.
Major Indian and multinational companies are not interested in bio pesticides, also
dealer’s interest in chemical pesticides.
Objectives of Organic Farming
The objectives of organic agriculture have been expressed in the standard document of the
International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movement (IFOAM) as follows:
 To produce food of high nutritional quality in sufficient quantity.
 To work with natural systems rather than seeking to dominate them.
 To encourage and enhance the biological cycles within farming system involving micro-
organisms, soil flora and fauna, plants and animals.
 To maintain and increase the long term fertility of soils.
 To use, as far as possible, renewable resources in locally organized agricultural systems.
 To work as much as possible, within a closed system with regard to organic matter and nutri-
ent elements.
 To given all livestock, conditions of life that allow them to perform all aspects of their innate
behavior.
 To avoid all forms of pollution that result from agricultural techniques.
 To maintain the genetic diversity of the agricultural system and its surroundings, including
the protection of plant and wildlife habitats.
 To allow agricultural producers for adequate return and satisfaction from their work including
a safe working environment.
 To consider the wider, social and ecological impact of the farming system.
Essential Characteristics of Organic Farming
The most important characteristics are as follows:
 Maximal but sustainable use of local resources.
 Minimal use of purchased inputs, only as complementary to local resources.
 Ensuring the basic biological functions of soil-water-nutrients-human continuum.
 Maintaining a diversity of plant and animal species as a basis for ecological balance and eco-
nomic stability.
 Creating an attractive overall landscape which given satisfaction to the local people.
 Increasing crop and animal intensity in the form of polycultures, agroforestry systems, inte-
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grated crop/livestock systems etc to minimize risks. FORMAT
 CHAPTER-2
PRINCIPLES, SCOPE AND COMPONENTS OF ORGANIC FARMING
Principles of Organic Farming
To understand the motivation of organic farmers, the practices they use and what they want to
achieve, it is important to understand the guiding principles of organic agriculture. These
principles encompass the fundamental goals and caveats that are considered important for
producing high quality food, fiber and other goods in an environmentally sustainable way.
Principles of organic agriculture have changed with the evolution of the movement and are now
codified. The principles apply to agriculture in the broadest sense, including the way people tend
soils, water, plants and animals in order to produce, prepare and distribute food and other
goods. They concern the way people interact with living landscapes, relate to one another and
shape the legacy of future generations. The principles of organic agriculture serve to inspire the
organic movement in its full diversity. They are the roots from which organic agriculture grows
and develops. They express the contribution that organic agriculture can make to the world and
a vision to improve all agriculture in a global context. Principles of organic agriculture serve to
inspire the organic movement in its full diversity.
The International Federation for Organic Agriculture Movement’s (IFOAM)
definition of organic farming is based on:
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The Principle of Health. FORMAT

The Principle of Ecology.

The Principle of Fairness.
The Principle of Care.
Each principle is articulated through a statement followed by an explanation. The principles
are to be used as a whole. They are ethical principles to inspire action.
: The principle of health
Organic agriculture should sustain and enhance the health of soil, plant, animal, human and
planet as one and indivisible. This principle points out that the health of indivisibles and
communities cannot be separated from the health of ecosystems – healthy soils produce healthy
crops that foster the health of animals and people.
Health is the wholeness and integrity of living systems. It is not simply the absence of illness, but
the maintenance of physical, mental, social and ecological well-being. Immunity, resilience and
regeneration are key characteristics of health. The role of organic agriculture, whether in
farming, processing, distribution or consumption, is to sustain and enhance the health of
ecosystems and organisms from the smallest in the soil to human beings. In particular, organic
agriculture is intended to produce high quality, nutritious food that contributes to preventive
health care and well-being. In view of this it should avoid the use of fertilizers, pesticides, animal
drugs and food additives that may have adverse health effects.

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  The principle of ecology
Organic agriculture should be based on living ecological systems and cycles, work with them,
emulate them and help sustain them.
This principle roots organic agriculture within living ecological systems. It states that production
is to be based on ecological processes and recycling. Nourishment and well- being are achieved
through the ecology of the specific production environment. For example, in the case of crops
this is the living soil; for animals it is the farm ecosystem; for fish and marine organisms, the
aquatic environment.
Organic farming, pastoral and wild harvest systems should fit the cycles and ecological
balances in nature. These cycles are universal but their operation is site- specific. Organic
management must be adapted to local conditions, ecology, culture and scale. Inputs should be
reduced by reuse, recycling and efficient management of materials and energy in order to
maintain or improve environmental quality and conserve resources. Organic agriculture should
attain ecological balance through the design of farming systems, establishment of habitats and
maintenance of genetic and agriculture diversity. Those who produce, process, trade, or
consume organic products should protect and benefit the common environment including
landscapes, climate, habitats, bio-diversity, air
and water.
 The principle of fairness
Organic agriculture should build up relationship that ensures fairness with regard to the
common environment and life opportunities.
Fairness is characterized by equity, respect, justice and stewardship of the shared world; both
among people and in their relations to other living beings.
This principle emphasizes that those involved in organic agriculture should conduct human
relationships in a manner that ensures fairness at all levels and to all parties – farmers,
workers, processors, distributors, traders and consumers. Organic agriculture should provide
everyone involved with a good quality of life and contribute to food sovereignty and reduction of
poverty. It aims to produce sufficient supply of good quality food and other products.
This principle insists that animals should be provided with the conditions and opportunities of
life that accord with their physiology, natural behavior and well-being.
Natural and environmental resources that are used for production and consumption should be
managed in a way that is socially and ecologically just and should be held in trust for future
generation. Fairness requires systems of production, distribution and trade that are open and
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equitable and account for real environmental and social costs. FORMAT

 The principle of care

Organic agriculture should be managed in a precautionary and responsible manner to protect
the health and well-being of current and future generations and the environment. Organic
agriculture is a living and dynamic system that responds to internal and external

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demands and conditions. Practitioners of organic agriculture can enhance efficiency and
increase productivity, but this should not be at the risk of jeopardizing health and well-being.
Consequently, new technologies need to be assessed and existing methods reviewed. Given the
incomplete understanding of ecosystems and agriculture, must be taken.
This principle states that precaution and responsibilities are the key concerns in management,
development and technology choices in organic agriculture. Science is necessary to ensure that
organic agriculture is healthy, safe and ecologically sound. However, scientific knowledge alone
is not sufficient. Practical experience, accumulated wisdom and traditional and indigenous
knowledge offer valid solutions, tested by time. Organic agriculture should prevent significant
risks by adoption appropriate technologies and rejecting unpredictable ones, such as genetic
engineering. Decisions should reflect the values and needs of all who might be affected, through
transparent and participatory processes.
SCOPE OF ORGANIC FARMING
The movement started with developed world is gradually picking up in developing countries. But
demand is still concentrated in developed and most affluent countries. Local demand for organic
food is growing. Success of organic movement in India depends upon the growth of its own
domestic markets. India has traditionally been a country of organic agriculture, but the growth
of modern scientific, input intensive agriculture has pushed it to wall. But with the increasing
awareness about the safety and quality of foods, long-term sustainability of the system and
accumulating evidences of being equally productive, the organic farming may emerge as an
alternative system of farming which addresses the quality and sustainability concerns.
Large-scale use of inputs both organic and inorganic has been a common sight in many of the
farming situations in the past several decades. However, in recent times the concept of organic
farming is being forcefully projected as the method for sustaining the agricultural production in
the country.
Organic farming is a form of agriculture which avoids or largely excluded the use of synthetic
fertilisers and pesticides, plant growth regulators and livestock feed additives. Organic farming
relies on crop rotation, crop residues, animal manures, bio-fertilisers and mechanical cultivation
to maintain soil productivity, to supply plant nutrients and to control weeds, insects, disease and
other pests.
Before jumping into organic farming bandwagon, we need to have answers to the following:
What level of crop yield/productivity is acceptable? It is suitable for country like India with a
large population to feed? Whether available organic sources of plant nutrients sufficient for pure
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organic farming? And, are organic farming technologies sustainable in long run? FORMAT
Whether organic farming can address the multitude of problems faced by Indian agriculture at
present is a major issue. Further, the virtues attributed to organic farming need to be rechecked
before coming to any conclusions.
 Issues of concern
Major issues to be considered for a decision on conventional agriculture or organic agriculture
are:
Organic farming and nutrient supply.
Organic farming and plant protection.
Organic farming and crop productivity.
Organic farming and certification processes.
Organic farming and heterogeneity of inputs.
Organic farming and food quality.
Organic farming products and marketing.
Organic farming and switch over period.
Organic Farming and Nutrient Supply
At present, there is a gap of nearly 10 M t between annual addition and removal of nutrient by
crops which are met by mining nutrients from the soil. A negative balance of about 8 M t NPK is
foreseen in 2020, even if we continue to use chemical fertilizers, maintaining present growth
rates of production and consumption. The most optimistic estimates at present showed that only
about 25-30 per cent nutrient needs of Indian agriculture can be met by utilising various organic
sources. These organic sources are agriculture wastes, animal manure etc.
Organic Farming and Plant Protection
Plant protection against the ravages of pests, diseases and weeds is an important issue if any
modern high production system. Exclusion of pesticides for plant protection poses greater risk of
yield losses. Options available under organic production systems are very few and crop specific.
Often they are very slow and the success rate depends on the prevailing weather conditions
leading to low to moderate effectiveness even in the recommended crops and situations. Thus,
they limit the realization of full potential of crop yields. Any sudden outbreak of insect pests or
plant disease can completely destroy the crops, unless requisite chemical pesticides are used.
Organic Farming and Crop Productivity
In general, it is observed that the crop productivity declines under organic farming. The extent
of decline depends on the crop type, farming systems practices followed at present etc. The
decline is more in high yielding and high nutrient drawing cereals as compared to legumes and
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vegetables and in irrigated systems as compared to rainfed and dryland farming systems.
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Without using fertilizers, the requirement of area to merely sustain the present level of food
grain production will be more than the geographical area of India! This is simple neither
possible nor sustainable.

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Organic Farming and Certification Processes
There are no standard certification processes uniformly applicable across different agro-climatic
conditions. Both process and product certification procedures are still evolutionary stage and
need further progress they can be effectively adopted. Due to biological nature of both processes
and products, there is always an element of dynamism subject to temporal and spatial
conditions. Presently available certification procedures are very cumbersome and expensive and
out of reach for the common farmer. Due to highly fragmented holdings of the farmers, there is
possibility of “contamination” from the neighbouring farms-besides the temptation to use
chemical inputs to boost yields.
Organic Farming and Heterogeneity of Inputs
There is large variability in the inputs used in organic farming. Due to biological nature of the
inputs, prescribing uniform standards and maintaining them in different agro- climatic
conditions is beyond ones control. Thus leads to arbitrariness on the part of organic farmers as
far as input management is concerned.
Organic Farming and Food Quality
It is often opined that the quality of the organically produced food is superior to that of
conventionally produced food. However, there is no such conclusive proof to justify the
nutritional superiority of the organically produced food over conventionally produced food. If
the conventionally produced foods are blamed to contain traces of chemical residues, the
organically produced foods are equally to be blamed for their contamination with harmful
bacteria and other organism inimical to the health of the consumers.
Organic Farming Products and Marketing
There are no diagnostic techniques available as of now to distinguish products from different
farming systems. The perceived belief that organic products are good for health is fetching them
premium prices. However, unscrupulous hawkers may sell anything and everything as
organically produced to unsuspecting buyer at higher prices resulting in outright cheating.
Organic Farming and Switch over Period
A transition period of 3-4 years is generally required to convert a conventional farm into an
organic farm. In this period, the produce is not considered as organically produced. The reduced
yield and lack of benefits of premium for the produces is a double blow for the farmers leading
to financial losses which are substantial for the small to medium farmers. 2.2: THE POSSIBLE
OPTIONS
With all the above concern, organic farming is not feasible as an alternative to conventional
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farming under all circumstances in Indian context. The shortfall in inorganic nutrient supply,
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uneconomic returns to inorganic inputs under dry land and rainfed farming systems, inherent
better response to organic farming in crops like vegetables, legumes and millets under
traditional farming systems paves way for integration of conventional farming with organic
farming. Such integration on sound scientific basis will be effective in

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addressing the problems of micronutrients deficiencies, recycling of crop residues, farm wastes,
rural and urban waste, besides effectively meeting growing food demands of rising populations.
There will also be scope for practicing organic farming on case basis in traditional strongholds
like hilly areas, rainfed and dryland farming system to cater to the demands of organic produces
in urban areas that would pay premium prices for such commodities.
Organic farming should be considered for lesser endowed region of the country. It should be
started with low volume high value crops like spices and medicinal and aromatic crops. A
holistic approach involving integrated nutrient management, integrated pest management,
enhanced input use efficiency and adoption of region-specific promising cropping systems would
be the best farming strategy for India.
Organic foods are a matter of choice of the individuals or enterprises. If somebody wants to go
for organic farming, primarily on commercial consideration/profits motive, to take advantage of
the unusually higher prices of organic food, they are free to do so. Organic farming is essentially
a marking tool and cannot replace conventional farming for food security, quality and quantity
of crop outputs. With a growing population and precarious food situation, India may not afford
to take risk with organic farming alone as of now.
COMPONENTS OF ORGANIC FARMING
The components of organic farming are discussed in this section:
 Organic Manures
Organic materials such as farm yard manure, biogas slurry, compost, straw or other crop
residues, biofertilisers, green manures and cover crops can substitute for inorganic fertilisers to
maintain the environmental quality. In addition, the organic farmers can also use sea weeds and
fish manures and some permitted fertilisers like basic-slag and rock phosphate. Crop rotation
with legumes as well as green manuring also provides nutrients and improves the soil fertility.
 Non-chemical weed control measures
Compared to conventional farmers, the organic farmers use more of mechanical cultivation of
row crops to reduce the weed menace. No herbicides are applied as they lead to environmental
pollution.
 Biological pest management
The control of insect pests and pathogens is one of the most challenging jobs in tropical and sub-
tropical agriculture. Here again non-chemical, biological pest management is encouraged. The
conservation of natural enemies of pests is important for minimising the use of chemical
pesticides and for avoiding multiplication of insecticide-resistant pests. Botanical pesticides such
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as those derived from neem could be used. Selective microbial pesticides offer particular
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promise, of which strains of Bacillis thuringiensis is an example.

 CHAPTER:3
COMPONENTS OF ORGANIC FARMING AND THEIR ROLE IN SUSTAINABLE CROP
PRODUCTION
Crop and Soil Management
Organic farming systems encourage the use of rotations and manures to maintain soil fertility.
Crop rotations with legumes add to soil fertility. Green manuring and intercropping of legumes
is another important aspect for organic farming system not only in regard to weed control, but
also in reducing the leaching of nutrients and in reducing soil erosion. Carefully managed soils
with 2a high proportion of humus offer essential advantages with respect to water retention, ion
exchange, soil erosion and animal life in the soil. A high proportion of humus in the soil gives
uniform distribution of nutrients and also plant hygiene.
On Farm Waste Recycling
The recycling of various forms of residues has advantage of converting surplus farm wastes in to
useful products for meeting nutrient requirement of crops besides maintaining the soil
productivity and improving the ever all ecological balance.
Cereals, pulses, oilseeds commercial crops one animal dropping are the major source for
recycling source for recycling of valuable plant nutrients for sustainable crop production in
India. The estimate of ministry of finance 1990-91 and FAO the available plant residue is to an
extent of 350 million tomes. This potential of crop residues helps to recycle valuable plant
nutrient to an extent of 5 million tonnes of NPK.
Increasing prices of chemical fertilizers have enable organic wastes to regain an important role
in the fertilizer practices on the farm. Good manure management means improved fertilizer
value of manure and slumy and less nutrient losses. Composting of all organic waste in general,
and of farm yard manure or feedlot manure in particular is important in organic farming
(Dahama, 1996).
Non-chemical Weed Management
Weed management is one of the main concerns in organic agriculture. To day, herbicides lead
other pesticides in world pesticide trade with 43 % share. The use rate is particularly high in
developed nations. The increased use of pesticides, however, has resulted in multiple problems.
Because of their slow and low degradability the environmental safety has been doubted. That
apart, weed species are developing resistance to chemical toxicants (Gautam and Mishtra, 1995).
e.g. In India, Phalaris minor in wheat belt has developed resistant to isoproturon herbicide.
There is also problem of secondary pest and resurgence of weeds. In view of all these, developed
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nations are already taking measures to reduce chemical load and are trying to find out chemical
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free means of weed management.

The elements to consider in preventing and control of weeds problems are tillage practices,
irrigation management, competitive crops intercropping, crop rotation, plant geometry,
solarization, thermal methods (flame gun’s), biological control, green manuring and manure
management. Mulching on a longer scale by using manure spreaders may also be useful in weed
control.
Biological Pest Control
Cultural Practice
Cultural practice is the oldest form of deliberate biological pest control. It is the baseline, the
prime technique which every good farmer uses to protect his products. However, fine tuning by
cultural practices is extremely complex. One can determine the precise action to maximize yield
for each crop with every seed quality in soil types of varying textures and quality with every
alternative method and timing of ploughing and tillage with possible addition of natural
fertilizers at various times, with every possible planting and harvesting date, under varied
conditions of residue removal and destruction, crop rotation, intercropping, with pretreatments
like flooding and lastly, under weather conditions that lack extremes that are unpredictable and
never follow the same pattern twice.
Resistance
Plant resistance is also included in the definition of biological control. Plant breeders have had
many successes in production varieties resistant to disease and occasionally to insets, although
not so far weeds. Resistance to soil pathogens may also be provided by the use of resistant root
stocks and grafting. Recent research has shown that plant can locally accumulate antimicrobial
compounds (Phytoalexins) in response to invasion by disease.
Crop Tolerant/Resistant variety Pest/Disease
Cotton (a) LK-861, NI-1280, Kanchana (b) H-8, White fly Jassids
NHH-44, NHH-390,L-603 Helicoverpa
(c) Narasimha
Groundnut ICGS-11, ICGS-44,Vemana Bud rot Root rot
ICGS-10, ICGS-4

Growing Trap Crop

Crop plants more preferred by the pest for egg laying and feeding are grown as trap crops on
the bunds of the main crop or one row after every 10 rows.
Crop Pest Trap crop
Cotton, Groundnut Cotton, Chickpea Spodoptera Helicoverpa Castor, COURSEPACK |
sunflower
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Pigeonpea Sesamum Helicoverpa Marigold Marigold
 Green gram Red hairy caterpillar Red Cowpea
hairy caterpillar Sunnhemp
Removal and destruction of egg masses and small caterpillar from trap crop.
Monitoring Pest Population
Pheromone traps
Light traps: Use one light trap for five hectare area
Erecting Bird Perches
Bird perches help in attracting birds, keep water in a small bowl and spread cooked yellow rice
to attract insectivorous birds.
Releasing Parasites and Predators
For management of boll worm of cotton, egg-larval parasites viz., Trichogamma sp. and
Chelonus sp. and predators viz. crysopa were found effective. For the control of pyrilla,
Epiricania melanoleuca and for top borer and stem borer Trichodermma chelonis and
Trichodermma japonicum should be released in sugarcane field.
Biological Chemicals
Another definition of biological control is the use of natural chemical. The identification of
natural chemicals and subsequent formation of their derivatives can open new areas of pest
control. Chemicals which do not kill the insects, but either attract, repel modify their usual
behavior, may also be regarded as biological control agents. Behavior modifying chemicals
which reduce mating frequency or release large number of sterile insects, control pests biological
by reducing their numbers.
Pest Biochemical Action
Spodoptera, Helicoverpa Leaf Control by neem oil Azadirection active ingredient
folder, all defoliator and act as a repellent and
sucking pest. antifident
White fly, Aphids, Jassids, Tobacco decocting (Not be Nicotine Sulphate acts as a
Helicoverpa used more than two times) contact poison and
fumigants.
Biological Disease Control
A major success in plant disease control has been the discovery. Development and marketing of
Agrobacterium rediobacterium for the prevention of crown gall caused by Agrobacterium
temufaciens. When root pruned seedlings are dipped in liquid suspensions of A. radiobacter,
crown galls do not develop on the newly planted seedlings even in fields infested with A. |
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temufaciens. Trichogramma has potential as a preventive agent against Sclerotium and
Rhizoctonia.
Bioherbicides
Bioherbicides are biological control agents applied in similar ways as chemical to control weeds.
The active ingredient in a bio-herbicide is a living organism, mostly a micro organism. A
herbicide made of mycelia fragments or spore of fungi is called mycoherbicide. Commercial
bioherbicides first appeared in the market in the USA in the early 1980’s with the release
product “Devine” in 1981 and “Collego” in 1982.
The Bureau of Plant Pathology of the division of plant industry in Gainsville, Florida has
developed the use of Phytophthora palmivora for the control of milk weed vine in citrus orchards.
Aeschynomene virginica, a leguminous weed in rice, can be effectively controlled by collecting
Trichum gloeosporidis Sp. Aeschynomene.
Bio-insecticides
Biological control of insects by microorganisms has been the subject of most research and
development efforts in the past and is consequently the most successful aspect of biological
control. At present 3000 organisms have been reported to cause disease in insects. In viruses, two
most important subgroups are (i) Nuclear Polyhedrosis Viruses (NPV) (ii) Granulosis virus
(GV). In Bacteria, Bacillus thuringiensis (BT) is known to infect of the caterpillars and few beetle
grubs. Bacillus thuringiensis has been commercially available for the last 30 years.
Improvements in the strain and formulations have led to a substantial in the market size for the
control of over 100 insect species. A new strain of B. thuringiensis var. israclienesis available for
control of mosquitoes including Anopheles.

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 Chapter-3
Initiatives for Promoting Organic Farming
In ability of Indian agriculture to meet the demand for food in the country during the two and a
half decades immediately after independence had been a matter of concern at those times. The
system of our agriculture based on traditional knowledge and practices handed down from
generation to generation could not produce enough to feed the increasing population. The
ignominy of our dependence for food on the western developed nations and the politics of food
aid practiced by them added to our determination to be self- sufficient in food production by
modernising agriculture. The “Green Revolution” fulfilled our aspirations by changing India
from a Food importing to a food exporting nation.
However, the achievement was at the expense of ecology and environment and to the determent
and of the well-being of the people. Agriculture system adopted from the west has started
showing increasing unsustainability and once again the need for appropriate method suitable to
our requirements is being felt.
The practice of organic farming, said to the best known alternative to the conventional method,
also originated in the west, which suffered from the ill – effects of chemical agriculture.
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However, organic farming is based on the similar principles underlying our traditional
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agriculture. Organic agriculture aims at the human welfare without any harm to the
environment which is the foundation of human life itself.
Conventional farming had helped India not only to produce enough food for own consumption
but also generated surpluses for exports. However, the increasing population and income will
lead to further increase in demand for food and also for raw materials for industry. The modern
system Of farming, it is increasingly felt, is becoming unsustainable as evidenced by declining
crop productivities, damage to environment, chemical contaminations etc. The necessity of
having an alternative agriculture method which can function in friendly ecosystem while
sustaining and increasing the crop productivity is realized now Organic farming is recognised as
the best known alternative to the conventional agriculture.
The first conference of NGOs on organic farming in India was organized by the Association for
Propagation of Indigenous Genetic Resource (APIGR) in October 1984 at Wardha. Several
other meetings on organic farming were held at different places in the country towards the end
of 1980s. Here, mention must be made of the Bordi Conference in Maharashtra, the state which
was the focal point for the organic farming movement in India. The Rajasthan College of
Agriculture with the support of the state government organized a meeting on organic agriculture
in 1992. The United Planters’ Association of South India (UPASI) organized two national level
conference on organic farming in 1993 and 1995. Then ARISE (Agricultural Renewal in India
for a Sustainable Environment) is a major organization in the country engaged in the Promotion
of organic farming. The ARISE comprises of a supporting network of regional groups aiming at
sustainable environment by protecting bio – diversity and promoting organic agriculture
practices. The selection of Auroville for the conference was apt as it housed the Arabindo
Ashram and pioneering work under its auspices on building technology, alternative energy
research, wasteland development, afforestation and organic agriculture.
By 1980, three groups of Indians had taken to Organic farming. The first one consisted of urban
educated technocrats for peripheral interest, which did not last long. Educated farmers consisted
of the second group whose farming practices were based on scientific knowledge. The third
group practiced organic farming through trail and error. Successful organic farmers in India
are those who have access to sufficient natural resources like, water and other organic inputs
mostly on their own farms. These farms Produce crops like sugarcane, areca, cocoa, coconut,
pepper, and spices. Many of them have shown that switch over to organic farming to do not
affect yields and income and more importantly, knowledge/expertise is available for successful
adoption of organic farming in the country.
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The International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM) estimates that an
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area of about 42,000 has in India is under organic farming representing about 0.18 per cent of
the world organic acreage as in the year 2015. Non – Governmental Organisations (NGOs) are
spearheading organic farming in India. About 15,000 tonnes of organic products have been
raised in India. They include tea, coffee, rice, wheat, pulses, fruits, spices and vegetables. India
exports organic agricultural products to European Union, USA, Canada, Saudi Arabia, UAE,
Japan, Singapore and Australia, among others.
The international conference on “Indian Organic Product-Global Markets” at the end of 2002
was the first to be held in India. IFOAM predicts that India and China have great potential to be
organic farm produce exporters in the future. An important event in the history of the modern
organic farming in India was the unveiling of the National Programme for Organic Production

(NPOP) on 8th May, 2000 and the subsequent Accreditation and Certification Programme in

October, 2001. The logo “Indian Organic” was released on 26th July 2002 to support the NPOP.
3.1 INDIA ADVANTAGE
India is endowed with various types of naturally available organic form of nutrients in different
parts of the country and it will help for organic cultivation of crops substantially. There is
diversity in climates: 100 – 10,000 mm rainfall, hill, desert, strong traditional farming stem –
crop – tree animal, innovative farmers, vast dry lands (60% agriculture land), least use of
chemicals. In fact, the rainfed, tribal, north – east and hilly regions of the country where
egligible chemicals used are practicing subsistent agriculture for a long period.
These areas are organic by default. As regards the availability of major organic nutritional
inputs (NPK) in India, the estimate of National Centre of Organic Farming, Ghaziabad is as
follows:
Crop residue = 3.865 million tonnes.
Animal dung = 3.854 million tonnes.
Green manure = 0.223 million tonnes
Bio – fertilizer = 0.370 million tonnes.
Besides, there is enough scope of using bio –dynamic preparation, vermicompost, Amrit pani etc.
on on-farm production basis.
An appropriate national agriculture policy, giving a prominent place to organic farming
addressing the issues related to its coverage, financial support during the conversion period,
creation of linkages among the farmers, processors, traders and consumers, inspection and
certification and organic products and increasing the public awareness of the benefits of organic
agriculture along with the ill effects of the conventional system, should be designed. This must be
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followed by concrete action on the ground if we do not want to miss the far reaching changes
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over the world heralded by the organic farming movement.
3.2 GOVERNMENT POLICY ON PROMOTING ORGANIC FARMING
Organic farming appears to be one of the options for sustainability. Starting of organic
agriculture in India in 1900 by Sir Albert Howard, a British agronomist in North India,
Development of Indore Method of aerobic compost ( Howard 1929), Bengaluru method of
anaerobic compost ( Archarya 1934), NADEP Compost (ND Pandari Panda, Yeotmal 1980)
initiated organic agriculture in India.
The year 2000 is very important year for India from organic point of view. The four major
happenings were made during the year 2000. These are:
The Planning Commissions constituted (2000) a steering group on agriculture who identified
organic farming as national challenge and suggested that it should be taken in the form of a

project as major thrust area for 10th Plan. The group recommended organic farming in NE
region, rainfed areas and in the areas where the consumption of agrochemical is low or
negligible.
The National Agricultural Policy (2000) recommended promotion of tradition knowledge of
agriculture relating to organic farming and its scientific up gradation.
The Department of Agriculture and Cooperation (DAC), Ministry of Agriculture constituted
(2000) a Taskforce on Organic farming under the chairmanship of Shri Kunwar ji Bhai Yadav
and this task force recommended promotion of organic farming.
The Ministry of Commerce launched the National Organic Programme in 2000 and Agricultural
and Processed Food Products Export Development Author (APEDA) is implementing the
National Programme for Organic Production (NPOP) Under the NPOP, documents like national
standards, accreditation criteria accrediting inspection and certification agencies, accreditation
producer, inspect and certification procedures have been prepared and approved by National
Steen Committee (NSC).

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The policy of Ministry of Agriculture seeks to promote technically sound, economical viable,
environmentally non-degrading and socially acceptable use of natural resources favour of
organic agriculture. The policy seeks to actualize the area and crop potential strengthening rural
economy, promoting value addition, accelerating growth of agribusiness and securing a fair
standard of living for the farmers and agricultural and their families.

NATIONAL PROJECTS ON ORGANIC FARMING

The Department of Agriculture and Cooperation (DAC), Ministry of Agriculture, Government
of India has launched a new Central sector scheme ‘ National Project on Organic Farming’
(NPOF) with an outlay of ₹ 57.05 crore for production, promotion and market development of

organic farming in the country during 10th Plan on pilot basis. The project is operation since 1st
October, 2004. Its Headquarter is NPOF, Ghaziabad which has six regional centers (RCOFs) at
Bengaluru, Bhubneshawar, Hisar, Jabalpur, Imphal and Nagpur.
The unique feature of this scheme is to promote group certification by capacity build through
service provider where the service provider will help organic farmers by providing training,
educating on record management, supervising internal control system, assisting certification and
market access. One Service provider will be registered with 1500 farmer working in identical
geographical condition with similar type of crop. The group certification will reduce cost of
certification.

FAO-DAC PROJECT ON ORGANIC FARMING

The Ministry of agriculture has taken up the Technical Cooperation Program (TCP) of FAO
(TCP/IND/3003 – Development of Technical capacity Base for the Promotion of Organic
Agriculture in India) to overcome the knowledge gap by quickly production basic information
tailored to various ecological zones of the country on the current state knowledge on organic
crop productivity packages, input production and utilization and certification issue including
legal and institution aspects. The project is operational since April, 2005.

CONSTITUTION OF ORGANIC EXPERT PANEL BY DAC

There are many issues on crop productivity and input use under organic farming which have
been raised by various concerns. To address all these issues, the Ministry of Agriculture
constituted (July, 2005) an organic expert’s panel under the chairmanship of Dr. H.P. Singh,
Dean, G.B. Pant Agricultural University. Based on the recommendation of this COURSEPACK
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approach towards organic farming could be reviewed.
ORGANIC FARMING APPROACH BY NAAS
The National Academy of Agriculture Science (NAAS) has issued a Policy Paper on Organic
Farming, Which concludes that while synthetic pesticides can be avoided, complete exclusion of
fertilizers may not be advisable under all situations. The NAAS recommends that a “holistic
approach Involving Integrated Nutrient Management (INM), Integrated Pest Management
(IPM), enhanced input use efficiency and adoption of region-specific promising cropping system
would be the best organic farming strategy for India”. To begin with, the practice of organic
farming should be foe low volume, high value crops like spices, medicinal plants, fruits and
vegetables. The NAAS has also emphasized the need for intensive research on soil fertility and
plant health management and on issues relating to microbial contamination of food arising from
the use of farm yard manures.

3.3 GLOBAL SCENARIO OF ORGNIC FARMING

The negative effects of modern chemical based farming system were first experienced by those
countries, which introduce it initially. So, naturally, it was in those countries organic farming
was adopted in relatively large scales. There are very large organizations promoting the organic
farming movement in European countries, America, Australia etc. These organizations, for
example, the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM) and
Greenpeace have studied the problems of the chemical farming methods and compared the
benefits accruing to the organic farming with the former. Organic farming movements have
since spread to Asia and Africa too.
PRE – WORLD WAR II
Organic Agriculture (as opposed to conventional) began more or less simultaneously in Central
Europe and India. The British botanist Sir Albert Howard is often referred to as the father of
modern organic agriculture. From 1905 to 1924, he worked as an agricultural adviser in Pusa,
Bengal, where he documented traditional Indian farming practices and came to regard then as
superior to his conventional agriculture science. His research and further development of these
methods is recorded in his writings, notably, his 1940 book, An Agricultural Testament, which
influenced many scientist and farmers of the day.
In Germany, Rudolf Steiner’s development, bio-dynamic agriculture, was probably the first
comprehensive organic farming system. This began with a lecture series Steiner presented at a
farm in Koberwitz (now in Poland) in 1924.
In 1909, American agronomist FH King toured China, Korea and Japan, studying traditional
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fertilization, tillage and general farming practice. He published his findings in Farmers of Forty
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Centuries (1911, Courier Dover Publication). King foresaw a “World movement for the
introduction of new and improved methods” of agriculture and in late years his book became an
important organic reference.
The term organic farming was coined by Lord Northbourne in his book Look to the Land
(written in 1939, published 1940). From his conception of “the farm as organism”, described a
holistic, ecologically balanced approach to farming.
In 1939, influenced by Sir Albert Howard’s work, Lady Eve Balfour launched Haughley
Experiment on farmland in England. It was the first scientific, side – by – side

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comparison of organic and conventional farming. Four years later, she published The soil, based
on the initial findings of the Haughley Experiment.
In Japan, Masanobu Fukuoka, a microbiologist working in soil science and plant pathology,
began to doubt the modern agricultural movement. In 1937, he quit his job as research scientist,
returned to his family’s farm in 1938 and devoted the next 60 years developing a radical no-till
organic method for growing grain and many other crops, no known as Nature Farming (Natural
Farming), ‘do-nothing’ farming or Fukuoka Farming.
POST – WORLD WAR II
Technological advance during World War II accelerated post – war innovation in aspect of
agriculture. At the same time, increasingly powerful and sophisticated farming machinery
allowed a single farmer to work larger areas of land and fields grew bigger.
In 1944, an international campaign called green revolution was launched in Mexico with private
funding from the US. It encouraged the development of hybrid plants, Chemical controls, large-
scale irrigation and heavy mechanization in agriculture around the world.
During the 1950s, sustainable agriculture was a topic of scientific interest, but research tended to
concentrate on developing the new chemical approaches. In the US, began to popularize the term
and methods of organic growing particularly to consumed through promotion of organic
gardening.
In 1962, Rachel Carson, a prominent scientist and neutralist, published Silent spring chronicling
the effects of DDT and other pesticides on the environment.
In the 1970s, global movements concerned with pollution and the environment increase their
focus on organic farming. As the distinction between organic and conventional food became
clearer, one goal of the organic movement was to encourage consumption of local grown food.
In 1975, Fukuoka released his first book, The One-Straw Revolution, with a strong impact in
certain areas of agricultural world. His approach to small – scale grain production emphasized
meticulous balance of the local farming ecosystem and a minimum of human and labor.
In the 1980s, around the world, farming and consumer groups began seriously pressuring
government regulation of organic production. This led to legislation and certification being
enacted through the 1990s and to date.
Since the early 1990s, the retail market for organic farming in developed economies has growing
by about 20 per cent annually due to increasing consumer demand. Concern the quality and
safety of food and the potential for environmental damages from conventional culture are
apparently responsible for this trend.
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In approximately 150 countries of the world, organic farming is being practiced andFORMAT
the under
organic management is continuously growing.
TABLE 3.1 Land area of major countries under organic management (2017) (FiBL Survey –
2019)

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 No. Name of Area under No. Name of Area under
country organic (m ha) country organic (m ha)
1. Australia 35.65 7. China 3.01
2. Argentina 3.39 8. Japan 0.009
3 USA 2.03 9. India 1.7
4. UK 0.49 10. Pakistan 0.05
5. Germany 1.37 11. Sri Lanka 0.17
6. South Africa 0.41 12.
All World 69.85
Standard
Globally there are more than 60 standards which include IFOAM basic standard CODEX
Alimentations Commission guidelines, EU Regulation 2029/91, NOP of USA.
SOME FACTS ON INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS

1 IFOAQM Established in 1972

Headquarters in Germany
Umbrella for organization Organic Agricultural Association
Developed internal basic standards of organic agriculture
Set up International Organic Accreditation Service (IOAS) July 2001

2 CODEX Codex Alimentarious Commission – A joint FAO/WHO

Intergovernmental body
Established in 1962
Produce a set of guidelines for organic production
3 EU Laid out a basic regulation for European Union organic
REGULATION standard in counsel Regulation No 2092/91 (June 1991)
4 DEMETER Demeter internationals is worldwide network of 19 International
certification Bodies in Africa, Australia, Europe
Developed guidelines for biodynamic preparation
5 JAS A set of guidelines Japan Agricultural Standards For organic
Farming

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Certification
FORMAT
As per Organic Certification Dictionary, 2003 as published by Grolink, there are 3 certification
bodies across the world, but they are unevenly spread. Around 300 of them located in European
Union, USA, JAPAN, Canada and Brazil. There is IFOAM accreditation programme, launched
in 1992, by initiating International Group accreditation Service (IOAS)

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 CHAPTER :5
NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT IN ORGANIC FARMING
Introduction

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In order to realize the potential of production systems on a sustained basis, efficient management
of resources is crucial (essential). A successful farming system relies on the management of
organic matter to enhance physico-chemical and biological properties of the soil. The effects of
soil organic matter are dynamic as it is a source of gradual release of essential plant nutrients;
improves soil structure, its drainage, aeration and water holding capacity (WHC); improves soil
buffer capacity; influence the solubility of minerals and serves as a source of energy for the
development of micro-organisms.
According to a conservative estimate, around 600 to 700 m t of agricultural waste is available in
the country but it is not managed properly. We must convert waste into wealth by converting
this biomass into energy, nutrient to starved soil and fuel to farmers. India produces about 1800
m t of animal dung per annum. Even if ⅔ of the dung is used for biogas generation, it is expected
to yield about 440 m t/ annum of manure, which is equivalent to 2.90 m t N, 2.75 mt P2O5 and
1.89 m t K2O.
CONCEPT AND DEFINITION OF INM
The concept of biological INM is the continuous improvement of soil productivity on long-term
basis through appropriate use of organic manures, green manures, BGA, biofertilizers and other
biological derived materials and their scientific management for optimum growth, yield and
quality of crops and intensive cropping systems in specific agro- ecological situations.
Definition of Biological INM
According to Sanchaz (1994). It should relay on biological processes by adapting germplasm to
adverse soil conditions, enhancing soil biological activity and optimizing nutrient, cycling to
minimize external inputs and maximize the efficiency of their use.
It can also be defined as “a system for approaching of soil nutrient management which maintain
soil health, soil fertility, sustaining agricultural productivity and improving farmers profitability
through effective, judicious and intensive use of biological based nutrient management
resources”. The resources are biofertilizers, organic manures green manuring crop rotation, N-
fixing organisms, mycorrhizae, PSM etc.
Role of different sources for biological INM
4.1 ORGANIC MANURES
Term ‘manure’ was used originally for denoting materials like cattle manure and other bulky
natural substances that were applied to land, with the object of increasing the production of
crops. Therefore, manures are defined as the plant and animal wastes which are used as sources
of plant nutrients. COURSEPACK |
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Urine is normally low in phosphorus and high in potash, where as about equal parts of nitrogen
may be excreted in faeces and urine of the cattle. Hence the manure in which the proportion of
the urine was allowed to drain away would be relatively low in N and K. Poultry manure is very
important for organic farming due to there will be no loss of urine, since both liquid & solid
portions are excreted together.
Fresh poultry manure creates local alkalinity, it may hamper the standing crop. Therefore, it is
recommended to preserve the excreta at least for six months with suitable amendments and
appropriate microbes.
ADVANTAGES OF MANURING
 Manures supply plant nutrients including micro nutrients
 They improve soil physical properties
 Increase nutrient availability
 Provide food for soil micro organisms
 Provide buffering action in soil reaction
 Improve soil tilth, aeration and WHC of the soil
On the basis of concentration of nutrients, manures can be grouped into two categories-
Bulky organic manures
Contain small percentage of nutrients and they applied in large quantities like FYM, compost,
green manure, biogas slurry, night soil, sewage and sludge, poultry manure, sheep & goat
manure, animal waste, crop residue etc.
FARM YARD MANURE (FYM)
Most commonly used organic manure in India. It refers to the decomposed mixture of dung and
urine of farm animals along with litter and left over materials from roughages or fodder fed to
the animals. It contains 0.5% N, 0.2% P2O5 and 0.5% K2O. Urine contains 1% N and 1.35%
K2O. Litter is the straw, peat, sawdust and dry leaves used as bedding material for farm animals
and birds. The N present in urine is mostly in the form of urea which is subjected to volatilization
losses. Chemical preservatives are used to reduce losses and enrich FYM e.g. gypsum, kainite
and super phosphate. These preservatives absorb urine and prevent volatilization loss of urea
and also add nutrients.
COMPOST
Compost means ‘a product obtained by the controlled decomposition of organic wastes
(composting), finally used as organic manure’. Composting is the process of reducing animal and
vegetable refuse (except dung) to a quickly utilizable condition for improving and maintaining
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soil fertility. The final well decomposed manure having lower C: N ratio is termed as ‘compost’.
The recycling of organic materials by biological decomposition as manure is very important for
organic farming as it kills weed seeds, pathogenic organisms, and dispose off agricultural /
industrial wastes to produce a uniform, slow release organic fertilizer which stimulates soils life,
improve soil structure and control insect-pests and diseases. Compost contains 0.5-0.15-0.5
N,P,K, respectively.
BIOGAS SLURRY
Instead of directly using the animal dung for composting it can be used for production of biogas
by feeding through Biogas Plants. It contains (1–1.8% N, 0.4–0.9% P 2O5 and 0.6- 1% K2O) due
to low volatilization losses of ammonia.
NIGHT SOIL (Poudrette)
Night soil is human excreta, both solid and liquid. It contains 5.5% N, 4% P 2O5 and 2% K2O.
The dehydration of night soil, as such or after admixture with absorbing materials like soil, ash,
charcoal and sawdust produces a poudrette that can be used easily as manure. Poudrette
contains about 1.32% N, 2.8% P2O5 and 4.1% K2O.
SEWAGE AND SLUDGE
1.1.1 The solid portion in the sewage (human excreta + water) is called sludge and liquid portion
is sewage water. It can be recycled for crop fertilization, irrigation to the crop, aquaculture
production, application to forest land, biogas production and land reclamation. It was estimated
that total waste generated by 217 million people in urban areas is 39 mt/ year (2001). The total
NPK content of this would be 2.5 lac tone of N, 2.6 lac tone of P and
2.6 lac tone of K. Both the components are separated and are given a preliminary fermentation
and oxidation treatments to reduce bacterial contamination and offensive smell, otherwise soil
quickly becomes “sewage sick” owing to the mechanical clogging by colloidal matter in the
sewage and the development of anaerobic organisms which not only reduce the nitrate already
present in the soil but also produce alkalinity. These defects can be removed by thoroughly
aerating the sewage in the settling tank by blowing air through it. The sludge that settles at the
bottom in this process is called “activated sludge” (3.6% N, 2% P2O5 & 1% K2O).
SHEEP & GOAT MANURE
The droppings of sheep and goat contain higher nutrients than FYM and compost. On an
average, the manure contains 3% N, 1% P 2O5 & 2%K2O). It is applied to the field in two ways-
i) Sweeping of sheep and goat sheds are placed in pits for decomposition and it is applied later to
the field. ii) Sheep penning- wherein sheep and goats are allowed to stay over night in the field
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and urine and faecal matter is added to soil.
FORMAT
POULTRY MANURE
Poultry manure can supply higher N and P to the soil than other bulky organic manures. The
average nutrient content is 2.87% N, 2.93% P2O5 & 2.35% K2O.
GREEN MANURING
Green un-decomposed plant material used as manure is called green manure. By growing green
manure crops (usually leguminous crops) are grown in the field and incorporating it in its green
stage in the same field is called green manuring. It adds organic matter and nitrogen to the soil.
On an average green manuring gives 60-80 kg N/ha.
Concentrated organic manures
These have required in small quantities and contain higher nutrients as compared to bulky
organic manures. The most commonly used are oil cakes, fish meal, meat meal, blood meal, horn
& hoof meal, bird guano, raw bone meal etc. which act a good source of organic manures for
organic farming system.
OIL CAKES
Oil cakes are generally grouped into two groups, viz., edible oil cakes suitable for feeding the
cattle and other domestic animals and non-edible oil cakes exclusively used as manure due to
their higher content of plant nutrients. It has been estimated that India produced about 2.5
million tones of oil cakes annually
Non-edible oil cakes are used as manure especially for horticultural crops. Nutrient present in oil
cakes, after mineralization, are made available to crops 7-10 days after application. Oil seed
cakes need to be well powdered before application for even distribution and quicker
decomposition. Neem cake acts as Nitrification Inhibitor.
Average nutrient content of different oil cakes
Oil cakes Per cent composition
N% P% K%
Edible oil cakes (feed for livestock)
Safflower (decorticated) 7.9 2.2 1.9
Groundnut 7.3 1.5 1.3
Cotton seed (decorticated) 6.5 2.9 2.2
Non-edible oil cakes (not fed to livestock)
Safflower (un-decorticated) 4.9 1.4 1.2
Cotton seed (un-decorticated) 3.9 1.8 1.6
Caster 4.3 1.8 1.3
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Neem 5.2 1.0 FORMAT
1.4
FISH MEAL
Sea food canning industries are present in almost all coastal states of India, Fishes which is not
preferred for table purposes due to their small size, bonny nature and poor taste can be
converted into very good organic manure. The fish is dried, powdered and filled in bags. It
contains average nutrients are 4-10, 3-9 & 0.3-1.5 NPK. These manures are highly suitable for
fruit orchards and plantation crops.
MEAT MEAL
An adult animal can provide 35 to 45 kg of meat after slaughter or death. It contains 8-9% N
and 7% P2O5.
BLOOD MEAL
Blood manure contain about 13-20%N, rich in Iron and its application gives a deep rich colour
to foliage,.
HORN & HOOF MEAL
A healthy animal can give about 3 to 4 kg of horn and hoof. These materials are dried,
powdered, bagged and marketed as manure. It contains 13% N.
GUANO (Bird / Fish)
The excreta and dead remains of the bird is called bird guano (11-14% N & 2-3% P2O5) and the
refuse left over after the extraction of oil from the fish in factories, dried in cemented yards and
used as manure is called as fish guano (7% N & 8% P2O5).
RAW BONE MEAL
An excellent source of organic phosphorus. It contains 3 to 4% N and 20 to 25% P2O5.
4.2 VERMICOMPOSTING
Definition: The process of composting organic wastes through domesticated earthworms under
controlled conditions is vermicomposting.
Earthworms have tremendous ability to compost all biodegradable materials. Waste subjected to
earthworm consumption decompose 2 to 5 times faster than in conventional composting. During
composting the wastes are deodorized, pathogenic micro-organisms are destroyed and 40 to 60
% volume reduction in organic wastes take place. It is estimated that the earthworms feed about
4 to 5 time their own weight of material daily.
Earthworms bears both male and female reproductive organs. However, two worms are needed
for successful copulation. The self fertilization does not occur generally in the earthworms.
Fertilization take place in the egg case or cocoon.
Earthworm species such as Eisenia foetida, Eudrilus eugeniae, lumbricus rubellus,
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L. mauritee and perionix excavatus have been recommended for vermiculture technology.
FORMAT
Vermicompost is the compost which is prepared by earthworms. It is a mixture of worm casting
(faecal excretions) organic materials including humus, live earthworms, their cocoons and other
micro organisms.
Vermiculture : It is the process of rearing and breeding of earthworms in controlled condition
and presently it is known as earthworm biotechnology. It is estimated that 1800 worms which is
an ideal population for one sq. meter can feed on 80 tonnes of humus per year. Faecal matter or
excretions of earthworms is known as vermin cast. Vermi wash is a liquid fertilizer collected
after the passage of water through a column of worm activation, which is useful for foliar spray.
It may be diluted with water before use. It can also be diluted with 10% urine of cow. The
average nutrient content of vermicompost is about 0.5 to 0.9-
to 0.2- 0.67 % N,P,K respectively.
VERMIWASH – A liquid manure: It is a transparent pale yellow coloured fluid collected after
the passage of water through a column of worm action or it a collection of excretory products
and mucus secretions of earthworm along with nutrients from the soil organic molecules. It is
very useful as a foliar spray to enhance the plant growth and yield and to check development of
diseases.
BENEFITS OF VERMICOMPOST
When added to clay soil, loosens the soil and provides the passage for the entry of air.
The mucus associated with it being hygroscopic, absorbs water and prevents water logging and
improves water holding capacity.
In the vermicompost, some of the secretions of worms and the associated microbes act as growth
promoter along with other nutrients.
It improves physical, chemecal and biological properties of soil in the long run on repeated
application
The organic carbon in vermicompost releases the nutrients slowly and steadily into the system
and enables the plant to absorb these nutrients.
The multifarious effects of vermicompost influence the growth and yield of crops.
Earthworm can minimize the pollution hazards caused by organic waste by enhancing waste
degradation.
APPLICATION OF VERMICOMPOST
In orchards the dose depends on the age of the tree. It can be used @ 500 g in small fruit plants

and 3 – 4 kg/tree whereas for vegetable crops @ 3 kg/10 m 2 area. For general use in
agriculture, vermicompost should be applied @ 5 t/ha. Vermicompost is mixed with equal
quantity of dried cow dung and used as broadcast when seedlings are 12-15 cm heightCOURSEPACK
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should be sprinkled.
GREEN MANURING
Definition : Crops grown for the purpose of restoring or increasing the organic matter content in
the soil are called green manure crops while there green undecomposed plant material used as
manure is called green manure. Their use in cropping system is generally referred as green
manuring. It is obtained in two ways-either by grown in situ or brought from out site. In both
ways, the organic material should be worked into the soil while they are fairly young for easy
and rapid decomposition.
In situ green manuring: Growing of green manure crops in the field and incorporating it in its
green stage in the same field (i.e. in situ) is termed as green manuring.
Green leaf manuring: is the application of green leaves and twigs of trees, shrubs and herbs
collected from nearby location and adding to the soil. Forest tree leaves are the main source of
green leaf manuring. Legumes are usually utilized as green manure crops as they fix
atmospheric nitrogen in the root/stem nodules through symbiotic association.
ADVANTAGES OF GREEN MANURING
It adds organic matter to the soil. This stimulates the activity of soil micro organisms
Green manuring concentrates plant nutrient in the surface layer of the soil
It improve the structure of soil by deep rooting system
It facilitates the penetration of rain water, thus decreasing run off & soil erosion.
It holds plant nutrients that would other wise be lost by leaching (eg.N)
It increases the availability of certain plant nutrients like P,Ca,K,Mg & Fe.
It checks weed growth by quick initial growth
It aid in reclamation of sodic soils by release of organic acids.
DESIRABLE CHARACTERISTICS FOR GREEN MANURE CROPS
The criteria for which green manure crops are selected should have following characters,
It should be high biomass production
It should be deep rooting system
It should be leguminous family
It should be fast initial growth
It should be more leafy than woody
It should be low C/N ratio
It should be non-host for crop related pathogens
It should be easy and abundant seed producer
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It should be useful for ‘by-products’
FORMAT
RECYCLING OF ORGANIC RESIDUES
A variety of organic residues include crop residues in the form of straw, husk, forest litter;
animal wastes like dung urine, bones etc., guano, city or household residues, oil cakes, bye
products of food and sugar industries, pond silt, marine wastes, sea weeds and human habitation
wastes. There are two major components of crop residues available, i. e. harvest refuse (straw,
stubbles, haulm of different crops) and process wastes (nut shell, oilcakes and cobs of maize,
bajra and sorghum). Crop residues are defined as ‘the non- economic plant parts that are left in
the field after harvest and remains that are generated from packing sheds or that are discarded
during crop processing’. The benefits of proper organic residue recycling are that they supply
essential plant nutrients, improve soil properties, protect the soil from erosion hazards, reducing
residue accumulation at the sites they produced, providing employment as well as income to
many, enhancing environmental qualities and illustrate that man is not a waste generator but
also its wise 29tilizer/ manager.
BIO-FERTILIZERS (Microbial inoculants)
The atmosphere over an hectare of land consists of 80,000 tones of N. Though atmospheric N is
present in sufficient quantity (80%), it is not available to plants since it exists in inert form.
Biological nitrogen fixation is the conversion of atmospheric N by living organisms into forms
that plants can use. This process is carried out by a group of bacteria and algae which fix
atmospheric Nitrogen (N2) in to assimilable forms of nitrogen (NH3)
It can be defined as bio-fertilizers or microbial inoculants are preparations containing live or
latent cell of efficient strain of N-fixing or P-solubilizing micro organisms used for seed or soil
application with the objectives of increasing the numbers of such micro organisms in the soil or
rhizosphere and consequently improve the extent of microbiologically fixed N for plant growth.
1 Use of bio-fertilizers
Azospirilum is applied as seed treatment or soil application in crop like rice, sugarcane, pulses,
soybean and vegetables. It increase in root length, top dry weight, root dry weight, total leaf area
and yield were reported. The inoculants like nitroplus (legume inoculants) and VAM (Vesicular
Arbuscular Micorrhizae) are also effective for crop yield improvement. The Bacillus sp. and
pseudomonas sp. are help full in synthesizing the insoluble form of phosphorus. The combined
application of phosphobacteria, rock phosphate and FYM to commercial crops have greatly
unhanced biomass production, uptake of nutrients and yield
Enrichment of compost with microbial inoculants.
Compost prepared by traditional method is usually low in nutrients and there is need to
improved its quality. Enrichment of compost using low cost nitrogen fixing and COURSEPACK
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FORMAT
solubilizing microbes is one of the possible way of improving nutrient status of the soil. It could
be achieved by introducing microbial inoculants, which are more efficient than the native strains
associated with substrate materials. Both the nitrogen fixing and phosphate solubilizing
microbes are more exacting in their physiological and ecological requirements. The only
alternative is to enhance their inoculum potential in the composting mass.
Benefits of bio- fertilizers in organic farming
Bio-fertilizers are eco-friendly and do not have any ill effect on soil health and environment.
They reduce the pressure on non-renewable nutrient sources/fertilizer.
Their formulations are cheap and have easy application methods.
They also stimulate plant growth due to excretion of various growth hormones.
They reduce the incidence of certain disease, pathogen and increase disease resistance.
The economic benefits to cost ratio of bio-fertilizers is always higher.
They improve the productivity of waste land and low land by enriching the soil.

CHAPTER :6 COURSEPACK |
DISEASE AND PEST MANAGEMENT IN ORGANIC FARMING FORMAT
Introduction:-
The use of synthetic chemicals to manage pests has a number of disadvantages which cause
environmental pollution, phytotoxicity, ground water contamination and adversely affect the soil
and its biotic environment. Indiscriminate use of synthetic pesticides resulted in insecticide
resistance, resurgence and accumulation of pesticide residues in food, fruits and vegetables.
Integrated pest management measures are either preventive or curative. Control of insect pest
relies on understanding of the pest life cycle, behavior and ecology. It involves natural enemies,
host resistance and cultural practices.
CULTURAL METHODS
Cultural control is just a modification or manipulation of the environment to the disfavour of
pests by disrupting their reproductive cycles, eliminating their foods, destroying their weed hosts
or making the environment more favourable for predators, parasitoids and antagonists. The
important cultural practices suitable for organic production to reduce the severity of insects,
pests and diseases are as follows.
Tillage operation :-
Plowing or hoeing helps to expose stages of soil inhabiting insects to sun or predatory birds.
Earthing up of soil in sugarcane reduces seedling borer infestation.
Field and plant sanitation: -
Regular removal of weeds, pest-affected plant parts, crop stubbles and their destruction will
eliminate the sources of infestation of the diseases and pests. Distraction of bored shoots and
fruits of brinjal, okra prevents further build up of the pest population. Many virus diseases like
leaf curl, bud and stem rot of tomato, groundnut and sun flower can be minimized by uprooting
the infected plants.
Crop rotation :
Growing of a non host crop after a host crop of the pest will break the breeding cycle of pest
species and reduce their population. Like wise, crop rotation prevents the build up of plant
pathogen in soil.
Growing of pest resistant varieties :
Certain varieties of crops are less damage or less infested than other by insects. The resistant
varieties have physical and physiological features, which enable to avoid pest attacks. i.e.
Crop Tolerant / Resistant Pest/Disease
variety
Cotton L.K.861, Kanchana White fly COURSEPACK |
FORMAT
L-603, L-604, Jassids
 Narsimha Helicoverpa
Groundnut Vemana, Tirupathi, Bud rot
ICGS-11
Kadiri, ICGS-10 Leaf spot
ICGV-86325 Multiple resistant to pests &
diseases
Red gram ICPL-332 (Abhaya) Pod borer
Castor JI-144 Capsule borer
Trap cropping
Some crops are more preferred by the pests for feeding and egg laying are grown as trap crops
on the bunds of the main crop or 1 row after 10 rows. Removal and destruction of egg masses
and small larvae from trap crop reduce the pest population
i.e.
Crop Pest Trap crop
Cotton, Groundnut Spodoptera Castor, sunflower
Cotton, chickpea, pigeonpea Helicoverpa Merigold
Sesamum Red hairy cater pillar Cowpea
Green gram Red hairy cater pillar Sunn hemp
Water management :
Flooding of field whenever possible; kills root grubs, termites and soil borne plant pathogens.
Draining of water for a few days in paddy fields supprss brown plant hopper population
Adjusting time of sowing :
The simultaneous sowing of crops in a locality helps in reducing pest damage. Many a times
early sown crops escape pest attack i.e. Jowar crop sown before the end of June months usually
escapes attack by shootfly.
MECHANICAL METHODS :
Hand picking of egg masses, gregarious larvae and sluggish/ lazy adults and their destruction
helps in reducing of pest population
Use of phenomones and light traps :
sex pheromones are mostly emitted by female insects to attract the male insect for matting. Such
chemical compounds can be prepared in the laboratory and make available as lures for use in
traps. These pheromones & also light traps attract the insects in large numbers toCOURSEPACK
the traps, |
FORMAT
where they get trapped and killed. Pheromones are non toxic, species specific, safe to other
organisms, plants and environment. Generally at least 5 traps/ha are recommended for
monitoring for each pest species.
Use of yellow sticky traps :
It is used to monitor aphids and white fly.
Erecting bird perchase :
Bird perches helps in attracting birds, keep water in small bowl and spread cooked yellow rice to
attract insectivorous birds.
Soil solarization :
Soil solarization by mulching the soil with polythene cover for 3-4 weeks during summer months
results in killing of soil borne pathogens and weed seeds.
Use of nylon net
Growing of vegetable nurcery under nylon net drastically reduces pest population and virus/
mycoplasma diseases by preventing the entry of vectors.
Hot water treatment :
For the control of nematode problem in planting stock of banana suckers soaked in hot water for

25 minits at 550 C temperature.

BIOLOGICAL METHODS
Biological control means “The utilization of any living organisms for the control of insect-pests,
diseases and weeds. This means use of any biotic agent for minimizing the pest population either
directly or indirectly. Conservation of these biotic agents in the field or multiplying in the
laboratory and releasing in the fields is called biological control.
ADVANTAGES OF BIOLOGICAL CONTROL
Bio-control is exercised in a wide range of area and it is safe for human as well as animal
health.
Application of biotic agent is easy and possible even in inaccessible areas like forests, tall
trees, podns, rivers, lakes, revines etc.
The bio agents survive in nature till the pests is prevalent and self perpetuating in nature.
There is no need for any special equipments like sprayer, duster except for some microbial
preparation
No waiting period is required for harvesting of the crops.
Biological agents like parasitoids and predators, etc may be multiplied at farmer’s level.
This method is very economical ones the method is developed, it is usually free of charges for
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the farmers.
FORMAT
Some of the important bio-control agents are,
 Predators: The predators are feeding several of the insect-pests during their life cycle and
hold a key role in minimizing pest population under field conditions. The common predators are
birds, spiders, dragonflies, ladybird beetles, ground beetles, ants, chrysoperla etc; are helps to
control sucking pests, pod borer eggs and larvae i.e.

Sr. No. Predators Pest controlled

1. chrysoperla Soft body insects like aphids, White hay, leaf hoppers,
thrips etc.
2. lady bird beetle Aphids, mealy bugs

3. Spiders Insects

Parasitoids : These insects are always require passing at least one stage of their life cycle inside
the host. The tiny adults of parasitoids search for the host eggs and parasitise them, i.e. they lay
their own eggs within the egg of the pests. On haching, the parasitoid larva feed on the
embryonic content of egg. Thus kill only one host insect during their life. However, due to their
high multiplication rate they are of vital importance in the bio-control agents. For ex.
Crop Pest Parasitoids Dosage/ha
Cotton Boll warms Trichograma chilonis 1,50,000
Sugarcane Early shoot borer, --“-- 50,000
stock borer
Paddy, Maize stem borer T. japonicum 50,000

Biological chemicals : The pesticides derived from living organisms are biopesticides. These
products are more selective, eco-friendly and leave no toxic residues in the environment. The
Identification of natural chemicals open new era of pest control. These chemicals do not kill the
insects, but either attract, repel or modify their usual behaviour. Behaviour modifying chemicals
which reduce matting frequency or release large numbers of sterile insects, control pests
biologically by reducing their numbers.
Biochemical Pests Action
1. Nim oil Grass hopper, leaf minor, white Azadiractin acts as a repellent antifident
flies, scales, mealy bugs pod (Azadirecta indica)
borer, moth etc. COURSEPACK |
FORMAT
2. Nicotin White flies, Aphids, Jassids, Nicotin sulphate acts as a contact
 sulphate Helicoverpa poison and fumigant
[Link]/ Ants, aphids, fliees, ticks The trade name pyrenone is a contact
pyrethrins poison act as pyrethroids
4. Limonene Pests of pet animals such as Trade name d-limonene and linalool
fleas, lice, mites, ticks etc. extracted from orange or citrus fruit-
peels act as contact and fumigant

Microbial insecticides: These products are obtained from micro organisms such as bacterium,
soil borne actinomytes and fungal pathogens. The insecticidal crystal proteins produced by the
bacterium, Bacillus thuringiensis kurstaki are effective against lepidopterous pest species. These
toxins are very specific in their action, easily biodegradable and being stomach poisons, safe for
non-target organisms they are as follows.
No. Bio control Crop Pest/ disease Remarks
agent
1. Trichoderma Tomato, chille, Root rot, stem rot, Fungal antagonists, soil
harzianum Brinjal, [Link] blight, treatment
Trichoderma damping-off,
viridae wilt, nematodes
2. Pseudomonas Banana Tomato Wilt Sucker Treatment Soil
florescenes Potato Chilli Wilt, white rot treatment Seed treatment
Tuber rot Fruit Seed &
rot Seedling treatment
Die back
3. Bacillus Cotton Cabbage, Lepidopterous Foliar application
thurengensis Tomato, Gram pests
etc.
4. Verticillum Cotton, Aphid, whitefly --“--
lecanii Vegetable crops
5. Beauveria Gram, Tobacco Pod borer, cater Spray application
bassiana pillar, thmps
Cotton Tomato aphids,
mealybugs
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6. Nuclear Chickpea, Maize, Heliothis Spray the extraction of 250
FORMAT

polyhedrosis sunflower pigeon spodoptera crushed larve/ha

 viruses (NPV) pea
Granylosis
Viruses (GV)
6. Mineral Insecticides: Sulphur : Sulphur is the oldest known pesticide & currently it is used. It
can be used as dust, wettable powder, paste or liquid for control powdery mildews, rusts, leaf

blight etc. Sulphur damage the plants, when it is applied in hot (above 90 0 F) and dry weather.
Do not use sulphur where recently oil compound have been sprayed, it reacts with the oils to
make a more phytotoxic combination.

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FORMAT
 CHAPTER-7
WEED MANAGEMENT IN ORGANIC FARMING

Introduction:
Increased use of herbicides has resulted many problems. The environment safety has been
doubted with increased pollution hazards. That apart, weed species are developing resistance to
chemical toxicants. In India, continuous use of isoproturan in wheat crop has resulted in the
development of resistance in Phalaris minor. More over there is also problem of resurgence of
weeds. In organic farming weeds can be managed by the following methods;
A: Preventive methods:
Preventive method of weed control include use of weed free crop seeds, weed free manure, clear
equipments and elimination of weed infestation in and around irrigation channels and cultivated
fields.
B: Cultural methods:
Smother crops are highly competitive with the weed species infesting an area for light, nutrients
and moisture. The crops such as barley, millet, sorghum, alfalfa, clover, cowpea, sesbania,
sunflower etc. Other cultural methods are sowing of cover crops, crop rotation, line sowing,
maintaining optimum plant population, drip irrigation etc. which reduces weed problems.
C: Mechanical methods:
This method includes practices like hand weeding, hoeing, mowing, flooding, mulching, burning
and tilling the soil for the reduction of weeds.
D: Soil solarization:
This is an eco-friendly technology used to kill weed seeds in soil. It involves mulching of soil with
clear plastic films so as to trap the solar heat in the surface soil. The resultant temperature
increase would be lethal to soil pathogens, nematodes and weeds. This method can be use where

air temperature goes up to 45 0C during summer months. It is efficient where bright sun light is
available for about 4-6 weeks.
E: Biological methods
This method involves utilization of natural enemies for the control of certain weeds. This can be
achieved by direct or indirect action of biological control agents. In direct action, firstly the bio
control agent bores into plant, weakens its structure which leading to its collapse and consumes
as food and destroys the vital plant parts. In indirect action the bio control agent reserves the
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competitive ability of weed over other plants and enhances the condition favorableFORMAT
for plant
pathogens.
E1: INSECTS:
For bio-control of weeds, the insect selected should specifically attack on the targeted weed
without harming the other plants.

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 S.N. Weed species Bio-agent Remarks
1. Prickly pear Cactoblastis cactorum By leaf feeding beetle
cactus
2. Water hyacinth Neochetina bruchi By leaf eating weevil &
Alternaria eichhornia fungus
3. Parasitic weed Fusarium oxysporum Fungus & Insects both are
Orobanche sp. and fly (Sipha maidis) used
4. Cyperus Bactra minima and By leaf eating insect
rotundus Athespacuta cyperi
5. Parthenium Zygograma bicolorata By leaf eating insect
hysterophorus and Smicronyx lutulentus

E 2 : PLANT PATHOGENS
The active ingredient in a bio-herbicide is a living organism, mostly a micro organism. An
herbicide made of mycelia fragments or spore of fungi is called mycoherbicide. This technique
holds promise because reduced quantities of spores are needed, when seedlings are small and
emerging.
Mycoherbicide Fungus Weed controlled
De vine Phytophthora palmivora Milk weed vine
Velgo Colletotrichum coccodes Velvet leaf
Collego Collego gloeosphoroides f. sp. Northern joint vetch
Aeschynomene

F: Allelopathy:
Inter-weed-competition determined by allelopathy can be manipulated in the natural control of
weeds. Natural compounds released by some plants inhibit or prevent the growth of nearby
plants. Marigold flowering plant is found to suppress the growth of parthenium. Thistle
exudation inhibits the growth of oats. Wheat, oats & peas suppress the growth of Chenopodium
album. The crop residues from alfalfa, sunflower, wheat, corn and soybean are toxic to weeds.

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 CHEPTER 8
OPERATIONAL STRUCTURE OF NPOP AND NATIONAL STANDARDS FOR ORGANIC
FARMING
To provide a focused and well-directed development of organic agriculture and quality products,
Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India, launched a National Program on
Organic Production (NPOP) in the year 2000, which was formally notified in October 2001
under the Foreign Trade & Development Act (FTDR Act).
NATIONAL STRUCTURE OF NPOP
The National Programme for Organic Production (NPOP) proposes to provide an Institutional
mechanism for the implementation of National Standards for Organic Production, through a
National Accreditation Policy and Programme (NAPP). Aims of the National Programme for
organic production, inter alia, include the following:
To provide the means of evaluation of certification programmes for organic agriculture and
products as per the approved criteria.
To accredit certification programmes.
To facilitate certification of organic products in conformity to the National Standards for
Organic Products.
To encourage the development of organic farming and organic processing. The National
Programme for Organic Production shall, among others, include:
Policies for development and certification of organic products.
National standards for organic products and processes.
Accreditation of programmes to be operated by Inspection and Certification Agencies.
Certification of organic products.
Operational structure of National Programme for Organic Production is given in Fig.1. The
programme will be developed and implemented by the Government of India through its
Ministry of Commerce and Industry as the apex body. The Ministry will constitute a National
Steering Committee for National Programme for Organic Production, whose members will be
drawn from Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Ministry of Agriculture, Agricultural and
Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), Coffee Board, Spices Board
and Tea Board and other government and private organizations associated with the organic
movement. To advise the National Steering Committee on relevant issues pertaining to National
Standards and Accreditation, sub-committees will be appointed. The National Steering
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Committee for National Programme for Organic Production will formulate aFORMAT
National
Accreditation Policy and Programme and draw up National Standards for Organic Products,
which will include standards for organic production and processes as well as the regulations for
use of the National Organic Certification Mark.

Fig 1: Operational structure of National Programme for Organic Production (NPOP).

National Accreditation Policy and Programme will be administered by the National
Accreditation Body, which will define the overall objectives for the Accreditation programmes
and operations. The National Steering Committee may amend the Accreditation procedures
whenever it deems fit. The National Accreditation Policy and Programme is subject to periodic
internal review, which will be conducted by the Technical Committee, which will advise the
National Steering Committee about the need and content of such amendments in the National
Programme for Organic Production.
National Accreditation Body
National Steering Committee would also function as the National Accreditation Body. Members
of the National Accreditation Body shall comprise of representatives form Ministry of
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Agriculture, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, APEDA, Coffee Board, Spices Board
FORMATand
Tea Board. The Chairman of the Body shall be the Chairman of the National Steering
Committee. The work of the National Accreditation Body will include:
Drawing up procedures for evaluation and accreditation of certification programmes.
Formulating procedures for evaluation of the agencies implementing the
programmes.
Accreditation of inspection and certification agencies.
Every certifier will implement a certification programme and a programme cannot be
accredited without accrediting the certifier.
Evaluation Committee
Eligible Inspection and Certification Agencies implementing certification programmes will be
evaluated by an Evaluation Committee. The Evaluation Committee will be appointed by the
National Accreditation Body. The members of the Evaluation Committee will comprise of
members drawn from the APEDA, Coffee Board, Spices Board, Tea Board, Ministry of
Agriculture and Export Inspection Council of India (EIC)/Export Inspection Agencies (EIAs).
The APEDA, on behalf of the National Accreditation Body will receive and screen applications
from the certification agencies, will coordinate and arrange evaluation visits etc. to ascertain the
credentials of certification programmes of the applicants. The Evaluation Committee will submit
its recommendations to the National Accreditation Body for considering accreditation.
Accredited Inspection and Certification Agencies
Based on the recommendations of the Evaluation Committee, eligible Inspection and
Certification Agencies will be accredited by the National Accreditation Body. These agencies
should be well versed with the operating procedures, the NSOP and the international standards.
Their programmes should have been in operation for at least one year and they should be able to
provide the supporting documents.
Inspectors
The inspectors, appointed by the accredited Inspection and Certification Agencies will carry out
inspection of the operations through records maintained by the operators as per specified
formats and also by periodic site inspection. Based on compliance with the standards and
certification programmes, accredited Inspection and Certification Agencies will certify the
organic status of products and operations, specifying their conditions and recommendations.

NATIONAL STANDARDS FOR ORGANIC FARMING

Under NPOP Programme, the Govt. of India has developed National Standard for organic
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export. The Ministry of Agriculture, in principle, has accepted this standard forFORMAT
domestic
purpose also. The scopes of these standards are:
Lay down policies for development and certification of organic products.
Facilitate certification of organic products confirming to the National Programme containing the
standards for organic production.
Institute a logo and prescribe its award by accrediting bodies on products qualifying for bearing
India organic label.
A National Steering Committee (NSC) comprising Ministry of Commerce, Ministry of
Agriculture, APEDA, Spices Board, Coffee Board, Tea Board and various other Government
and private organisations associated with the organic movement is monitoring the overall
organic activities under the National Programme for Organic production (NPOP).
Conversion Requirements
Conversion period is the time between the start of organic management and the certification of
crops as organic:
General Principles
Organic agriculture means a process of developing a viable and sustainable agro- ecosystem. The
time between the start of organic management and certification of crops and/or animal
husbandry is known as the conversion period. The whole farm, including livestock, should be
converted according to the standards over a period of three years.
Recommendations
For a sustainable agro-ecosystem to function optimally, diversity in crop production and animal
husbandry must be arranged in such a way that there is interplay of all the elements of the
farming management. Conversion may be accomplished over a period of time. A farm may be
converted step by step. The totality of the crop production and all animal husbandry should be
converted to organic management. There should be a clear plan of how to proceed with the
conversion. This plan shall be updated if necessary and should cover all aspects relevant to these
standards. The Certification Programme should set standards for different farming systems so
that they can be clearly separated in production as well as in documentation and the standards
should determine norms to prevent a mix up of input factors and products.
Standards
The standards requirements shall be met during the conversion period. All the standards
requirement shall be applied on relevant aspects from the beginning of conversion period itself.
If the whole farm is not converted, the certification programme shall ensure that the organic and
conventional parts of the farm are separate and inspectable.
Before products from a farm/project can be certified as organic, inspection shall have been
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carried out during the conversion period. The start of conversion period may be calculated
FORMATfrom
the date of application of the certification programme or from the date of last application of
unapproved farm inputs provided it can demonstrate that standards requirements have been
met form that date of implementation.
Simultaneous production of conventional, organic in conversion and/or organic crops or animal
products which cannot be clearly distinguished for each other, will not be allowed.
To ensure a clear separation between organic and conventional production, a buffer zone or a
natural barrier should be maintained. The certification programme shall ensure that the
requirements are met.
A full conversion period is not required where de facto full standards requirements have been
met for several years and where this can be verified through several means and sources. In such
cases, inspection shall be carried out with a reasonable time interval before the first harvest.

Maintenance of Organic Management Standards

Converted land and animals shall not get switched back and forth between organic and
conventional management.
Landscape
The certification programme shall set standards for a minimum percentage of the farm area
to facilitate bio-diversity and nature conservation.
Standards The certification programme shall develop landscape and bio-diversity standards.

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 CHAPTER: 9
CERTIFICATION AND ACCREDITATION PROCESS OF ORGANIC PRODUCT

Introduction
India with its varied agro-climatic conditions and agricultural biodiversity offers tremendous
scope for production and export of a wide range of organic products having great demand in a
number of developed countries. Ministry of Commerce, Government of India launched the
National Programme for Organic Production (NPOP) in 2000 to ensure the well-directed
development of organic agriculture. Subsequently various components of NPOP, viz., (i)
National standards for production, processing, labeling, storage and transport of organic
products, (ii) Systems, criteria and procedures for accreditation of certification and inspection
programmes by certification and inspection programmes by certification agencies to facilitate
certification, (iii) A national Organic Logo India Organic to be used on certified organic
products have been notifies. Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development
Authority (APEDA) was entrusted with the coordination work of NPOP.
Organic trade is also a rapidly growing reality. A wide variety of organic products are sold
world wide and the demand is growing rapidly in Europe, US, Japan and Australia. India is
already exporting a range of organic products like tea, spices, coffee, coconut, cotton, rice etc.
Even the domestic market is growing though it is still very small.
Certified organic products are those which have been produced, stored, processed, handled and
marketed in accordance with precise technical specifications (standards) and certified as
"organic" by a certification body. Once conformity with organic standards has been verified by
a certification body, the product is afforded a label. This label will differ depending on the
certification body but can be taken as an assurance that the essential elements constituting an
"organic" product have been met from the farm to the market. It is important to note that an
organic label applies to the production process, ensuring that the product has been produced,
processed and handled in an ecologically sound manner. The organic label is therefore a
production process claim as opposed to a product quality claim.
What is organic certification?
Certification is the procedure by which a third party gives written assurance that a product,
process or service conforms to specified requirements. Certification in organic farming in simple
terms refers to the process of verification and authentication by an independent body that
certain products have been produced, processed and or marketed in accordance with certain
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standards. A certification body does this through a set of procedures established for the purpose.
FORMAT
This involves physical inspection of the production location, conditions, verification of records,
interviews with the personnel involved and when required subjecting the samples to laboratory
analysis.

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Standards and Regulations International Voluntary Standards National Madatory Standards
Local Voluntary Standards:
IFOAM Standards

The Codex Alimentarius

EU Regulation (EEC) No.2092/91

The National Organic Program (NOP), USDA

Japanese Agricultural Standard (JAS)

National Programme for Organic Production (NPOP), India

The National Programme for Organic Production (NPOP) was released in 2000 to provide as
institutional mechanism for the implementation of National Standards for Organic Products
(NSOP) through a National Accreditation Policy released in May 2001. The NPOP is developed
and implemented by Government of India through its Ministry of Commerce. The Ministry
constitutes a Steering Committee for NPOP, The Steering Committee for NPOP formulates a
National Accreditation Policy and Programme and draw up NSOP, which includes standards for
organic production and processes. The NPOP accreditation requirements are based on ISO/IEC
Guide 65. No organic products from India can be exported unless they are certified by an agency
accredited by one of the accreditation body designated by the Government of India. These
agencies are:
Agricultural Product Export Development Authority (APEDA)
Spices Board
Coffee Board
Tea Board
Coconut Development Board
CERTIFICATION and ACCREDITATION
Organic Agriculture is based on the commitment of farmers and processors to work according to
set standards and regulations that define the organic production system. Furthermore, organic
agriculture is based upon transparency that makes the production system comprehensive and
reliable, and ensures the consumer confidence necessary for market development. The
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certification and accreditation systems primarily serve as tools to enhance trade, market
FORMAT

development and foster confidence.

Accreditation and certification mechanisms are developing rapidly worldwide. With regard to
food, organic food production and processing set the precedents for the conventional industry.
Codex Alimentarius, with its organic chapter, defines the common international framework for
governments. Today, about 60 countries have already regulated organic agriculture with
national standards and further requirements regulating recognition of inspection bodies and
some defining inspection procedures as well. The major consuming and importing markets like
Europe, the USA and Japan are leading, but countries like India, China and Brazil are following
this path.
Inspection and certification is accredited or at least supervised by government authorities as
defined in the regulations, Control and supervision at all levels should guarantee that all
inspectors and certifiers are evaluated and accredited (accreditation means “the evaluation of
certifiers”). Additionally, several private standard and labeling schemes exist mainly in areas of
the world where the organic market is well developed. Estimations count 419 certification
bodies certifying according to private standards and/or set regulations over the world.
It is still necessary to achieve a minimum (worldwide) equivalency guaranteed throughout the
system in order to let products flow. Lacking acceptance and recognition between the different
certification and accreditation systems contradicts the objective of enhancing trade, market
development and fostering confidence.
Organic certification:
Certification is a procedure for verifying that a product conforms to certain standards. In the
case of organics, certification gives consumers a formal assurance that organic production
standards have been met. These standards may be of private associations or companies, or of
certification bodies, or of the state. However, a producer/exporter must have certification that
meets the requirements of the target market, including legal regulations and standards in the
importing country. In most importing countries description of goods as organic requires formal
certification in accordance with legislation.
Minimum requirements:
In organic farming system, certain minimum requirements are to be met to fulfill its objectives.
Then only the farm is certified as organic.
Conversion: When a farmer switches over to the system of organic farming from the
conventional system of farming, it is known as conversion. The time between the start of organic
management and certification is called conversion period. The farmers should have a conversion
plan prepared if the entire field is not converted into organic at a time. In that case it is
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necessary to maintain organic and non-organic fields separately. In the long run the entire
FORMATfarm
including livestock should be converted into organic. The conversion period is
Farm yard manure, slurry, green manures, crop residues, straw and other mulches from own
farm.
Saw dust, wood shaving from untreated wood.
Bacterial preparations (Bio-fertilizers), e.g. Azospirillum, Rhizobium
Bio-dynamic preparations
Plant preparation and extracts, e.g. neem cake.
Vermicompost
Pest, Disease and Weed management: Use of synthetic/chemical pesticides, fungicides and
weedicides is prohibited. Natural enemies shall be encouraged and protected. (e.g. raising trees
in the farm attracts birds which kills pests of the crops, nest construction etc.) Products collected
from the local farm, animals, plants and micro- organisms and prepared at the farm are allowed
for control of pests and diseases. (e.g. neem seed kernel extract, cow urine spray). Use of
genetically engineered organisms and products are prohibited for controlling pests and diseases.
Similarly, use of synthetic growth regulators is not permitted.
The products that are permitted for control of pest & diseases are:
Neem oil and other neem preparations like neem seed kernel extract
Chromatic traps
Mechanical traps
Pheromone traps
Plant based repellants
Soft soap
Clay
Soil and water conservation: Measures like stone pitching/contour wall construction are to be
taken up to prevent soil erosion. In case of saline soils, saline resistant varieties may be grown.
Judicious irrigation is to be practiced. Mulching is required. Pollution of surface and ground
water shall be prevented. Clearing of primary forest is prohibited.
Cleaning of land through straw burning should be restricted to minimum
Contamination control: It is necessary to take the following measures to minimize the
contamination from outside and within farm.
If neighbouring fields are non-organic, a buffer zone should be maintained. The height of buffer
crop shall be twice the height of organic crop and the width of the buffer shall be 10-15 m.
(When chilli is grown as the main organic crop, castor or Agathi (Sesbania) can be grown as
buffer crop. The crops from the buffer zone should be sold as non-organic).
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If the farm is under conversion, equipments used for conventional areas shall be well cleaned
FORMAT

before using for organic areas.

Products based on polythene, polypropeline and other polycarbonates are allowed to cover
protected structure, insect netting, nursery, drying, etc. subject to the condition that these
materials shall be removed from the field after use and they shall not burnt or put in the soil. Use
of polychloricle based products like PVC pipe is prohibited.
Processing: Processing technologies like solar drying, freeze drying, hot air chambers are
permitted. Irradiation of agricultural produce is not permitted. No synthetic additives/days are
to be added during processing.
Labelling: The label should convey clear accurate information on the organic status of the
product. (i.e. conversion in progress or organic). The labels for organic and conversion in
progress products should be distinguishable by different coloured labels. The details like name of
the product, quantity of the product, name and address of the producer, name of certification
agency, certification, lot number etc. are to be given in the label.
Packaging: For packing, recycling and reusable materials like clean jute bags, shall be used. Use
of bio-degradable materials shall also be used. Unnecessary packaging material should be
avoided. Organic and non-organic products shall not be stored and transported together except
when labeled. ]
Documentation: Documentation of farm activities is must for acquiring certification especially
when both conventional and organic crops are raised. The following documents/records are to be
maintained.

a) Field map g) Storage record

b) Field history sheet h) Sales record

c) Activity register i) Pest control records

d) Input record j) Movement record
e) Output record k) Equipments cleaning records
f) Harvest record l) Labeling records.
Certification Process: Certification of organic farms is required to satisfy the consumers that the
produce is totally organic. Certification agency conducts the inspection that minimum
requirements prescribed for organic agriculture is fully met and issues certificate. The producer
makes contact with certifying agency. Certification agency provides information on standards,
fees, application, inspection, certification and appeal procedures. The producer then submits
application along with field history, farm map, record keeping system etc. Then the contract
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indicating scope, obligation, inspection and certification, sanction and appeals, duration,
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structure is executed.
Then the Inspector of agency comes and carries out inspection. The Inspector gives inspection
report with his recommendation to the agency, then the agency issues approval or denial of
certificate. Certificate is given for current year's harvest only and hence annual certification is
required.
In our country majority of the farming community belongs to marginal and small farmers (76.2
per cent) who have only 29 per cent of the total operational holding, while 71 per cent of the
operated area is possessed by farmers who have medium and large size holdings. The food,
fodder and fuel production will have to be increased by 60 per cent in next 25 years to meet the
needs of growing population. With the decline in the per capita availability of land, it would be
increasingly difficult to produce enough food for the family by the end of the century. Only 25-30
per cent of modern agricultural technology has reached the farmers. This modern technology
however has been restricted to favourable farming situations. Since there is no scope for
horizontal expansion of land for cultivation, the only alternative left is vertical expansion and
that too through diversification of farming systems including organic farming.
The most important aspect in modern era of organic farming is certification programmes which
consist of standards (rule), inspection (checking whether the rules are implemented) and
certification (judgment). Only by this certification programme, organic farming can be
distinguished from other methods of sustainable agriculture. These standards define what can be
labeled 'certified organic' and sold commercially as such. Certificate is valid only if it is done by
accredited certifying agency. Certification programme vary among countries or regions because
of differences in environmental, climatic, social and cultural factors. Needless to say, from a
commercial perspective it is not enough that product is produced organically, what is equally
important is that it should be certified as such. Technology Packages Conventional practices
cannot be followed for growing crops organically. It includes land preparation, selection of
variety, organic fertilization, biological control of pest- diseases-weed, harvest, storage etc.
Globally there are more than 60 standards which include IFOAM basic standards, CODEX
Alimentations Commission guidelines, EU Regulation2029/91,NOPof USA etc. This year NPOP
standard has got equivalency with the standard of ED commission. Now Indian Standard is
acceptable in European Countries. Efforts for equivalency with NOP (USA) are under process.
Certification Bodies There are 12 accredited certifying agencies in the country. Tentative tariff
structure for certification is as below: Travel and Inspection: Rs.12000 - Rs.19000 per day
(depending on small farmers, cooperative, estate manufacturers, large and medium sized
processors). . Report preparation: Rs.5000/- . Certification: Rs.5000/-
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S. Name of Address S. Name of Address FORMAT

Certifying & Certifying &

 No. Inspection No. Inspection
agencies agencies
1. Association for Alumni Association 7. Bioinspectra C/o Indocert
promotion of Building, Bellari Road, Thottumugham
organic farming Hebbal, Bangalore P.O. Aluva 683105
(APOF) 560024 Cochin, Kerala
Ph. 080-23516060 State Ph. 0484-
2630908
2. Indian society Rasi Building 162/163 8. SGS Pvt. 250, Udyog Vihar,
of certification Ponnaiyaraja- Puram, India Ltd Phase- IV, Gurgaon
of organic Coimbatore, Tamil 122015
products Nadu 641001 Ph. 0124-
(ISCOP) Ph 0422-2471181 2399757
3. Indian organic Thottumugham, 9. LACON Mithradham
certification P.O. Aluva- 683105 Chunangardi
agency Cochin, Kerala State
(INDOCERT) Ph. 0484-2630909
4. Skal inspection Mahalaxmi Layout, 10 International Sona Udyog Unit
and certification Resource for No. 7, Parsi
No. 191, 1st Main
agency fair trade Panchayat Road,
Road, Bangalore
(IRFD) Andheri (E),
560086
Mumbai 400069
Ph. 022-
28235246
5. IMO Control 26, 17th Main HAL, 11 One Cert Asia Agarsen farm
Pvt. Ltd. Vatika, Road off
2nd A Stage,
Ton Rd., Jaipur
Bangalore 560008,
Rajasthan
Ph. 080-25285883
6. Ecocert 54 A, Kanchan Nagar, 12 National Pune
International Nakshetrawadi, Organic
Aurangabad 413002, Certification
Ph. 0240- Association COURSEPACK |
2376336 (NOCA) FORMAT

ACCREDITATION
Accreditation is a process in which certification of competency, authority or credibility is
presented. Organisations that issue credentials or certify third parties against official standards
are themselves formally credited by accreditation bodies (such as UKAS); hence they are
sometimes known as “accredited certification bodies”. Accreditation process ensures that their
certification practices are acceptable, typically meaning that they are competent to test and
certify third parties, behave ethically and employ suitable quality assurance.
In India, as per the National Programme for Organic Production (NPOP), an accreditation
refers registration by the accreditation agency for certifying agency for certifying organic farms,
products and processes as per the guidelines of the National Accreditation Policy and
Programme for Organic Product.
The NPOP programme in context of Indian accreditation scenario, defined the function of
accreditation agencies like:
Prescribe the package of practices for organic products in their respective schedule.
Undertake accreditation of inspection and certifying agencies who will conduct inspection and
certify products as having been produced in accordance with NPOP.
Monitor inspection made by the accredited inspection agencies.
Lay down inspection procedures.
Advise the National steering Committee on organic Production.
Accept accredited certification programme if such programme confirm to National Standard.
Accreditation agencies shall evolve accreditation criteria for inspection and /or certifying
agencies and programme drawn up by such agencies for their respective area of operation and
products.
Accreditation agencies shall prepare an operating manual to assist accredited agencies to abide
by such a manual must contain appropriate directions, documentation formats and basic agency
and farm records for monitoring and authentication of adherence to the organic production
programme. Eligible inspection and certification agencies implementing certification
programmes will be identified by the Accreditation Agency.
In the year 2000, Ministry of Commerce, GoI has launched the NPOP. The following
accreditation agencies are designated vide trade Notice (No ORG/004/2001) dated June13, 2001.
Agricultural and Processed Food Product Export Development Authority (APEDA)
Coffee Board
Spice Board
Tea Board
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Coconut Development Board FORMAT

Cocoa and Cashewnut Board

Certification and inspection agencies: The role of certification agencies is most critical. The
certification agency has to be impoartial and non government agency. Its accreditation by an
authorized accreditation agency is mandatory. Presently only 11 certification agencies having
overseas collaboration are accredited by [Link] certification agency may appoint
Inspection agents and responsibility of certification agencies to ensure strict compliance of
national standards of Organic Farming. They prescribe specific documents to be maintained a
the level of farmers/ farmer groups. They also prescribe minimum conversion period after
inspection to farm and other details. They are also authorized to issue necessary certificate of
organic production to the farmers. Only after the issuance of accreditation certificate by
accreditation agencies certification bodies can function as inspection and certification agency.
There standards already prescribed by the Ministry of Commerce, GOI, continue to be valid
standards for both domestic and export market.
PROCESSING METHOD
Standards
The following kinds of processes are approved:
Mechanical and physical
Biological
Smoking
Extraction
Precipitation
Filtration
Extraction shall only take place with water, ethanol, plant and animal oils, vinegar, carbon
dioxide, nitrogen or carboxylic acids. These shall be of food grade quality appropriate for the
purpose.
Irradiation for the purpose
Filtration substances shall not be made of asbestos nor may they be permeated with substances
which may negatively affect the product.
PACKAGING
Standards
The materials used must not affect the organoleptic character of the product or transmit to
it any substances in quantities that may be harmful to human health.
LABELLING
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Standards FORMAT
The person or company legally responsible for the production or processing of the product shall
be identifiable.
Single ingredient product may be labeled as producer of organic agriculture or a similar
description when all standards requirements have been met.
Mixed products where not all ingredients, including additives are of organic origin may be
labeled in the following way
Where a minimum of 95 per cent of the ingredients are of certified organic origin, products may
be labelled “Certified organic”.
Where less than 95 per cent but not less than 70 per cent of the ingredients are of certified
organic origin, products may not be called organic. The word organic may be used on the
principal display in statements like “made with organic ingredients” provided there is a clear
statement of the proportion of the organic ingredients.
Where less than 70 per cent of the ingredients are of certified origin, the indication that an
ingredient is organic may appear in the ingredients list. Such product may not be called organic.
Added water and salt shall not be included in the percentage calculations of organic ingredients.
The label for in conversion products shall be clearly distinguishable from the label for organic
products.
All raw materials of a multi ingredient product shall be listed on the products label in order of
their weight percentage. It shall be apparent which raw material are of organic certified origin
and which are not. All additives shall be listed with their full name. If herbs and /or spices
constitute less than 2 per cent of the total weight of the product, they may be listed as spices or
herbs without stating the percentage.
Organic products shall not be labeled as GE (genetic engineering) or GM (genetic modified) free
in order to avoid potentially misleading claims about the end product. Any reference to genetic
engineering on product labels shall be limited to the production method.

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 CHAPTER 10
ECONOMIC CONSIDERATIONS, MARKETING AND EXPORT POTENTIAL OF
ORGANIC FARMING
Farming in India was fundamentally organic till the middle of the twentieth but industrial
revolution; desire to make quick and more money and to get rid pests and disease brought in the
concept of chemical farming after independence. Farmers started using chemical fertilizers to
increase the yield and to meet the demand of growing population. Though, initially it looked
extensively amazing, its adverse effects started to appear in 1980s. Extensive use of fertilizers
and pesticides resulted in pests and diseases resistance of the cultivars and polluted the crop
growing environment including groundwater. It appears that health conscious people are
looking for healthy options and shifting towards organic products.
9.1 ECONOMIC CONSIDERATIONS
Productivity of organic farming may be less in initial years, but the yield increases progressively
under organic farming, equating the yield under inorganic farming by sixth year. A long -term
experiment conducted by ICRISAT also sustains the view that yield of different crop in low cost
sustainable systems, the annul productivity (rain + post rainy season yield), in particular, is
comparable to that in the conventional system.
In areas of intensive farming system, shifting to organic agriculture decrease yield; the range
depends on the intensity of external input use before conversion. In the so-called green
revolution era (irrigated lands), conversion to organic usually leads to almost identical yields. In
traditional rainfed agriculture (with low external inputs), organic agriculture has shown the
potential to increase the yield.
Replacement of external inputs farm-derived organic resources normally leads to a reduction in
variable input costs under organic management. Expenditure on fertilizers and plant protection
inputs is substantially lower than in conventional systems in almost all the cases. In a few cases,
higher inputs costs due to purchase of compost and other organic manures have been reported.
Studies have shown that the common organic agricultural combination of lower input costs and
favorable premiums can offset reduced yields and did not include organic farms equally and
often more profitable than conventional farms. Farms that did not include organic price
premiums have given mixed results on profitability. Economics of organic cotton cultivation over
a period of six years indicated that there is a reduction in cost of cultivation and increased gross
and net returns compared to conventional cotton cultivation in India.
VIABILITY OF ORGANIC FARMING
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Farmers will only be able to convert to organic farming if their livelihood is secured during the
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transition phase and if their farming is economically viable in the long run. Crop yield play an
important -though not the only- role in this. It is therefore important to minimize the initial
drop in yield to the best possible extent and to ensure that yield achieve a

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satisfying level after the conversion period. At the same time, production costs need to be kept
low. By providing appropriate extension services, projects can support farmers in identifying
and implementing suitable management practice to achieve these goals. In order to be able to
manage the farm in an optimum way, farmers not only need to learn organic farming methods,
but also to develop and understanding on the interrelations between the different components of
an agro-ecosystem: soil fertility, nutrition and water household, biodiversity, ecological balance
etc. Conducting suitable training for farmers interested in converting to organic farming can
help build a basis on which farmers can further develop their management capacity. Equally
important is that farmers can obtain practical can obtain practical advice to fine-tune their
management practices in the field.
Extension staff must be able to create awareness among farmers for the core principles of
organic farming, such as the ecosystem approach, the central role of soil fertility, closed nutrient
cycles and ecological balance .If the manage to convey the philosophy of organic agriculture, it is
more likely that farmers whole heartedly stick to organic farming about is potential benefits and
persuade farmers to join the initiative. They should openly address the difficulties that farmers
are likely to face during the conversion process and provide a realistic picture own the
limitations of the project. In this, they need to take into consideration the different resource
bases and degrees of vulnerability of marginal and wealthier farmers. It is important to create
an atmosphere in which problems and short- comings are openly addressed by all stakeholders,
so that the team and the management can work on improvements. Most probably the farmers
are technically more familiar with cotton farming practice than the extension staff and after
some time they will also be more experienced in the practical implication of organic farming
methods. The role of extension staff should, therefore, change to being facilities or coaches who
farmers in developing suitable solutions to problems and in sharing their experience and
expertise with other members of the group. The focus might shift to creating platforms for and
moderating processes of farmer-to farmer exchange.
Application of adequate of organic manures increases soil organic matter content
leading to increasing cotton yields. Especially in fields where synthetic fertilizers were
extensively used before conversion, it is a necessary to apply sufficient amounts of organic
material in order to build up soil organic matter and to stimulate soil life. Projects, therefore,
should advise farmers about producing organic manure from farm-own sources, such as
farmyard manure, compost and liquid manures, Support could also be rendered for purchasing
additional cattle or for building simple infrastructure for efficient collection of cattle dung and
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urine and for preparing compost. As farm-own sources of manure might not be sufficient
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achieve satisfying yield levels, projects could further facilitate the supply of manures and natural
mineral fertilizers from off-farm sources (de-oiled castor, sugarcane press mud, rock phosphate).
Increased input of manure, however, is not the only way to increase soil organic matter and
nutrient supply. Appropriate crop rotation patterns that

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involve legumes, the cultivation of green manures and intercrop and the recycling of crop
residues can be equally effective.
Results of investigation have shown that small holder organic farming systems can produce
similar yield as in conventional farming after completing a transitional period of 3-4 years. This
challenges the argument that conversion to organic farming is not a suitable option for
developing countries as it puts food security at risk. Crop yield are- without a doubt-an
important factor in farming. However, if innovation in farming is to really improve rural
livelihoods, the focus needs to shift away from yields, to a broader perspective that includes
sustainability of the management of the production base, economic viability of the farm
operations (the relation of costs and revenues) and livelihood security. It is in the field where
organic farming offers the most promising potentials. Replacing agro-chemicals with natural
means and management practices has positive impacts on soil fertility environment and human
health. Lower dependency of organic farms on external inputs not only decreases production
costs, thus contributing to improved incomes, but also reduces the risk of farming in context of
insecure climatic and market conditions. While this could to some extent -also be achieved with
integrated farming approaches, organic farming offers in additional the opportunity to link
production with a growing market demand for environmentally and socially better products.

Organic farming seems to be a particularly suitable option for smallholders and marginal
farmers, who could not benefit from adopting green revolution practices. Their lack of
production means and capital is counter balanced with the availability of under- utilized family
labour and the ability to produce inputs on the farm itself. Once production costs are
intensifying their production and opening up off-farm income sources. However, small and
marginal farmers are also the ones who find conversion to organic farming most difficult, as
yield and incomes in usually in the initial year, thus putting their fragile livelihoods at risk. The
challenge in utilizing the potential of organic farming for achieving development goals, therefore,
lies in enabling poor farms to overcome the obstacles of conversion period so that they can
benefit in the long term, appropriate extension approaches that facilitate conversion and
mechanisms for bridging the initial income gap are thus needed. The experience of successful
organic cotton initiatives in several developing countries provides ample material to study how
project support could be further improved.
For successful extension, certification and marketing, organic cotton farming with
small- holders requires a group approach. Only if the involved farmers develop emotional
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ownership for the project and identify as a group, can free-riding b prevented and theFORMAT
long term
sustainability of the project be ensured. Due to its holistic approach that relates to societal
dimensions of rural livelihoods, the organic farming systems seems to be particularly suitable to
create this identify and solidarity among framers. The need to form strong farmers based
project entities poses a considerable challenge to utilizing organic

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farming in development work. At the same time -if successful - the group approach allows
implementing a range of joint activities in other fields e.g. in micro-credit community
development and off-farm income generation.

Although our research has shed some ligh on crucial regarding the potential of organic farming
in developing countries, it also opened up a range of new questions. In some aspects- such as
water management, gender aspects and the interface between farmers and project organisers -
we could only touch the surface,leaving a more in-depth investigation to other researches. It will
also be necessary to put the finding on a broader base of investigated case studies in different
countries. Therefore, a lot remains to be done to fully utilize the potential of organic farming in
development work.

MARKETING AND EXPORT POTENTIAL OF ORGANIC PRODUCTS

Organic farming has a place where there is a market to accept the produce at a higher price as
the growing interest in organic farming practice is due to an expectation of higher premium for
organically produced farm commodities. The basic focus of organic farming should be first to
produce farm products for the home (domestic) market and second for the export market.
Marketing of Organic Products
Major organic produces in India are given in Table. There is no organic production of meat
products like poultry, livestock and fisheries in India as yet. There are three types of organic
producers in India- Traditional organic growers who grow for their subsistence needs,
commercial farmers who have surplus and export their produce through different channels and
private companies which either have their own farms or organize large conversion programmes
with growers.
Table: Major products produced in India by Organic Farming

Type of Product Products

Commodity Tea, coffee, rice, wheat
Spices Cardamom, black pepper, white pepper, ginger, turmeric,
vanilla, tamarind, clove, cinnamon, nutmeg, mace, chili
Pulses Pigeonpea, blackgram
Fruits Mango, banana, pineapple, passion fruit, orange, cashewnut,
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Vegetables Okra, brinjal, garlic, onion, tomato, potato
 Oilseeds Mustard, sesame, castor, sunflower
Others Cotton, sugarcane, herbal extracts
Organic products available in the domestic market are rice, wheat, tea, coffee, pulses and
vegetables. On the other hand, products available for export market, besides, these, include
cashewnuts, cotton, oilseeds, various fruits and medicinal herbs. Whereas wholesalers and
traders, super markets and own shops are the major channels in the domestic market which is
mainly in metropolitan cities and accounts for only 8.0 per cent of the total organic production,
the market channel for export of organic products is export companies with the exception of tea
which is produced and exported by tea estates. Major markets for Indian organic products are
the EU, USA, Canada, Australia and the Middle East Asian countries. Quality production with
traditional methods, low use of chemical inputs in mountain and tribal areas, easy availability of
cheap labour, NGO interventions and various types of support provided by the governments as
the main advantages of Indian organic products. High price expectations, delayed delivery,
quality restrictions, lack of certification and marketing networks are some of the constraints in
marketing organic products internationally. On the other hand, in home market, there are no
separate markets for organic products in many commodities like wheat in Rajasthan. Thus, the
market does not offer any incentive for the production of organic produce. But more recently,
some agencies have tried to create separate market outlets for organic produce like the
Maharashtra Cotton Marketing Federation purchased organic cotton from growers separately
for export.

Global organic market-A brief review.

1. Organic market share=1% of
Distribution oftotal foodAfri
sales
organicNaogritcca hueltrunral land by
2. Global market 2000=18 billionAmerica
USD 2003=25.5 billion USD 2004= 28.7 billion USD
3%
Asibillion USD 2007=46.1 billion USD
2005=33.2 billion USD 2006=38.6
…
2008=50.9 billion USD Latin
2009=54.1 billion USD Amer Ocea
ica nia
2010=59.1 billion USD 51%
2011=62.9 billion USD
Euro
2012=70.8 billion USD pe
2013=68.5 billion USD 21%
2014=80.0 billion USD
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 2015=81.6 billion USD
2016=90.0 billion USD
2017=97.0 billion USD
2018=95.0 billion USD (Source: [Link])
3. Value of organic food sales in the year 2017 USA = 43.80 billion USD
Germany= 10.99 billion USD UK = 2.53 billion USD
Italy = 3.43 billion USD France = 8.67 billion USD Switzerland = 2.67 billion USD China
= 8.37 billion USD Canada= 3.29 billion USD Sweedon= 2.59 billion USD Spain = 2.08
billion USD
(Source : [Link])
4. Organic export in India = 0.76 billion USD (2018-19)=5151 Crore
Export Potential of organic products
170 countries
69.9 million ha certified organic (1.6%)
2 million producers
Oceania – 35.9 m ha,
Europe – 14.6 m ha, Latin America - 8.0 m ha, Asia – 6.1 m ha, North
America 3.2 m ha
Africa – 2.1 m ha, 35 m ha wild harvest collection area

Indian organic: An overview (2017)

 Total cultivable area 1.70 m ha (15th Rank in the World)
 4.22 m ha forest and wild area
 MP has largest certified organic area fb HP & Rajsthan
 Produced 1.85 m MT organic products
 Exported 263687 MT organic food; 298 m USD (oilseed, processed food, cereals & millets, tea,
pulses, dry fruits etc.)

Export of organic produce from India to EU

Product Quantity(tonnes) Product Quantity(tonnes)
Tea 1997 Cashew nut 126
Pineapple 1320 Walnut 89
Spices 625 Fruit 46
Honey 526 Cotton 26
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Rice 432 Pulses 12 FORMAT
Sesame seed 354 Sugarcane 8
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Practical Manual
Principles of Organic Farming
INDEX
Sr. Title of the exercise Date Page. Sign
No. No.
1. Study of different organic materials and manures
2. Green manuring for organic farming
3. Preparation of enrich compost and vermicompost
4. Bio fertilizers/bio inoculants for organic farming
5. ITK for nutrient management
6. Non chemical approach for insect, pest, disease and
weed management
7. Cost of organic production system
8. Post harvest management: quality aspect, grading,
packaging and handling
9. Certification for organic farming
10. Visit of organic farms to study the various
components and their utilization

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PRACTICAL 1: STUDY OF DIFFERENT ORGANIC MATERIALS and MANURES
Organic materials or organic matter is composed of organic compounds that has come
from the remains of dead organisms such as plants and animals and their waste products
in the environment. It is very important in the movement of nutrients and plays a key role
in water retention on the surface of the soil. Organic materials have longer residual effect
besides improving soil physical, biological and chemical properties of soil.
Major sources of organic materials are
Cattle shed wastes: dung, urine and slurry from biogas plants
Human habitation wastes: night soil, human urine
Poultry litter, dropping of sheep and goad
Slaughter house waste: bone meal, meat meal, blood meal, horn and hoot meal
Fish wastes
By produces of agro-industries: Oil cakes, bagasses and press mud, fruit and vegetable
processing wastes etc.
Crop wastes: Sugarcane trash, stubbles and other related material
Water hyacinth and other weeds
Green manure crops and green leaf manuring material
The term ‘manure’ was used originally for denoting materials like cattle manure and other
bulky natural substances that were applied to land with the object of increasing the
production of crops. Therefore, manures are defined as the plant and animal wastes which
are used as sources of plant nutrients.
Advantages of organic manures
Organic manure provides all the nutrients that are required by plants but in limited
quantities.
It helps in maintaining C:N ratio in the soil and also increases the fertility and productivity
of the soil.
It improves the physical, chemical and biological properties of the soil.
It improves both the structure and texture of the soils.
It increases the water holding capacity of the soil.
Due to increase in the biological activity, the nutrients that are in the lower depths are
made available to the plants.
Farm yard manure (FYM)
It is decomposed mixture of dung and urine of farm animals along with waste feeds,
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fodder, litter etc. Dung comes mostly as undigested material and the urine from the
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digested material. More than 50 percent of the organic matter that is present in dung is in
the form of complex products consists of lignin and protein which are resistant to further
decomposition and therefore the nutrients present in dung are released very slowly. The
nutrients from urine, becomes readily available. Straw saw dust or other bedding
materials are used in cattle sheds to reduce the loss of urine and to increase the bulk of
manure. On an average well decomposed farm yard manure contains 0.5 % N, 0.2 %
P2O5 and 0.5 % K2O.
The quantity and quality of FYM depend upon the type (draught, mulch) and age of the
animals, the way they are feed and the care taken to collect and store the material.
Though, FYM is the most common organic manure in India, the farmer, in general, does
not give adequate attention to the proper conservation and efficient use of the resource.
Hence, effort should be made to prepare the better quality FYM for increasing the
fertility of soil.
Compost
The process of decomposing organic waste is called composting and the end product of the
decomposed material is called compost.
Compost is not particularly high in essential nutrients, (N-P-K), and is considered a soil
conditioner rather than a fertilizer. However, organic matter is a valuable soil amendment
because it: can improved soil structure, aids in necessary microbial activity in the soil,
attracts beneficial insects such as earthworms, can suppress several soil born diseases and
holds its nutrients in organic or slow release form, allowing for availability throughout the
growing season.
Composting is essential for microbial decomposition of organic residues collected from
rural area (rural compost) or urban compost (urban area). Composting is done either in
aerobic or anaerobic conditions. The advantage of aerobic system is that it is fast but
requires moistening and frequent turning. Indoor method, Banglore method, NADEP
method, Coimbatore method, Japanese methods etc. are the important methods of
composting.
Night soil
Night soil is human excreta, both solid and liquid. It is richer in N, P and K than farm yard
manure and compost. Night soil contains on an average 5.5 % N, 4.0 % P2O5 and 2.0 %
K2O.
Sewage and sludge
In the modern system of sanitation adopted in cities and towns, human excreta areCOURSEPACK
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out with water which is called sewage. The solid portion in the sewage is called sludge and
liquid portion is sewage water. Both the components of sewage are separated and are given
a preliminary fermentation and oxidation treatments to reduce bacterial contamination
and offensive smell.
Green Manure
Green manuring can be defined as a practice of ploughing or turning of un- decomposed
green plant tissues into the soil for improving physical structure as well as soil fertility is
referred to as green manuring and the manure obtained by this method is known as green
manure.
Green manuring, wherever feasible, is the principal supplementary means of adding
organic matter to the soil. The green-manure crop supplies organic matter as well as
additional nitrogen, particularly if it is a legume crop, due to its ability to fix nitrogen from
the air with the help of its root nodule bacteria. The green-manure crops also exercise a
protective action against erosion and leaching. Green manure to be incorporated in soil
before flowering stage because they are grown for their green leafy material, which is high
in nutrients and protects the soil.
Sheep and Goat Manure
The dropping of sheep and goats contain higher nutrient content than the FYM and
compost. On an average, sheep and goat manure contains 3.0 % N, 1.0 % P2O5 and 2.0 %
K2O.
Sheep and goat manure applied to the field in two ways.
The sweeping (an act of cleaning an area with a broom or brush) of sheep or goat sheds are
placed in pits for decomposition and it is applied later in the field. The nutrients percent in
the urine are wasted in this method.
The second method is sheep penning, wherein sheep and goats are allowed to stay
overnight in the field and urine and fecal matter is added to the soil which is incorporated
to a shallow depth by running blade harrow or cultivator.
Poultry Manure
Poultry manure is the organic waste material consisting of feces and urine. Poultry manure
is an excellent fertilizer material because of its high nutrient content, especially for
nitrogen (3.03 %), phosphorus (2.63 %), and potassium (1.4 %). In addition to supplying
nutrients, poultry manure or litter serves as a soil amendment increasing the soil organic
matter content. The added organic matter increases the moisture holding capacity of the
soil, lowers soil bulk density, and improves overall soil structure, thus increasing the
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efficiency of the crop production and irrigation.
Oil-cakes
Oil cake is the solid portion of oilseed crops after extraction of oil from the seeds and it is
used as manure. Many oil cakes such as the castor, neem, madhuca, karanja, linseed,
rapeseed and cotton seed which are non-edible oil cakes may serve as useful organic
manure as these contain high amounts of plant nutrients.
The oil-cakes are of two types:
Edible oil-cakes which can be safely fed to livestock; e.g.: Groundnut cake, coconut cake,
cotton cake etc. and
Non-edible oil-cakes which are not fit for feeding livestock; e.g. Castor cake, neem cake,
mahua cake etc.
Nutrients present in oil-cakes are made available to crops after mineralization hence; oil
cakes should be applied in the field before 7 to 10 days of sowing. Oil- cakes need to be well
powdered before application for even distribution and quicker decomposition.
Bone meal
Bone meal is a mixture of finely and coarsely ground animal bones and slaughter-house
waste products. It is used as an organic fertilizer for plants and as a nutritional supplement
for animals. As a slow-release fertilizer, bone meal is primarily used as a source of
phosphorus. Moreover, due to slow acting manure it is ideal for acid soils and long
duration crops.
Guano
It is an admixture of excreta and dead remains of sea birds rich in N and P. It is collected
periodically from island. The refuse left over after extracting oil from fish in factories is
dried and used as manure, known as Fish guano. It is comparable to bird guano in its
effect on soil and crops.
Crop residues
There are two types of agricultural crop residues.
Field residues are the materials left in an agricultural field or orchard after the crop has
been harvested. These residues include stalks and stubble (stems), leaves, and seed pods.
The residue can be ploughed directly into the ground. The crop residues can be recycled
by way of incorporation, compost making or mulch material.
Process residues are materials left after the crop is processed into a usable resource. These
residues include husks, seeds, bagasse, molasses and roots. They can be used as animal
fodder and soil amendment, fertilizers and in manufacturing. COURSEPACK |
Average nutrient content of organic manures and crop wastes: FORMAT

Manure Nitrogen (%) N Phosphorus (%) Potash (%)

 P2O2 K2O

Bulky organic manure

Farm Yard Manure 0.5-1.5 0.4-0.8 0.5-1.9
Compost (Urban) 1.0-2.0 1.0 1.5
Compost (Rural) 0.4-0.8 0.3-0.6 0.7-1.0
Green manure (averages) 0.5-0.7 0.1-0.2 0.6-0.8
Sewage sludge dry 2.0-3.5 1.0-5.0 0.2-0.5
Sewage allivated dry 4.0-7.1 2.1-4.2 0.5-0.7
Non-edible cakes
Castor cake 5.5-5.8 1.8-1.9 1.0-1.1
Mahua cake 2.5-2.6 0.9-1.0 1.8-1.9
Karanj cake 3.9-4.0 0.9-1.0 1.3-1.4
Neem cake 5.2-5.3 1.0-1.1 1.4-1.5
Safflower cake (un-decorticated) 4.8-4.9 1.4-1.5 1.2-1.3
Edible cakes
Cotton seed cake (decorticated) 6.4-6.5 2.8-2.9 2.1-2.2
Cotton seed cake (un-decorticated) 3.9-4.0 1.8-1.9 1.6-1.7
Groundnut cake 7.0-7.2 1.5-1.6 1.3-1.4
Manual of animal origin
Fish manure 4.0-10.0 3.0-9.0 0.3-1.5
Bird guano 7.0-8.0 11.0-14.0 2.0-3.0
Bone meal (row) 3.0-4.0 20.0-25.0 -
Bone meal (steamed) 1.0-2.0 25.0-30.0 -
Straw and stalks
Pearl millet 0.65 0.75 2.5
Sorghum 0.40 0.23 2.17
Maize 0.42 1.57 1.65
Paddy 0.36 0.08 0.71
Wheat 0.53 0.10 1.10
Sugarcane trash 0.35 0.10 0.60
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Cotton 0.44 0.10 0.66
FORMAT
PRACTICAL 2: GREEN MANURING FOR ORGANIC FARMING
Green manuring can be defined as a practice of ploughing or turning into the soil un-
decomposed green plant tissues for improving physical structure as well as soil fertility.
Green manure is the principal supplementary means of adding organic matter to the soil.
The green-manure crop supplies organic matter as well as additional nitrogen, particularly
if it is a legume crop, due to its ability to fix nitrogen from the air with the help of its root
nodule bacteria. Green manure crop should be incorporated in to the soil before flowering
stage.
The practice of green manuring is performed in different ways according to suitable soil
and climatic conditions of a particular area. Broadly the practice of green manuring in
COURSEPACK |
India can be divided into two types FORMAT
Green manuring in situ: In this system, green manure crops are grown and buried in the
same field, which is to be green manured, either as pure crop or an intercrop with the
main crop. The former system is followed in the northern India while latter is common in
the central and eastern India.
Green leaf manuring: Green leaf manuring refers to turning into the soil green leaves and
tender green twigs collected from shrubs and trees grown on bunds, wastelands and
nearby forest areas. This system is generally followed in the central India.
An ideal green manure crop should possess the following desired characteristics:
It should be a legume with good nodular growth habit indicative of rapid nitrogen fixation
under even unfavorable soil conditions.
It should have little water requirements for it’s owngrowth and should be capable of
making a good stand on poor and exhausted soils.
It should have a deep root system, which can be open the sub-soil and tap lower regions
for plant nutrients.
The plant should be of a leafy habit capable of producing heavy tender growth early in its
life cycle.
It should contain large quantities of non-fibrous tissues of rapid decomposability
containing fair percent of moisture and nitrogen.
It should be fast initial growth with more leafy than woody
It should be low C/N ratio Advantages of the Green manuring
Following are the some of the advantages of the green manuring
As they decompose rapidly, it is easy to retain the organic matter in the soil.
Green manures improve both physical and chemical properties of the soil.
They provide energy to microbes.
They provide nutrients to the standing crop and also to the next crop.
Addition of green manure crops to the soil, acts as mulch and prevent soil erosion.
Leaching of nutrients in light soils can be prevented by addition of green manure.
Cultivating green manure crops can control weeds.
Majority of green manure crops being legumes, use of nitrogenous fertilizers can be
minimized.
It increases the availability of certain plant nutrients like phosphorus (P2O5),
calcium, potassium, magnesium and iron.
Disadvantages of the green manuring COURSEPACK |
Every coin has got a head and a tail and it is the case with the green FORMAT
manuring. Some
disadvantages are also associated with green manuring. When the proper technique of
green manuring is not followed or when weather conditions become unfavorable, the
following disadvantages are likely to become evident/happen.
Under rainfed conditions, it is feared that proper decomposition of the green manure crop
and satisfactory germination of the succeeding crop may not take place if sufficient rainfall
is not received after burying the green manure crop. This particularly applies to the wheat
regions of the India.
Since green manuring for Rabi season (Wheat) means the loss for the Kharif crop, the
practice of green manuring may not be always economical. This applies to the regions
where irrigation facilities are available for raising Kharif crop along with easy availability
of fertilizers.
In case the main advantage of the green manuring is to be derived from addition of
nitrogen, however sometimes the cost of growing green manure crops may be more than
the cost of commercial nitrogen fertilizers.
An increase of diseases, insects and nematodes is possible.
A risk is involved in obtaining a satisfactory stand and growth of the green manure crops,
if sufficient rainfall is not available.

PRACTICAL3: PREPARATION OF ENRICH COMPOST AND VERMICOMPOST

COURSEPACK |
FORMAT
Farm Yard Manure (FYM) is an organic form of fertilizer prepared by decomposition of
animal dung, urine and cattle shed wastes. It is the most common organic manure used by
farmers of India.
Limitations with traditional method
Procedures followed by farmers in India for utilization of FYM are very crude and far
away from modern methods with respect to principle and procedure. The common
practice followed by the farmers is to throw cattle dung and other farm and household
refuse on roadside or into pits specially dug for manure pit. The dung added to the pit is
not uniformly mixed with the urine and litter. Lumps of dung remain as such for a longer
period. Large part of urine is lost both in cattle shed and in the pit. There is enormous loss
of nutrients from manure heaps and pits which reduce the quality of FYM. Hence, follow
certain guidelines for the production of stable, matured and enriched quality of FYM.
What is enriched compost?
The enrichment of compost with nutrients and beneficial organisms like
Azotobactor, Azospirillum or PSB is called enriched compost.
Nutrient Enrichment
Feed the cattle with nitrogen rich feed materials like pulse stubbles and green manures.
Add phosphates like rock phosphate or SSP @1-2% of the total mass of dung materials to
prevent loss of N and enhance N fixation in the trench itself and enrich the manure with P.
For K enrichment adds wood ash.
Add bio- inoculants like Azotobacter and PSB culture @ 250 g per section one month after
filling in order to enrich the FYM with these important micro- organisms.
Enrichment of compost with Biofertilizers:
N-fixing bacteria-Azotobacter, Azospirillum each 2 kg/tone if solid, 1 litre/tone if liquid.
P-solubilizing bacteria-Bacillus polymixaetc - 4 kg/tone if solid, 2 litres/tone if liquid.
K-Mobilizing bacteria-Fraturia aurantia 4kg/tone if solid, 2 litres/tone if liquid.
Enrichment of compost with Bio-Agents:
Bio-Control agents like Trichoderma viride, Pseudomonas fluorescenceat the rate of 2
kg/tone of each if solid, 500 ml/tone if liquid form.
Composting :
The process of decomposing organic waste is called composting and the end product of the
decomposed material is called compost.
The collected organic refuse may be of rural and urban origin and may include straw,
COURSEPACK |
FORMAT
leaves, paddy husk, ground nut husk, sugarcane trash, bagasses, cattle dung, urine, crop
residues, city garbage, night soil, sewage, kitchen and vegetable wastes, hedge clippings,
water hyacinth and all other residues counting organic matter. During composting under
thermophilic and mesophilic condition, heaps or pits are required adequate moisture and
aeration. The final product is brown to black colored humified material which on addition
to soil replenishes plant nutrients, maintains soil organic matter content and helps in
improving the physical, chemical and biological conditions of the soil.
Key factors affecting the composting process
There are certain key environmental factors which affect the speed of composting. The
decomposing organisms that make compost need food (carbon and nitrogen), air and
water. When provided with a balance form, then they will produce compost quickly. Other
organism factors affecting the speed of composting include surface area/particle size,
volume and temperature.
Method of composting:
Although utilizing crop wastes in crop production is known from the earliest times,
systematic work on composting was initiated only in the beginning of this century. In
India, Howard and wad (1931) at Indore and Fowler (1933) at Bangalore have done some
pioneering work. Composting is done either in aerobic condition or in anaerobic condition.
Some methods involve both conditions. The advantage of aerobic system is that it is fast
but it requires moistening and frequent turning.
Indore method:
Sir Albert Howard (1924-26) at Indore, Madhya Pradesh, developed this method. Waste
materials are mixed well and properly moistened with dung or night soil slurry and built
up in to heaps of 4 to 6 m length, 1 m width and 1 m height or put in to a pit of 30’ x 5’x3’
m with sloping sides. Periodical turn the materials to provide aeration and mix materials.
Water is added if needed. Under this aerobic process losses of organic matter and nitrogen
are to the extent of 40 to 50% of the initial levels. The average composition of manure has
been found to be 0.8% N, 0.3% P2O5 and 1.5 K2O.
Windrow method:
Karnataka Compost Development Corporation Ltd., Bangalore established in 1975-76
developed a system of composting of city garbage (Venkatachalaiah, 1996). From the
garbage plastics, glass, rubber and debris are separated. The heaps are arranged as
windrows and under aerobic decomposition ‘BIOAGRO’ compost is produced (with
compositions 0.5 to 0.9% NPK). Neem cake, rock phosphate and gypsum arealsoadded
insmallquantities toproduce‘BIOAGRORICH’compost. COURSEPACK |
NADEP compost: FORMAT
Farm wastes are mixed with 30 times dung slurry and clay soil for composting. It is similar
to hip method of composting but is done in brick lined enclosures (10-15’ x 4’x3’) provided
with air holes on all sides. Compos is ready within 4 to 6 months. The disadvantage is the
requirement of large proportion of soil which at times difficulties to get it is also opinioned
that the quality of compost becomes poor. Moreover, it involves lot of labour and materials
in building the tanks.
Coimbtore method of composting:
In pits 4x2x1m residue are filled to a thickness of about 15 cm in the pit uniformly
(Ramaswami, 1997). Over this layer, cow dung slurry is sprinkled to a thickness of about
5cm. Above this layer bone meal/rock phosphate at the rate of 1 kg is spread. This process
of residue, cow dung slurry and bone meal is spread. This process of residue, cow dung
slurry and bone meal is repeated till the height reaches 0.5m above the ground level. Then
the material is covered with mud plaster to prevent entry of rain water. After 4-5 weeks,
the material is turned and aerobic process is allowed. The compost will be ready within
five months. Application of cow dung slurry enhances the rate of biodegradation. The
application of bone meal/rock phosphate helps to cover the N loss from composting pit and
at the same time adds P to composting material. The losses of N could be reduced to about
40% by incorporation of mussorie rock phosphate @ 10% of compostable material
(Kapoor et. al., 1996).
Bangalore process:
Acharya (1939) has developed a method for composting of town refuse and night soil in
pits. It involves heat fermentation which helps in effective disposal of offensive wastes. The
refuse and night soil are spread in alternate layers of 15 cm and 5 cm until the pit is filled
30 cm above ground level. Each layer of night soil should be immediately covered over
with refuse and the top layer at the end of each day should be covered with thin layer of
earth (5 cm). The initial decomposition is aerobic for a period of 2-3 weeks. During this

initial aerobic decomposition, a high temperature (60-50o C) is attained which helps to

destroy harmful pathogens, fly maggots, weed seeds and also completely removes
disagreeable odours. Then the entire mass is pressed down and mud plastered. After this
the decomposition proceeds on anaerobic lines and the manure becomes ready in 5-6
months.
Recent development in composting:
Japanese method of composting: COURSEPACK |
FORMAT
In this method instead of pits composting is carried out in a enclosure of 18’- 30’ x 3’-4’ x
2.5-3.0’ (height) above the ground. The structure may be of granite slabs or any other
locally available material. The bottom of the structure is sealed to avoid drainage loss of
nutrients. That apart, the method facilitates easy turning of the materials and avoids

temperature exceeding 65-70oC (Shivashankar, 1996).

The organic wastes are spread in the enclosure layer by layer leaving about 2’ at one side of the
structure to facilitate turning.
The bottom layer should be of hard materials viz., coconut shells, leaves, fibrous material,
tender tree barks or pieces of wood, ash, etc. The height should be 10-15 cm.
The next layer (10-15 cm) should be of dried leaves, grasses, residues, groundnut haulms
etc. These two layers being hard and dry absorb moisture and nutrients leached from the
top. Over this layer spread cow dung urine and biogas slurry singly or mixed. A small
quantity of soil and ash can also be spread over this layer.
In the third layer, dhaincha, sasbenia and crop residues rich in nitrogen are added to
about 10-15 cm thickness.
The fourth layer should contain organic wastes rich in phosphorus (roots of green
manures, Acalypha, rock phosphate, etc.) and potash (Calatropis, datura, weeds, residues
of tomato and tobacco, ash, poultry wastes, etc.). Over this layer of 10-15 cm spread two to
three buckets of cow dung and biogas slurry to wet the contents. Carbon rich materials
like straw, Stover, etc., can be cut in t pieces of 4-5 cm and mixed with available green
biomass. This forms the fifth layer.
The sixth layer should exclusively contain 20-30 cm of cow dung. Over this old compost
powder, tank silt or soil and ash in small quantity are to be added.
During filling microbial cultures can be sprinkled on each layer. Care is to be taken to

maintain moisture around 65 per cent and temperature below 60oC. It is necessary to turn
the sets after 15 days after filling for the first time and at monthly interval thereafter.
Addition of lime can hasten decomposing hard materials. To enrich compost 50 to 100 kg
of rock phosphate per 100 kg of compost can be added along with some left over oilcakes
during last turning of the compost.
Vermicompost :
Vermicomposting is a simple process of composting, in which certain species of earth
worms are used to enhance the process of waste conversion and produce a better end
COURSEPACK |
product. This compost is generally called vermicompost. It provides the vitalFORMAT
macro
elements such as nitrogen, phosphorous, potash, Ca, Mg and Micro elements such and Fe,
Mo, Zn, Cu, etc.
Suitable species
One of the earthworm species most often used for composting is the Red Wiggler (Eisenia
fetida). African Nightcrawlers (Eudrilus eugeniae) is another set of popular composter.
These species are commonly found in organic-rich soils and live in rotting vegetation,
compost, and manure piles.
Climate and temperature
The most common worms used in composting systems are redworms (Eisenia foetida,
Eisenia andrei and Lumbricus rubellus) feed most rapidly at temperatures of 15–25 °C (59-
77 °F). They can survive at 10 °C (50 °F). Temperatures above 30 °C (86 °F) may harm
them. Other worms like Perionyx excavatus are suitable for warmer climates.
Type of earthworms
There are about 3000 species of earthworms reported in the world. Among them 509
species are available in India. These earthworms are mainly divided into three groups
Epigeics: Are the species that live above the mineral soil surface.
e.g. Eisenia foetida, Eudrilus eugeniae, Perionyx excavatus
Above species are prolific feeders and can feed upon a wide variety of degradable
organic wastes.
Anecics: Are the species that live in burrows in mineral soil layers.
Endogeics: Are species that inhabit mineral soil horizons
e.g. Lampito mauritii
Characteristic of compost worms
The following are the basic characteristics of earthworm species suitable for
vermicomposting:
The worms should have feeding preference to wide range of organic materials.
It should be efficient converter of plant/animal biomass to body proteins.
It should be tolerant to diseases, wide adaptability to environmental factors and have least
inactivity period.
It should have high consumption, digestion and assimilation rates
The worms should produce large number of cocoons.
Growth rate, maturity from young one to adult stage should be fast.
The worms should feed near the surface of organic matter. Advantage of vermicompost in
COURSEPACK |
Soil FORMAT

It improves soil aeration

Enriches soil with micro-organisms (adding enzymes such as phosphatase and cellulase)
Enhance microbial activity in the soil
Attracts deep-burrowing earthworms already present in the soil
Improves water holding capacity of the soil Plant growth
Enhances germination, plant growth and crop yield
Improves root growth and structure
Enriches soil with micro-organisms (adding plant hormones such as Auxin and Gibberellic
acid)
Environmental
Minimizes the pollution hazards
Methods of vermicompost
In general, following are the three methods of Vermicomposting under field conditions.
Vermicomposting of wastes in field pits
Vermicomposting of wastes in ground heap
Vermicomposting of wastes in large structures Vermicomposting of organic wastes in field:
Pits: It is preferable to go for optimum sized ground pits and 10 x 11 x 0.5 m
(L x W x D) can be effective size of each Vermicomposting bed. Series of such beds are to
be prepared at one place.
Ground Heaps: Instead of opening of pits, vermicomposting can be taken up in ground
heaps. Dome shaped beds (with organic wastes) are prepared and vermicomposting is
taken up. Optimum size of ground heaps may be series of heaps of dimensions 5.0 x 1.0 x
1.0 m (L x W x H).
Composting in large structures: Vermicomposting is taken up in large structures such as
series of rectangular brick columns, cement tanks, stone block etc., which are filled with
organic wastes and composting is taken up.
Vermicomposting involves the following steps which are:
Cover the bottom of the cement ring with a layer of coconut husk or polythene sheet.
Spread 15–20 cm layer of organic waste material on the polythene sheet.
Sprinkle cow dung slurry and water.
Paste the top of the ring with soil or cow dung. Allow the material to decompose for 15 to
20 days.
After decomposition of the materials (15–20 days after heaping), release selected
earthworms (500 to 700) through the cracks developed. COURSEPACK |
Cover the ring with wire mesh or gunny bag to prevent birds from FORMAT
picking the
earthworms.
Sprinkle water every three days to maintain adequate moisture and body temperature of
the earthworms.
The vermicompost is ready in about 2 months if agricultural waste is used.
The processed vermicompost is black, light in weight and free from bad odor.
When the compost is ready, do not water for 2–3 days to make compost easy for sifting.
Pile the compost in small heaps and leave under ambient conditions for a couple of hours
when all the worms move down the heap in the bed.
Separate upper portion of the manure and sieve the lower portion to separate the
earthworms from the manure.
The culture in the bed contains different stages of the earthworm’s life cycle, namely,
cocoons, juveniles and adults.
Transfer this culture to fresh half decomposed feed material. Pack the compost in bags
and store the bags in a cool place.
Prepare another pile about 20 days before removing the compost and repeat the
process by following the same procedure as described above.

PRACTICAL 4: BIO FERTILIZERS/BIO INOCULANTS FOR ORGANIC FARMING

The atmosphere over a hectare of land consists of 80,000 tones of N. Though atmospheric
N is present in sufficient quantity (80%), it is not available to plants since it exists in inert
form. Biological nitrogen fixation is the conversion of atmospheric N by living organisms
into forms that plants can use. This process is carried out by a group of bacteria and algae
which fix atmospheric Nitrogen (N2) in to assimilable forms of nitrogen (NH3)
It can be defined as bio-fertilizers or microbial inoculants are preparations containing live
or latent cell of efficient strain of N-fixing or P-solubilizing micro organisms used for seed
or soil application with the objectives of increasing the numbers of such micro organisms
COURSEPACK |
FORMAT
in the soil or rhizosphere and consequently improve the extent of microbiologically fixed N
for plant growth.
Use of bio-fertilizers
Azospirilum is applied as seed treatment or soil application in crop like rice, sugarcane,
pulses, soybean and vegetables. It increase in root length, top dry weight, root dry weight,
total leaf area and yield were reported. The inoculants like nitroplus (legume inoculants)
and VAM (Vesicular Arbuscular Micorrhizae) are also effective for crop yield
improvement. The Bacillus sp. and pseudomonas sp. are help full in synthesizing the
insoluble form of phosphorus. The combined applications of phosphobacteria, rock
phosphate and FYM to commercial crops have greatly enhanced biomass production,
uptake of nutrients and yield.
Benefits of bio- fertilizers in organic farming
Bio-fertilizers are eco-friendly and do not have any ill effect on soil health and
environment.
They reduce the pressure on non-renewable nutrient sources/fertilizer.
Their formulations are cheap and have easy application methods.
They also stimulate plant growth due to excretion of various growth hormones.
They reduce the incidence of certain disease, pathogen and increase disease resistance.
The economic benefits to cost ratio of bio-fertilizers is always higher.
They improve the productivity of waste land and low land by enriching the soil. Types of
Bio-fertilizers
Biological N fixing micro organisms
Phosphate solubilizing and mobilizing micro-organisms
Potash solubilizing micro-organisms
Sulphur mobilizing micro-organisms
Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi
Growth promoting substance excreting micro-organisms
Biological N-fixing micro-organisms
Biological N-fixing micro-organisms help in reduction of atmospheric N2 to NH3. The N-
fixing organisms such as Rhizobium spp. which live in symbiotic association with roots of
leguminous vegetables, forming nodules and free living fixers Azotobacter spp. and
Azospirillum spp. which live in association with root system of crop plants. There are two
types of Rhizobia; (i) the slow growing Bradyrhizobium and (ii) the fast COURSEPACK
growing |
FORMAT
Rhizobium. Azospirillum fix N from 10 to 40 kg/ha and saves N fertilizer inputs by 25 to
30%. Azotobacter inoculation saves N fertilizer by 10 to 20% Rhizobium and
bradyrhizobium
They symbiolically fix N with leguminous plants increasing the amount of available
N for uptake by plants. The quantum of N fixation ranges from 50-300 kg N/ha/crop under
most optimum conditions. i.e. cow pea 80-85 kg/ha, Red gram 168- 200 kg/ha, [Link] 50-60
kg/ha & lucerne 100-300 kg/ha can fix symbiotically N by legume crop root nodules. An
increase in yield about 10-20 % has been observed in pulses treated with Rhizobium.
Azola
Azola symbiotically can fix 30-100 kg N /ha & increase in yield up to 10-25% and also
survive at high temperature in flooded rice crop.
Azotobacter
Azotobacter is free living aerobic N-fixing bacteria can fix 10-25 kg N/ha/season in cereals.
50% of N requirement of crop can be reduced through Azotobacter inoculation along with
FYM. A. chroococcum is the dominant spices in arable soils. Vegetable crop such as
tomato, brinjal and cabbage responded better to Azotobacter inoculation than other crops.
Azospirillum
Azospirillum inoculation helps to fix nitrogen from 15 to 40 kg/ha. It is useful in cereals for
better vegetative growth and also saving inputs of nitrogenous fertilizers by 25-30 %
Beijerinckia :
Its production is high in acidic soils. B. idica is a common species. It is generally present in
the rhizosphere of plantation crops such as coconut, arecanut, cashewnut, cocoa and
pepper.
Phosphate solubilizing and mobilizing micro-organism.
Several soil bacteria particularly Pseudomonas straita and Bacillus polymixa and fungi
Aspergillus awamori and Penicilium spp. poses the ability to bring insoluble phosphates into
soluble forms by secreting organic acids. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are also
responsible for converting fixed Phosphorus into available phosphorus through inoculation
of efficient strains of AMF, 25 to 50 % of P fertilizer can be saved.
Potash solubilizing micro-organisms
The bacterium, Frateuria aurantia was isolated from banana plant from Orissa soil. These
bacteria have solubilizing power of 90% within 22 days when the mineral source of K is in
fixed form. These bacteria were tested on banana and paddy which increased the yield by
20 & 25%, respectively. It can be used as soil application for all types of crops @ 2.5 kg/ha.
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FORMAT
It can be mixed with @ 200- 500 kg FYM in furrows before sowing. The bacterium can
save up to 50-60 % of cost of K fertilizer.
Sulphur mobilizing micro organisms.
Sulphur present as insoluble sulphur form at 30-35 cm deep in soil and are associated with
oxides of iron and aluminium. Acetobacter pasteurianus helps in converting this non-usable
form to usable form. The use of 625 g/ha of A. pasteurianus influenced the levels of sulphur
in crops like vegetables, cabbage, turnip, onion etc.
Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF)
AMF improve plant growth through better uptake of nutrient like P, Zn, Cu etc. and
make the plant root more resistant to pathogens, improve soil texture, WHC, disease
resistance and better plant growth. AMF saves 25-50 kg P/ha in addition increase the yield
up to 10-12%.
Growth promoting substance erecting micro organisms.
The specific strain of plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) could colonize roots
of crops like potato, beet root, apple and legumes. They enhance plant growth indirectly by
depriving the harmful micro organisms. PGPR belong to many genera including
Agrobacterium, Arthrobacter, Azotobacter, bacillus, Pseudomonas, cellublomonas,
Rhizobium etc.
General recommendations of bio-fertilizers for different crops
For pulses such as Greengram, Black gram, Pigeonpea, Cowpea, kidney bean etc. and
legume oil seeds such as groundnut and soyabean use Rhizobium + PSB 200 gm each per 10
kg of seed as seed treatment.
Non legume crops such as pearlmillet, wheat, sorghum maize, cotton, etc. use
Azotobacter + PSB 200 gm each per 10 kg of seed as seed treatment.
Vegetables crops like tomato, brinjal, chilli, cabbage, cauliflower etc. use
Azotobacter/Azospirillum + PSB, 1 kg each as seedling root dip.
Low land transplanted paddy Azospirillum + PSB 2 kg each/acre as seeding root dip for 8-
10 hrs.
For sugarcane crop, use Acetobacter + PSB 4 kg each/acre as seed set dipping. METHOD
OF APPLICATION
Seed treatment
Suspend 200 gm N bio-fertilizer and 200 gms Phosphotika in 300-400 ml of water and mix
thoroughly. Mix this paste with 10 kg seeds and dry in shade. Sow immediately.
Seedling root dip
For vegetables 1 kg recommended bio-fertilizers is mixed in sufficient quantity of water.
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Dip the roots of seedlings in this suspension for 30-40 min before transplanting. FORMAT
For paddy make a bed in the field and fill it with water. Mix bio-fertilizers in water and
dip the roots of seedlings for 8-10 hrs.
Soil treatment
Mix 4 kg each of recommended bio-fertilizers in 200 kg of compost, make moist and leave
it overnight. Apply this mixture in the soil at the time of sowing or planting.
PRECAUTIONS
Store bio-fertilizer packets in cool and dry place away from direct sunlight and heat
Rhizobium is crop specific, so use in specified crop
Do not mix with chemicals
Use the packet before expiry, only on the specified crop, by the recommended method.

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PRACTICAL 5: ITK FOR NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT
PANCHGAVYA
Panchagavya, an organic product has the potential to play the role of promoting growth
and providing immunity in plant system. Panchagavya consists of nine products viz. cow
dung, cow urine, milk, curd, jaggery, ghee, banana, Tender coconut and water. When
suitably mixed and used, these have miraculous effects.
Cow dung - 7 kg
Cow ghee - 1 kg
Mix the above two ingredients thoroughly and keep it for 3 days with regular mixing both
in morning and evening hours
Cow Urine - 10 liters
Water - 10 liters
After 3 days mix cow urine and water and keep it for 15 days with regular mixing both in
morning and evening hours. After 15 days mix the following and panchagavya will be
ready after 30 days.
Cow milk - 3 liters
Cow curd - 2 liters
Tender coconut water - 3 liters
Jaggery – 0.500 kg or Sugarcane juice 3 liters.
Well ripened poovan banana – 12 nos.
Preparation
All the above items can be added to a wide mouthed mud pot, concrete tank or plastic can
as per the above order. The container should be kept open under shade. The content is to
be stirred twice a day both in morning and evening. The Panchagavya stock solution will
be ready after 30 days. (Care should be taken not to mix buffalo products. The products of
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local breeds of cow is said to have potency than exotic breeds). It should be kept in the
shade and covered with a wire mesh or plastic mosquito net to prevent houseflies from
laying eggs and the formation of maggots in the solution. If sugarcane juice is not available
add 500 g of jaggery dissolved in 3 liter of water.

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Physico-chemical and biological properties of Panchagavya
Chemical composition Microbial Load
pH : 5.45 Fungi : 38800/ml

EC dSm2 : 10.22 Bacteria : 1880000/ml

Total N (ppm) : 229 Lactobacillus : 2260000/ml

Total P (ppm) : 209 Total anaerobes : 10000/ml
Total K (ppm) : 232 Acid formers : 360/ml
Sodium : 90 Methanogen : 250/ml
Calcium : 25
IAA (ppm) : 8.5
GA (ppm) : 3.5
Physico-chemical properties of Panchagavya revealed that they possess almost all the
major nutrients, micro nutrients and growth hormones (IAA & GA) required for crop
growth. Predominance of fermentative microorganisms like yeast and lactobacillus might
be due to the combined effect of low pH, milk products and addition of jaggery/sugarcane
juice as substrate for their growth.
The low pH of the medium was due to the production of organic acids by the fermentative
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microbes as evidenced by the population dynamics and organic detection in GC analysis.
FORMAT
Lactobacillus produces various beneficial metabolites such as organic acids, hydrogen
peroxide and antibiotics, which are effective against other pathogenic microorganisms
besides its growth.
3. Recommended dosage Spray system
3% solution was found to be most effective compared to the higher and lower
concentrations investigated. Three liters of Panchagavya to every 100 liters of water is
ideal for all crops. The power sprayers of 10 liters capacity may need 300 ml/tank. When
sprayed with power sprayer, sediments are to be filtered and when sprayed with hand
operated sprayers, the nozzle with higher pore size has to be used.
Flow system
The solution of Panchagavya can be mixed with irrigation water at 50 liters per hectare
either through drip irrigation or flow irrigation.
Seed/seedling treatment
3% solution of Panchagavya can be used to soak the seeds or dip the seedlings before
planting. Soaking for 20 minutes is sufficient. Rhizomes of Turmeric, Ginger and sets of
Sugarcane can be soaked for 30 minutes before planting.
Seed storage
3% of Panchagavya solution can be used to dip the seeds before drying and storing them.
Periodicity
1. Pre flowering phase : Once in 15 days, two sprays depending
upon duration of crops
2. Flowering and pod setting stage : Once in 10 days, two sprays
3. Fruit/Pod maturation stage : Once during pod maturation
Time of application of Panchagavya for different crops is given as follows
Crops Time schedule
Rice : 10, 15, 30 and 50th days after transplanting
Sunflower 30, 45 and 60 days after sowing
:
Black gram : Rain fed: 1st flowering and 15 days after flowering

Irrigated: 15, 25 and 40 days after sowing

Green gram: 15, 25, 30, 40 and 50 days after sowing
Castor : 30 and 45 days after sowing
Groundnut : 25 and 30th days after sowing COURSEPACK |
FORMAT
Bhindi : 30, 45, 60 and 75 days after sowing
 Moringa Before flowering and during pod formation
:
Tomato Nursery and 40 days after transplanting: seed treatment with 1 % for 12
: hrs
Onion : 0, 45 and 60 days after transplanting
Rose : At the time of pruning and budding
Jasmine Bud initiation and setting
:
Vanilla Dipping setts before planting
:
Effect of Panchagavya Leaf
Plants sprayed with Panchagavya invariably produce bigger leaves and develop denser
canopy. The photosynthetic system is activated for enhanced biological efficiency, enabling
synthesis of maximum metabolites and photosynthates.
Stem
The trunk produces side shoots, which are sturdy and capable of carrying maximum fruits
to maturity. Branching is comparatively high.
Roots
The rooting is profuse and dense. Further they remain fresh for a long time. The roots
spread and grow into deeper layers were also observed. All such roots help maximum
intake of nutrients and water.
Yield
There will be yield depression under normal circumstances, when the land is converted to
organic farming from inorganic systems of culture. The key feature of Panchagavya is its
efficacy to restore the yield level of all crops when the land is converted from inorganic
cultural system to organic culture from the very first year. The harvest is advanced by 15
days in all the crops. It not only enhances the shelf life of vegetables, fruits and grains, but
also improves the taste. By reducing or replacing costly chemical inputs, Panchagavya
ensures higher profit and liberates the organic farmers from loan.
Drought Hardiness
A thin oily film is formed on the leaves and stems, thus reducing the evaporation of water.
The deep and extensive roots developed by the plants allow to withstand long dry periods.
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Both the above factors contribute to reduce the irrigation water requirement by 30% and |
FORMAT
to ensure drought hardiness.
Cost: Cost of Panchagavya is Rs. 40/Lit
Note: Generally panchagavya is recommended for all the crops as foliar spray at 3.0
% level (3 litre panchagavya in 100 liters of water).
JIVAMRUT
PREPARATION
Ingredients of JIVAMRUT
10 kg Cow fresh dung
5 kg cow urine
2 kg jaggery
2 kg pulse flour (cow pea)
1 kg sajiv soil
200 lit. water
All the above items can be added to a wide mouthed plastic tank having a capacity of 300
liters. Add 200 lit water in it. The container should be kept under shade. This mixture is to
be stirred twice a day in clock wise direction both in morning and evening. The jivamrut
stock solution will be ready after 7 days. (The products of local breeds of cow is said to
have potency than exotic breeds). It should be kept in the shade and the mouth of the tank
is tied with a cotton cloth. The volume of the final solution obtained is 200 liters. The rate
of application is 500 lit./ha. It may be applied on soil when it is wet. If possible apply after
noon (preferably after 16.00 hrs.). It can also be applied along with irrigation water.
BIJAMRUT
PREPARATION
Ingredients of BIJAMRUT
5 kg Cow fresh dung
100 g lime
5 lit cow urine
50 g sajiv soil
20 lit water
Take 5.0 kg fresh cow dung in cotton cloth and dip it in water. The soluble elements in the
dung will be dissolved in water. In another separate vessel take 100 g lime and add 1 lit.
water in it. Keep it for 12-16 hours. The solid portion of the cow dung will be separated by
squeezing it and in this solution add 5.0 lit cow urine + 1 lit lime water + 50 g soil (forest
uncultivated soil) + 20 lit water. Keep this mixture for 12-16 hours. Filter it and it can be
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used for seed treatment. FORMAT

BIODYNAMIC FARMING
Bios = life dynamic = energy
Dr Rudolf Steiner explained how modern science and therefore chemical agriculture was
based on the study of dead things in laboratories, rather than on the observation of living
nature and the complex relationships constantly changing therein. Among this web of life
he also included the cosmos with its moving planets and stars, and he spoke of how in the
past, farmers instinctively knew about the effects of this movement on the life of plants and
also animals and human beings. As modern human beings, we must find this connection
once more to understand how to work best with nature, but this time in a very conscious,
measurable way.
Today there are many people around the globe who concentrate on understanding and
recording the effects of the cosmos on our planet Earth, including Maria Thun in Germany
who publishes a planting calendar for gardeners and farmers to use. Rudolf Steiner
introduced a few preparations based on homeopathic medicine to enhance the beneficial
cosmic influences on plants and the soil, and encouraged people to experiment and find
new ones as well.
Life is a study of energy from the coarse to the fine, and Biodynamics is primarily
concerned with the higher forces, the finer energies and how they influence plants,
animals, and human beings. This knowledge and work with the life forces brings balance
and healing to the soil, and therefore to anything that grows in that soil and every being
that eats those plants.
Main effects of using biodynamic in agriculture
To increase the vitality of food
To regenerate natural resources such as the soil (by restoring the organic matter present
in the soil), the seeds, and the water
To create a personal relationship with the world in which we live, with Nature of which
we are apart of, and to learn to work together
Most of all, to be of service to the Earth and its beings by aiding nature where it is weak
due to constant use
DEMETER = Greek goddess of the Earth
Biodynamic methods produce a living soil with revitalized natural forces, in alignment
with planetary cosmic rhythms. At the heart of this activity is the intelligence and
consciousness of the human being who is caring for this piece of the Earth, and who is the
'ordering principle'. This deep awareness is based on observation and relationship COURSEPACK
with the |
land and with Nature; it's based on love. FORMAT

Advantages
Production of top quality fruits and vegetables, with strong flavours and high levels of
nutrients (protein and vitamin content)
Yields always above the average level, higher on average than those produced by organic
farming, and consistently high throughout the years as opposed to the falling yields
obtained by chemical farming as the soil is mineralized and pest populations become
unbalanced and become a problem
Little trouble with livestock and plant diseases
No spreading of insect pests, and no great economic damage due to their presence:
the question of insect pests is one of balance and control which can be restored by proper
management such as planting shrubs and trees which will house natural predators
HOMA THERAPY OR AGNIHOTRA :
Homa is a Sanskrit word used synonymously with yajna or havan. Yajna is the technical
term from the Vedic science of bio-energy, which denotes the process of removing the toxic
conditions of the atmosphere through the agency of fire. This means the healing and
purification of the atmosphere with fire as the medium. You heal the atmosphere and the
healed atmosphere heals you. This is the central idea in

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homa therapy. This knowledge can be used in agriculture, environment, medicine,
psychotherapy, biogenetics, etc.
Agnihotra is the basic homa for all homa fire practices mentioned in ancient Vedic science.
It is tuned to the biorhythm of sunrise and sunset. The process involves preparing a small
fire in a copper pyramid of fixed size and putting some grains of rice into the fire exactly at
sunrise and sunset accompanied by the chant of two simple mantras.
Farmers in more than 60 countries practice Homa therapy. There are many reports from
India and abroad which claim that the use of homa therapy in agriculture improves
degraded lands, controls pests and diseases and improves the quantity and quality of the
produce.

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PRACTICAL6: NON CHEMICAL APPROACH FOR INSECT, PEST, DISEASE
AND WEED MANAGEMENT

In organic agriculture, incidence of insect and disease attacks can be reduced by sound
cultural practices and biological approaches. These practices are region and crop specific.
CULTURAL PRACTICES : The cultural methods are the traditional practices followed
by farmers for modulating crop growth through selection of seed varieties, appropriate
time of sowing and maintenance of specific plant population density for altering the
microclimate.
Crop rotation : Rotating the crop belonging to one family with one of a different family
helps to reduce pest incidence to a large extent. Rotating groundnut with maize will reduce
the attack of white grubs. Rotating pigeon pea or chickpea with other non- leguminous
crop helps to control fusarium wilt and nematode problems.
Trap crops : Insects are strongly attracted by certain plants and when these are sown in
the field or along the border, they will gather on them rather than on the main crop. Later
they can easily be destroyed. Mustard is a trap crop along with cabbage for the control of
diamond back moths, aphids and leaf webbers. The African marigold is a good trap crop
for the American bollworm and it also attracts the adults of leaf miners to lay eggs on its
leaves. Maize plants are a trap crop to attract fruit flies which are a pest in vegetable
cultivation and the cotton bollworm Helicoverpa armigera.
Intercropping : Intercropping generally has positive effects in terms of reducing the
occurrence of insect pests. Insects find it difficult to locate host plants as the visual and
chemical stimuli for the host plants are not so strong and the aromatic odour of other
plants can disrupt the insects’ ability to locate such host plants. Intercropping also
interferes with the population development and survival of insect pests. For example,
cabbage along with carrot or tomato is an important intercrop combination to effectively
manage diamond back moth. Sowing cowpea as intercrop with groundnut minimizes leaf
miner infestation. Green gram intercropped with sugarcane reduces the incidence of
sugarcane early shoot borer. Growing short-duration pulses like black gram, cowpea,
soybean and green gram as intercrops in cotton, increases the effectiveness of natural
predators like coccinellids, syrphids, trichogrammatids, etc. [Link] of resistant /
tolerant varieties : Genotypes showing tolerance and resistance to insect pests and
diseases are to be selected for sowing. Plants have sophisticated mechanisms toCOURSEPACK
protect |
FORMAT
themselves from attacks by insects. Certain genotypes act as deterrents and antifeedants
and some encourage the predators of pests. There should be a constant watch to update
such genotypes in the region. A number of resistant varieties are available for every crop
from all agro climatic zones.
BIOLOGICAL APPROACHES : Biological approaches to pest management
comprise the use of:
plants or botanicals
microbial pesticides
biocontrol by insects
biorationals
Botanicals : The plant kingdom is a rich storehouse of biologically active compounds.
Various plant products have been in use for many centuries in India to minimize losses in
crops and grain storage.
A large database of plant species that possess pest-controlling insecticidal, antifeedant,
repellant, attractant and growth inhibiting properties exists in every village. Some of the
plants widely used in the preparation of botanical pesticides are Anona sp, Azadirachta
indica, Chrysanthemum sp., Cymbopogan sp., Nicotiana sp, Pongamia sp, Vitex sp. , etc.
Seeds, leaves, extracts, fruits, kernels, oil and decoctions from botanicals are used to
control the pests. The following are some of the botanical pesticides that can be prepared
by using plants having insect repellant properties: Neem seed kernel extract (NSKE)
NSKE can be easily prepared by using neem seed kernels and it is very effective for a
variety of insect pests.
Method
Collect 25 kg of neem seeds and crush them into a coarse powder.
Tie the crushed seeds in a muslin or cotton cloth and immerse overnight in 50 litres of
water.
Squeeze the cloth containing the crushed neem seeds and remove the extract entirely. Dip
the cloth containing the crushed neem seeds again in 50 liters of water and squeeze again.
Add 400 liters of water to the concentrated solution of 100 liters extract. A 5% solution can
be used as a foliar spray. For every 100 litres of the spray solution add about 50 gm of
khadi soap or soap nut which acts as an emulsifier to spread the spray solution uniformly
on the foliage. NSKE should be used within 2–3 days of preparation.
This spray is effective for a variety of leaf eating insects and is also undertaken as a
prophylactic or preventive measure for pests. COURSEPACK |
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Precautions
Spray the solution during evening hours.
Khadi soap or soap nut are mild emulsifiers. Strong detergents (with enzymes) should
never be used.
Liquid manure for pest management
A variety of plants (weeds) which have pesticidal value are used to make liquid manure.
Plants that have strong disagreeable odour, e.g., Parthenium, Lantana, Vitex, Calotropis,
etc., are ideal for this preparation.
Method
Collect 30 kg of leaves and tender parts of plants which have pesticide qualities.
Chop them into small pieces and put them into a 200 liter barrel.
Add 30 kg of cattle dung to the barrel and fill it up with water.
Add about 5 kg of local soil to the barrel to facilitate faster degradation.
One set of biodynamic preparation (502–507) can be added to the barrel and is
optional.
The barrel is stirred every day for seven days and then stirred once a week for the next
three weeks. The preparation will be ready in 30 days.
The concentrated solution is diluted ten times in water and used as a foliar spray.
These sprays are very efficient in managing a variety of pests.
Precautions
The liquid manure has to be diluted ten times before spraying on the crop otherwise it
scorches the plant.
The solution has to be sieved through a cloth or gunny bag before spraying to avoid
blockage of nozzles.
The solution has to be used within one month as its efficacy diminishes after that period.
Microbial pesticides or biopesticides : The use of microorganisms as bio control agents
is gaining importance in recent years. Biopesticides are living organisms or their derived
parts which are used as biocontrol agents to protect crops against insect pests.
Entomopathogenic viruses of the baculovirus group, bacterial insecticides, particularly
Bacillus thuringiensis, entomo-fungal pathogens, protozoans and insect parasitic
nematodes have been found to control important pests of crops. These bio pesticides are
commercially available and are quite difficult to formulate in field conditions.
Types of microbial biopesticides :
Bacterial bio pesticides COURSEPACK |
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Fungal bio pesticides
Viral bio pesticides
Table Commercially important microbial bio-pesticides and biorationals used in India

Sr. Category Products Target pest Major crops

No.
1. Bacteria Bacillus thuringiensis Lepidoptera Cotton, maize,
Bacillus sphaericus Mosquitoes, flies vegetables, soybean,
Bacillus subtilis Fungal pathogens groundnut, wheat,
Pseudomonas fluorescens peas, oilseeds, rice

2. Fungi Trichoderma viride Fungal pathogens Wheat, rice,

Trichoderma harzianum pulses,
Trichoderma hamatum vegetables,
plantations,
spices and
sugarcane
Beauveria bassiana Insect pests such Cotton,
Verticillium lecanii as bollworms, pulses,
Metarhizium anisopliae white flies, root oilseeds, plantation
Paecilomyces lilacinus grubs, tea crops,
Nomuraea rileyi mosquito bugs spices
and vegetables
3. Viruses Nuclear Polyhedrosis American Boll Cotton,
Virus (NPV) of worm, sunflower,
Helicoverpa armigera, tobacco tobacco and
Spodoptera sp. and Chilo caterpillar and sugarcane
infescatellus shoot borer
4. Biorationals Pheromone traps Bactocera sp. Cotton, sugarcane,
Pheromone lures, sticky Chilo sp. vegetables, fruit
traps and mating Dacus sp. Earias crops
disruptants vittella
Helicoverpa
armigera COURSEPACK |
FORMAT
Leucinodes
 orbonalis
Pectinophora
gossypiella
Plutella xylostella

Biorationals :
Biorationals comprise of the use of pheromones and sticky traps in pest management.
There are three main ways in which pheromones are used to control pests:
to trap insects;
to disrupt mating;
for survey and monitoring.
Method of application of biopesticides
a) Seed treatment:
Prepare 5% jaggery solution by boiling 500 gm of jaggery in ten litres of water for 15–20
minutes. Depending on the quantity of seeds to be treated, sufficient solution has to be
prepared.
Cool the solution.
Mix the contents of the bio pesticide packet in the above solution. The general
recommendation is 10 gm of bio pesticide/kg of seed.
Heap the seeds to be treated on a polythene sheet and pour the bio pesticide solution over
the seeds and mixed thoroughly.
Dry the seeds in the shade and sow immediately.
Nursery bed
One kilo of biopesticide is mixed with 100 kilograms of good quality soil. Forest soil can
also be used. In areas where forest soil is not available, 30 kg of well-rotted dung can be
mixed with 70 kg of soil to prepare a good soil mixture.
The soil mixture can be used as a nursery soil or it can be mixed with soil in the nursery
bed.
Soil drenching
Prepare a solution by adding 10 grams of biopesticide to a litre of water and stir the
solution well.
Drench the soil with the solution using a water can.
Seedling dip COURSEPACK |
FORMAT
Prepare a solution by adding ten grams of biopesticide to a litre of water.
Dip the seedlings in this solution for 30 minutes.
Biocontrol by insects: Beneficial insects are predators of insect pests and damage the latter
during various stages of their development like egg, larva, pupa, etc. Accordingly these
biocontrol agents are categorized as:
Egg parasites
These parasites damage the egg stage of the insect pest. Some of the commonly used egg
parasites are Trichogramma spp. Telenomus spp. and Testrastichus sp. These parasites
control top shoot borer in sugarcane, internode borer in sugarcane, cotton bollworms,
paddy stem borer, sorghum stem borer, fruit borers, etc.
Larval parasites
These parasites destroy the larval stages of the insect pest. Some examples are the Bracon
spp., which is used in controlling the black-headed caterpillar in coconut and Goppniozus
nephantidis which is used against the coconut leaf-eating caterpillar.
Pupal parasites
The pupal stage of the pests is destroyed by the pupal parasites. Testrastichus sp, is widely
used to control pests like American bollworm, paddy leaf rollers, black-headed
caterpillars, etc., in their pupal stages.

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Predators
Predators like Chrysopa sp, Menochilus spp. are very useful in controlling a wide variety of
insects like aphids, white flies, cotton bollworms, leaf insects, etc. The eggs of these
parasitoids are commercially available on egg cards. Each egg card (e.g., Trichogramma)
contains 20,000 live parasitised eggs which have 90–96% hatching rate within 7– 10 days
of parasitisation. These are applied @ 3–5 cards/ha. Each egg card costs Rs.20 to Rs. 50.
Chrysopa sp. is available in vials containing 1,000–5,000 live eggs/larvae. The standard
recommendation for crops like cotton, sunflower, tobacco, groundnut, mustard and
vegetables is 5,000–10,000 eggs/larvae per ha. Each vial costs Rs.150 to Rs.200.
PREPARATION 501 (HORN SILICA) :
This preparation is made from a crystal of quartz (silicon oxide, SiO 2). It is important to
have good quality quartz crystals, well formed and clear, which allow the light to flow
right through them. A good clear crystal will cause refraction of light in the same way as a
prism.
Method
Collect translucent quartz crystals and grind them into a fine powder, as smooth as
talcum powder.
Moisten the quartz powder with water and fill the cow horn with it.
Bury the horn in the soil (similar to BD 500) during spring and summer (April/May).
Remove the horn from the soil during the ascending moon
phase in September/October.
Usage
Preparation 501 is stirred in a manner similar to preparation 500. It is stirred for one
hour, using one gram in 13.5 litres of water, which is sufficient for one acre of land. It is
sprayed in the morning in a fine mist, using a high pressure spray, allowing the mist to be
suspended briefly in the air so that the sunlight can shine momentarily through the mist on
the plant and the fine mist is allowed to drift over the crop. For smaller areas a knapsack
sprayer may be used turning its fine nozzle skywards to produce the desired misting effect.
As a general rule, 501 should be sprayed during the early stages of the plant’s growth and
after fruit set. Preparation 501 is generally sprayed in the morning, during spring and
early summer, and sometimes in the autumn if the lushness of growth demands it. As the
season advances during summer, 501 is sprayed progressively early in the morning.
Because of the stimulation of the light, it is advised not to use 501 in drought conditions
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and it should be used only once in the spring on pasture as overuse can accentuate drought
conditions. Due to the enhancement of photosynthesis of the plant, the starches, sugars and
cellulose in the plant improve thereby improving the overall quality of the produce as well.
Mineral based pesticides for managing diseases:
Sulphur: Sulphur is probably the oldest known pesticide in use. Sulphur can be used as
dust, wettable powder, paste or liquid. It is very effective in controlling powdery mildews,
rusts, leaf blights and fruit rots. Wettable sulphur @ 2–3% foliar spray is very effective to
control a variety of plant diseases.
Lime sulphur : Boiling lime and sulphur together makes lime sulphur. The mixture is used
as a dormant spray on fruit trees to control diseases such as blight, anthracnose, powdery
mildews and some insect pests such as scales, thrips and eriophyid mites. The general
recommendation is 1% lime sulphur as a foliar spray

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PRACTICAL 7: COST OF ORGANIC PRODUCTION SYSTEM

No-cost inputs are those inputs which cost nothing or cost the bare minimum but have high
benefits. The following are important no-cost inputs useful for organic farmers:
Indicator plants
Use of planting calendar
Homa therapy or agnihotra

INDICATOR PLANTS
When a nutrient is not present in sufficient quantity in the soil or is not supplied in
sufficient quantity to the plant, the plant will show deficiency symptoms described
below to a greater or lesser degree, depending on the extent of the deficiency. However,
some plants have been found to be especially useful as indicators of particular
deficiencies. These plants are markedly susceptible to a particular deficiency and
deficiency symptoms like poor growth and colour changes in leaves are shown more
prominently by such indicator plants.
A list of such indicator plants suitable to indicate various deficiencies is given below.
Deficient element Indicator plants
1. Nitrogen Cauliflower, cabbage
2. Phosphorus Rapeseed
3. Potassium Potato, cauliflower, broad beans
4. Calcium Cauliflower, cabbage
5. Magnesium Potato, cauliflower
6. Iron Cauliflower, cabbage, oats, potato
7. Zinc Citrus, cereals, linseed
8. Copper Wheat, oats COURSEPACK |
FORMAT
9. Manganese Oats, sugar, beet, potato
10. Boron Sugarbeet, cauliflower
11. Molybdenum Cauliflower
In addition, sunflower and crotons are indicators of moisture stress in the soil. Farmers
can irrigate the crop looking at the wilting symptoms of these plants.
Use of the planting calendar :
The life patterns of all living organisms are woven into the cosmic rhythm. The modern
science world may not accept the influence of these cosmic rhythms and constellations
on life forms. However, human life, as well as animal and plant life, is all strongly
dependent on the rhythms of the earth. Similarly, plant and animal life is also
influenced by the syndic relationships of the sun, earth, moon and other planets. On the
basis of such influences, the planting calendar is prepared for agricultural operations,
during different timings of the year.
The moon opposite to Saturn
Occurs approximately once in 29.5 days.
Activities to be undertaken:
1. Seed sowing, transplanting, grafting, pruning and layering.
2. Spraying BD 501 (cow horn silica) to manage pests.
3. Spraying liquid manures and foliar sprays.
Full moon
Occurs every 29.5 days
Activities to be undertaken:
1. Sow seeds two days before sowing.
2. Apply liquid manures and CPP (cow pat pit) manure.
3. Spraying bio pesticides to control pests and diseases.
4. Drenching the animals to remove internal parasites (48 hours before).
New moon
Happens once in 27.5 days
Activities to be undertaken:
1. Avoid sowing seeds.
2. Cutting timber.
Ascending periods
The moon moves in an arc from east to west and when this arc gets higher, the moon is
ascending. COURSEPACK |
FORMAT
Activities to be undertaken:
1. Sowing of seeds.
2. Spray BD 501.
3. Spray liquid manures and CPP.
Descending periods
The moon moves in an arc from east to west and when this arc gets lower, the moon is
said to be in descending phase.
Activities to be undertaken:
1. Transplanting of seedlings.
2. Spraying BD 500 (cow horn manure).
3. Making and spreading compost.
4. Pruning trees.
5. Land preparation activities.
Nodes
These are the days when the moon passes the sun’s path. It creates negative influences
on the growth of plants.
Avoid all agricultural activities during nodes.
Apogee
The moon’s orbit around the earth is elliptical. The point where the moon is furthest
away from the earth is called its apogee.
Activities to be undertaken:
1. Planting potatoes.
2. Irrigating the field.
Perigee
The moon moves around the earth in an elliptical path. The point where the moon is
closest to the earth is called its perigee.
Spray biopesticides to manage pests and diseases.
Seed and fruit days
These days influence the growth of seed and fruit crops and are good for sowing and
harvesting of the same, e.g., paddy, wheat, brinjal, bhendi and tomato.
Root days
These days influence the growth and development of root crops and are good for
sowing and harvesting of them: potato, carrot, beet root, etc.
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These days influence the growth and development of flowers and are good for sowing
and harvesting of them: cut flowers, cauliflower, rose, jasmine, etc.
Leaf days
These days help in the growth and development of leafy vegetables and are good for
sowing and for harvesting them: green leafy vegetables, cabbage.

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PRACTICAL 8: POST HARVEST MANAGEMENT: QUALITY ASPECT, GRADING,
PACKAGING AND HANDLING
Processing
Processing of organic food products and handling should be optimized to maintain the
development of pest and diseases. Processing and handling of organic products should be
done separately in time or place from handling and processing of non-organic products.
Processing of organic fresh produce requires cleaning, grading followed by peeling, stoning
or slicing. At this stage fruits and some vegetable such as onion and peppers are ready for

freezing, but most vegetables need to be blanched with hot water or steam at 80OC to 100
oC to inactivate enzymes that could otherwise lead to a loss in vitamin C and flavour.

Fruit can be coated in sugar or in syrup that contains an antioxidant like ascorbic acid.
Coating retards browning, avoids the cooked tests after defrosting and increases product
quality. The products may be packaged before or after freezing.
The following techniques are adopted for processing.
Freezing :
Freezing is quite often applied to vegetables but rarely used for fruits, as they do not
handle it well. Nutritional quality is maintained when the product is sold from colour,
odour and taste are retained well by freezing. The degree of freezing depends on the
duration of storage eg.
Practical storage life of frozen products
Products Practical storage life (Month)

-18oC -25oC -30oC

Fruits in sugar 12 18 24
Cauli flower 15 24 <24
Carrots 18 24 <24
Potatoes 24 <24 <24
Drying :
Drying facilitates for easy transportation and storage of fruits. Dried vegetables are
produced in low quantities for the local market but can be useful for soup mixes. The
major risks with dried products are microbiological attack and physiological deterioration
which leads to browing, loss of vitamins and the development of off- flavours.
Water content : COURSEPACK |
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Dry fruit products have a water content of 8 to 12 % and dry vegetable around 7%. Under
these conditions, there are no microbiological problems during storage of the products.
Additives and processing aids:
Permitted processing aids helps to retain quality of dry produce, such as ascorbic acid,
citric acid, tartaric acid, which resulting in low pH, it limits the development of micro
organisms and browing. The product is treated by dipping in or spraying with acids or
lemon juice. Salt can be used for drying.
Blanching :
A brief period at high temperature destroys most of micro organisms and inactivates
eazymes which promote browning and degradation i.e.
Fruits /Vegetables Process
Banana Boiling water for 5 min
Mango, Papaya Hot water (56oC) for 1 min
Cabbage Boiling water 3 min
Carrot Boiling water 4-6 min
Rapid Drying :
Sun drying is mostly used for organic fruits such as figs, bananas etc, but there is risk to
quality and the difficulty of maintaining a high degree of sanitation. Hence, a rapid drying
is followed.
Drying condition, moisture content and storage life of food products.
Fruits/ vegetable Drying temp (oC) Moisture content Storage life
(%) (Month)
Mango 55 14 6
Banana 55 12 6
Tomato 55 6 6
Onion 50-55 5 3-12
Labeling :-
The label should convey clear and accurate information on the organic status of the
product. The labels for organic products should be distinquishable by different coloured
labels. The details like name of the product, quality of the product, name and address of
the producer name of the certification agency, certification, lot number etc. are to be given
in the label. for example; COURSEPACK |
nformation required on the label FORMAT

Crop OG (Organic Ginger)

 Country I (India)
Field No. 05
Date of harvest 32 (1st Feb.)
Year 2009
Lot No. OG I 05 32 2009

Lot No. is helpful in tracking back the product particularly field number in which it is
grown in case of contamination. Lot number should include the crop, country, field
number, date of harvest and production year.
Packing :
For packing, recycling and reusable materials like clean jute bags should be used. Use of
biodegradable materials can also be used. Un necessary packaging material should be
avoided. Various types of packaging materials are used for packing such as bamboo
baskets, gunny bags, card board, paper, glass, metal, wooden box, plastic crates and
ventilated corrugated fibre board (CFB) box for safe handling.

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PRACTICAL- 9: CERTIFICATION FOR ORGANIC FARMING
Organic certification -standards and procedures (as per OHGA STANDARDS)
Converting a farm as organic:
Converting a farm to organic requires the development of a viable and sustainable farm-
ecosystem over a period of time. The certification process aims to convert the growing area
to comply with requirements of this standard within a period of 3 years. Procedures:
Initially, a farm is inspected and a report is lodged with the certification review committee
(CRC). If CRC recommends the farm enter the certification system, it will be placed
"Under Supervision" for the first 12 months. During this time, produce or products cannot
be sold as 'Certified Organic" or as 'IN CONVERSION TO Organic".
After 12 months, the farm may be upgraded to "In Conversion" if the second inspection is
satisfactory. The farm must then complete two years "In Conversion" before it is
considered for certifying as "Organic"(otherwise known as "A GRADE Organic")
The "In conversion" period may be reduced - but only where it can be demonstrated a
farm had, during the years immediately preceding conversion,used techniques closely
allied to those of organic agriculture and which meet all testing and inspection
requirements .Whatever the length of the conversion period,product may not be sold as
"In conversion to Organic" until a farm has been under an inspection system for 12
months.
It is similar to an insurance company converting life insurance quotes into a complete life
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insurance contract. First there must be an examination, then once the person's suitability
is confirmed the contract is then finalized. In this case, the farm must tick all the boxes and
prove itself to be fully organic for a set time. Once satisfied, the committee will
then recognize the farm as organic.
In this case, the farm must tick all the boxes and prove itself to be fully organic for a set
time. Once satisfied, the committee will then recognize the farm as organic
In the case of other farm activities not being certified, those activities must be clearly
separated and the products must be of a different nature from the certified produces or
products. There can not be organic and non-organic growing (parallel production)of the
same species on the same property-or on any other property under the same grower's
management or control.
When a defined area is certified, the remainder of the farm must be converted to organic
within 10 years.
Organizations inspecting and certifying :
[Link]
APOF-Association for promotion of organic farming,Bangalore-560046.
INDOCERT- (refer also-'useful links' page
ECOCERT-Chennai.
Low-cost internal certification schemes like [Link]
FROM- 1A
APPLICATION FOR REGISTRATION OF ORGANIC UNIT
REGISTRATION NO: O(F)
1. Name & Address of the organic producer
Phone No./ Fax. (e-mail)
2. Total area of (operation) Farm Survey No.
Map attached
3. Total no. of plots/segments
4. Cropping system followed
(i) Name of the crops
(ii) Extend of each crop grown
(iii) Rotation followed
5. Inputs applied to previous crops
6. Buffer zone details
7. Boundary of the farm
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8. Plant protection measures Followed FORMAT
 9. Source of manure
10. Source of seed
11. Soil type
12. Specify, if soil problems any
13. Weed management practices Followed
14. Source of irrigation ( Well/Canal/Tank/Rain fed)
15. Contaminants risk, if any
16. Equipment details Hired Own
Ploughing Weeding Harvesting
Thrashing

17. Drying yard facility

18. Storage facility
19. Animal husbandry details
20. Other details
DECLERATION
I declare that I shall abide by the rules and regulations of TNOCD and carry out the
organic production according to the norms prescribed by TNOCD.
Signature of farmer
Enclosures:
Farm general details
Field map
Copy of soil test analysis
Copy of water test analysis
Annual plan FOR OFFICE USE ONLY Date of receipt :
Registration No. Allotted: O(F) :
Allotted to OCI :
Tentative Inspection Date :
Fees remitted details :
Verified by: Signature of Quality Manager Annual Cropping Programme
Name and Address of the operator
Year
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Total area Acre FORMAT
 Crop and Plot No. Season wise cropped area (acre)
Variety
Kharif Rabi Summer

FROM- 1D
ORGANIC CERTIFICATION DEPARTMENT (OCD)
APPLICATION FOR REGISTRATION OF ORGANIC UNIT
REGISTRATION NO: O(F)
Name & Address of Group/unit/Society/Farm :
Name of contact Person, Phone & Fax No. :
Brief information about the Group :

Name of Number of Total Total area Source of Farm Remarks

the members area of of the members of water animal
location the the group having > Nos.
Group 10.00 acres
(ac)

Rout map of organic production area with distance:

Field map of organic area with surrounding information/activities:
Information about Agriculture Crop season:
Farmer Name Name of Total Details of area & Animals
code/ of Father area (in Name of the crops grown Animal Husbandry (in
[Link]. Farm / Husba ac) and area (in ac) No.)
er nd Organic In conversion Orga In conversion
(ac) (ac) nic (ac)
(ac)

Note: List may be enclosed

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Contamination risk noticed: FORMAT
DECLERATION
I declare that I shall abide by the rules and regulations of OCD and carry out the organic
production according to the norms prescribed by OCD. All the above information is
correct.
Date: Signature of the responsible
person of the Organic Group
Enclosures:
Farm general details
Field map
Copy of soil test analysis
Copy of water test analysis
Annual plan

FOR OFFICE USE ONLY

Date of receipt :
Registration No. Allotted: O(F) :
Allotted to OCI :
Tentative Inspection Date :
Fees remitted details :
Verified by :
Signature of Quality Manager

ORGANIC CERTIFICATION DEPARTMENT (OCD)

FROM- 11
OCD Agreement with operator
I (we) affirm that I (we) will:
1. Provide complete and accurate information on all questionnaires and other
application materials representing my/our organic or transitional organic
operation; COURSEPACK |
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2. Comply with the applicable India organic NSOP organic
 production and handling regulations;
3. Establish, implement and update annually an organic production or handling
system plan;

4. Permit on-site inspections with complete access to the production

or handling operation, including non certified production and handling areas,
structures and offices;
5. Additional inspections may be announced or unannounced at the discretion of
OCD or as required by APEDA.
6. Have an authorized representative knowledgeable about the operation present
during the inspection;
7. Maintain all records applicable to the organic operation for not less than 5 years
beyond their creation;
8. Allow authorized representatives OF OCD the Secretary of Agriculture, APEDA
or other substances for testing to be in the assessment of compliance to
certification standards;
9. Allow authorized representatives of OCD to take samples of plants, soil, crops or
other substances for testing to be used in the assessment of compliance to
certification standards;
10. Consent to the use of subcontractors working under the direction and authority
of OCD;
11. Submit the applicable fees charged by the certifying agent;
12. Comply with all requirements and/or conditions levied by OCD as a result of its
review of our application file and associated documents including inspection
information;
13. Immediately notify the certifying agent concerning any;
a. Application, including drift of a prohibited substances to any field, production
unit, site, facility, livestock or product that is part of an operation and;

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 b. Change in a certified operation or any portion of a certified operation
that may affects its compliance with the regulations;
14. Represent products as being “Certified by OCD” only when those products are
listed on a current certification certificate from OCD
a. Any use of the OCD name, without current certification by OCD or written
permission from OCD, is strictly prohibited and constitutes an infringement of
the OCD trademark.
15. Upon surrender, suspension or revocation of certification, discontinue use of any
lables or advertising materials that contain any reference to certification by
OCD and return or destroy all certificates and packaging material containing
references to OCD
I (we) affirm that I (we) are owner(s) of or authorized to sign on behalf of--------------- I
(we) agree to the above requirements and understand that any willful misrepresentation
may because for denial, suspension or revocation of certification.
Name _____________________________________Signature date

Name _____________________________________Signature date

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 146
PRACTICAL 10: VISIT OF ORGANIC FARMS TO STUDY THE VARIOUS
COMPONENTS AND THEIR UTILIZATION
Major components of organic farming are crop rotation, maintenance and enhancement of soil
fertility through biological nitrogen fixation, addition of organic manure and use of soil
microorganisms, crop residues, bio-pesticide, biogas slurry, waste etc. Vermiculture has
become a major component in biological farming, which is found to be effective in enhancing
the soil fertility and producing large numbers of horticultural crops in a sustainable manner.
The various components of organic farming have been discussed in details below:
Crop rotation:
Crop rotation is a systematic planning for the growing of different crops in a regular sequence
on the same piece of land covering a period of two years or more. Crop rotation is important
for soil fertility management, weed, insect and disease control. Legume crops are essential in
any rotation, because legumes are able to fix atmospheric nitrogen through symbiotic
relationship with N-fixing bacteria enables organic farming systems to be self sufficient in
nitrogen.
Crop Residue
There is a great potential for utilization of crop residues of the major cereals and pulses.
Incorporation/composting of crop residues in conjunction with organics have been shown to
improve availability of plant nutrients, soil organic matter, aggregate stability, infiltration
rate, microbial population etc.
Organic manure
The organic manure is derived from biological sources like plant, animal and human residues.
Aggregate stability, decrease in pH, resistance to compaction and water holding capacity
increase by addition of organic manure in the soil. Moreover, it showed the beneficial effect on
soil microorganisms and their activities and thus increases the availability of major and minor
plant nutrients.
Industrial and other waste
By products like molasses and pressmud from sugar industry possess good manurial value.
Addition of pressmud improves the soil fertility and enhances the microbial activity. While
municipal and sewage waste also forms an important component of organic farming. Sewage
sludge particularly from industrialized cities is contaminated with heavy metals and these pose

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 147
hazards to plants, animals and human beings. Separation of the toxic waste at the source will
minimize the concentration of such elements in the sludge.
Biofertilizers
Bio-fertilizer is microorganism's culture capable of fixing atmospheric nitrogen when suitable
crops are inoculated with them. Bio-fertilizer offers an economically attractive and ecologically
sound means of reducing external inputs and improving the quality and quantity of products.
Microorganisms are capable of mobilizing nutritive elements from non-usable form to usable
form through biological process. These are less expensive, eco-friendly and sustainable. The
Biofertilizers containing biological nitrogen fixing organism are of utmost important in
agriculture in view of the following advantages:
They help in establishment and growth of crop plants and trees.
They enhance biomass production and grain yields by 10-20%.
They are useful in sustainable agriculture.
They are suitable organic farming.
They play an important role in Agroforestry / silvipastoral systems.
Types of Biofertilizers: There are two types of bio-fertilizers.
Symbiotic N-fixation: These are Rhizobium culture of various strains which multiply in roots
of suitable legumes and fix nitrogen symbiotically.
Rhizobium: It is the most widely used bio-fertilizers, which colonizes the roots of specific
legumes to form tumours like growth called root nodules and these nodules act as factories of
ammonia production.
Asymbiotic N-fixation: This includes Azotobacter, Azospirillium, BGA, Azolla and
Mycorrhizae, which also fixes atmospheric N in suitable soil medium.
Mycorrhizae: Mycorrhizae are the symbiotic association of fungi with roots of Vascular plants.
The main advantage of Mycorrhizae to the host plants is facilitating an increased phosphorous
uptake. In many cases the Mycorrhizae have been shown to markedly improve the growth of
plants. In India, the beneficial effects of Vascular- Arbuscular Mycorrhizae (VAM) have been
observed in fruit crops like citrus, papaya and litchi.
Bio-pesticide
Bio-pesticides are natural plant products that belong to the so-called secondary metabolites.
Botanical insecticides are ecologically and environmentally safer generally affect the behaviour

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 148
and physiology of insects rather than killing them. Neem (Azadirachta indica) has justifiably
received the maximum attention. All parts of the Neem tree possess insecticidal property but
seed kernel is most active.
Vermicompost
It is organic manure produced by the activity of earthworms. It is a method of making
compost with the use of earthworms that generally live in soil, eat biomass and excrete it in
digested form. It is generally estimated that 1800 worms which is an ideal population for one
sq. meter can feed on 80 tones of humus per year. These are rich in macro and micronutrients,
vitamins, growth hormones and immobilized microflora. The average nutrient content of
vermicompost is much higher than that of FYM. Application of vermicompost facilitates easy
availability of essential plant nutrients to crop.

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