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2 Responses to What is the difference between a Organic Agriculture & Natural Agriculture?

1. Organic farming is a form of agriculture which excludes the use of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, plant growth regulators, livestock feed additives, and genetically modified organisms. As far as possible, organic farmers rely on crop rotation, integrated pest management, crop residue, compost and mechanical cultivation to maintain soil productivity and control pests. while,
   The practice of Natural Agriculture is based on a highly developed philosophy of life and is intimately tied to the physical and spiritual laws that govern the universe, as perceived by its founder.

   

   dev
   September 30, 2011 at 1:17 pm
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2. Organic farming :
   Organic Farming began as long as humankind learnt to harvest from plants they grow first in replacement of collecting grains and berries from the wild. Full scale farming developed monocropping system and soon richness of the soil vanished. Synthetic chemicals substitution was called for and taking over the original mechanisms, finally farmers find that the soil has become too thin and plants also grow weaker. Between 1940-1960 green movement had brought back the awareness of losing abundance of mother nature, and from then the journey of replenishing the sustainable balance of the Earth had also started from farm.

   Indigineous knowledge confirms that duplicating work of nature should be background to this revolution. More scientist and agronomist have been taking the principle and their painstaking and labourious work underline field experiments by farmers all around the world. Consumer awareness of healthier food has indeed demanded a major transforming in how we produce and process food for the public.

   If you use Chemicals and Artificial Fertilisers in your garden there will not be any life in the soil, no earthworms or micro – organisms, which naturally produce nutrients needed to feed your plants. (and do all the turning of the soil needed)
   Plants feed through their leaves and roots. One way or another they take up the chemical residues, and you, the consumer are eating these plants and chemicals.

   Many artificially produced fertilisers contain the three elements – Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium and little else. Plants that are fed on only artificial fertilizer grow well, look good, but have very little taste. These plants will produce more nitrites and less vitamin C. Nitrites are known to be carcinogenic to humans and animals. Vitamin C neutralises nitrites in the human body.

   Farmers that only grow the same crop over and over, all year round, have depleted the soil through lack of crop rotation, eroded the top soil and lost organic matter. They are committed to use artificial fertilisers and chemical sprays.

   Poisons damage natural predators (spiders, birds, fish, animals), pollute
   the water ways and the air we breathe, damage human health.

   Organic farming is not a new idea, it’s farming the natural away our grandparents used to do with the Environment, not at war with the ecosystem, working with the soil and nature; by recycling and collecting any organic matter you may have around your home and farm, or in your area, that can be utilised into your garden directly, or by composting, or as a liquid fertilizer

   Natural Farming :

   Fukuoka practices a system of farming he refers to as “natural farming.” Although some of his practices are specific to Japan, the governing philosophy of his method has successfully been applied around the world. In India, natural farming is often referred to as “Rishi Kheti.”

   The essence of Fukuoka’s method is to reproduce natural conditions as closely as possible. There is no plowing, as the seed germinates quite happily on the surface if the right conditions are provided. There is also considerable emphasis on maintaining diversity. A ground cover of white clover grows under the grain plants to provide nitrogen. Weeds (and Daikons) are also considered part of the ecosystem, periodically cut and allowed to lie on the surface so the nutrients they contain are returned to the soil. Ducks are let into the grain plot, and specific insectivorous carp into the rice paddy at certain times of the year to eat slugs and other pests.

   The ground is always covered. As well as the clover and weeds, there is the straw from the previous crop, which is used as mulch, and each grain crop is sown before the previous one is harvested. This is done by broadcasting the seed among the standing crop. Also he re-introduced the ancient technique of seed balls (土団子,土だんご,Tsuchi Dango {Earth Dumpling}). The seed for next season’s crop is mixed with clay, compost, and sometimes manure, and formed into small balls. The result is a denser crop of smaller but highly productive and stronger plants.

   Fukuoka’s method and philosophy is about small scale farming, yet he claims “With this kind of farming, which uses no machines, no prepared fertilizer and no chemicals, it is possible to attain a harvest equal to or greater than that of the average Japanese farm.” .

   Manure being added to a seed ball mixture is a bad idea unless the source animal has been raised in an all-natural environment.
   The problem, however, is that most people do not yet understand the distinction between organic gardening and natural farming. Both scientific agriculture and organic farming are basically scientific in their approach. The boundary between the two is not clear.”

   

   sb
   September 30, 2011 at 2:11 pm
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