Concept of organic farming, seed certification

Concept of Organic Farming, seed certification

Organic farming is an alternative agricultural system which originated early in the 20th century in reaction to rapidly changing Farming practices. Organic farming continues to be developed by various organic agriculture organizations today. It relies on Fertilizers of organic origin such as Compost Manure, green manure, and Bone Meal and places emphasis on techniques such as Crop Rotation and companion planting. Biological pest control, mixed Cropping and the fostering of insect predators are encouraged. In general, organic standards are designed to allow the use of naturally occurring substances while prohibiting or strictly limiting synthetic substances. For instance, naturally occurring pesticides such as pyrethrin and rotenone are permitted, while synthetic fertilizers and pesticides are generally prohibited. Synthetic substances that are allowed include, for example, copper sulfate, elemental sulfur and Ivermectin. Genetically modified organisms, nanomaterials, human sewage sludge, plant Growth regulators, HORMONES, and antibiotic use in Livestock husbandry are prohibited. Reasons for advocation of organic farming include advantages in sustainability, openness, self-sufficiency, autonomy/independence, Health, Food Security, and food safety.

Organic farming methods combine scientific knowledge of ECOLOGY and modern technology with traditional farming practices based on naturally occurring biological processes. Organic farming methods are studied in the field of Agroecology. While conventional agriculture uses synthetic pesticides and water-soluble synthetically purified fertilizers, organic farmers are restricted by regulations to using natural pesticides and fertilizers. An example of a natural pesticide is pyrethrin, which is found naturally in the Chrysanthemum flower. The principal methods of organic farming include crop rotation, green manures and compost, biological pest control, and mechanical cultivation. These measures use the natural Environment to enhance agricultural productivity: legumes are planted to fix nitrogen into the Soil, natural insect predators are encouraged, crops are rotated to confuse pests and renew soil, and natural materials such as potassium bicarbonate and mulches are used to control disease and Weeds. Genetically modified seeds and animals are excluded.

While organic is fundamentally different from conventional because of the use of carbon based fertilizers compared with highly soluble synthetic based fertilizers and biological pest control instead of synthetic pesticides, organic farming and large-scale conventional farming are not entirely mutually exclusive. Many of the methods developed for organic agriculture have been borrowed by more conventional agriculture. For example, Integrated Pest Management is a multifaceted strategy that uses various organic methods of pest control whenever possible, but in conventional farming could include synthetic pesticides only as a last resort.

Soil managements Organic farming relies heavily on the natural breakdown of organic matter, using techniques like green manure and composting, to replace nutrients taken from the soil by previous crops. This biological process, driven by Microorganisms such as Mycorrhiza/”>Mycorrhiza, allows the natural production of nutrients in the soil throughout the growing season, and has been referred to as feeding the soil to feed the plant. Organic farming uses a variety of methods to improve Soil fertility, including crop rotation, cover cropping, reduced Tillage, and application of compost. By reducing tillage, soil is not inverted and exposed to air; less carbon is lost to the Atmosphere resulting in more soil organic carbon. This has an added benefit of Carbon Sequestration, which can reduce Green House Gases and help reverse Climate change.

Plants need nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, as well as micronutrients and symbiotic relationships with Fungi and other organisms to flourish, but getting enough nitrogen, and particularly synchronization so that plants get enough nitrogen at the right time (when plants need it most), is a challenge for organic farmers. Crop rotation and green manure (“cover crops”) help to provide nitrogen through legumes (more precisely, the Fabaceae family), which fix nitrogen from the atmosphere through symbiosis with rhizobial bacteria. Intercropping, which is sometimes used for insect and disease control, can also increase soil nutrients, but the competition between the legume and the crop can be problematic and wider spacing between crop rows is required. Crop residues can be ploughed back into the soil, and different plants leave different amounts of nitrogen, potentially aiding synchronization. Organic farmers also use animal manure, certain processed fertilizers such as seed meal and various mineral powders such as rock phosphate and green sand, a naturally occurring form of potash that provides potassium. Together these methods help to control erosion. In some cases pH may need to be amended. Natural pH amendments include lime and sulfur, but in the U.S. some compounds such as iron sulfate, aluminum sulfate, magnesium sulfate, and soluble boron products are allowed in organic farming.

The economics of organic farming, a subfield of agricultural economics, encompasses the entire process and effects of organic farming in terms of human Society, including social costs, opportunity costs, unintended consequences, information asymmetries, and economies of scale. Although the scope of economics is broad, agricultural economics tends to focus on maximizing yields and efficiency at the farm level. Economics takes an anthropocentric approach to the value of the natural world: Biodiversity-2/”>Biodiversity, for example, is considered beneficial only to the extent that it is valued by people and increases profits. Some entities such as the European Union subsidize organic farming, in large part because these countries want to account for the externalities of reduced water use, reduced water contamination, reduced soil erosion, reduced carbon emissions, increased biodiversity, and assorted other benefits that result from organic farming. Traditional organic farming is labor and knowledge-intensive whereas conventional farming is capital-intensive, requiring more energy and manufactured inputs. Organic farmers in California have cited Marketing as their greatest obstacle.

Productivity

Studies comparing yields have had mixed results. These differences among findings can often be attributed to variations between study designs including differences in the crops studied and the methodology by which results were gathered.

A 2012 meta-analysis found that productivity is typically lower for organic farming than conventional farming, but that the size of the difference depends on context and in some cases may be very small. While organic yields can be lower than conventional yields, another meta-analysis published in Sustainable Agriculture Research in 2015, concluded that certain organic on-farm practices could help narrow this gap. Timely weed management and the application of manure in Conjunction with legume forages/cover crops were shown to have positive results in increasing organic corn and soybean productivity.

seed certification

In general, seed certification is a process designed to maintain and make available to the general public continuous supply of high quality seeds and propagating materials of notified kinds and varieties of crops, so grown and distributed to ensure the physical identity and genetic purity. Seed certification is a legally sanctioned system for quality control of seed multiplication and production.

The main objective of the Seed Certification is to ensure the acceptable standards of seed viability, vigour, purity and seed health. A well organized seed certification should help in accomplishing the following three primary objectives.

The systematic increase of superior varieties;
The identification of new varieties and their rapid increase under appropriate and generally accepted names.
Provision for continuous supply of comparable material by careful maintenance

Organic farming is a method of crop and livestock production that involves much more than choosing not to use pesticides, fertilizers, genetically modified organisms, antibiotics and growth hormones. Organic production is a holistic system designed to optimize the productivity and fitness of diverse communities within the agro-ecosystem, including soil organisms, plants, livestock and people. The principal goal of organic production is to develop enterprises that are sustainable and harmonious with the environment.

Seed certification is a process that ensures that seeds meet certain standards of purity, identity, and germination. Organic seed certification is a process that ensures that seeds are produced and handled in a way that meets the standards of organic agriculture. Organic seed certification is important because it helps to ensure that organic farmers have access to high-quality seeds that are free of contamination from conventional agricultural practices.

Organic seed production is the process of growing and harvesting seeds in a way that meets the standards of organic agriculture. Organic seed production is important because it helps to ensure that there is a supply of high-quality organic seeds available to farmers.

Organic seed standards are the rules that must be followed in order to produce and sell organic seeds. Organic seed standards are set by the Organic Trade Association (OTA) and are enforced by the USDA National Organic Program (NOP).

Organic seed certification organizations are organizations that certify organic seed producers and handlers. Organic seed certification organizations are accredited by the USDA National Organic Program (NOP).

The organic seed market is the market for organic seeds. The organic seed market is growing rapidly, as more and more farmers are converting to organic production.

Organic seed research is research that is conducted on organic seed production, handling, and storage. Organic seed research is important because it helps to improve the quality and availability of organic seeds.

Organic seed Education is education that is provided to farmers, seed producers, and the public about organic seed production, handling, and storage. Organic seed education is important because it helps to increase awareness of organic seed and its benefits.

Organic seed advocacy is advocacy that is conducted on behalf of organic seed producers, handlers, and consumers. Organic seed advocacy is important because it helps to promote the use of organic seeds and to protect the organic seed Industry.

In conclusion, organic farming is a method of crop and livestock production that involves much more than choosing not to use pesticides, fertilizers, genetically modified organisms, antibiotics and growth hormones. Organic production is a holistic system designed to optimize the productivity and fitness of diverse communities within the agro-ecosystem, including soil organisms, plants, livestock and people. The principal goal of organic production is to develop enterprises that are sustainable and harmonious with the environment. Seed certification is a process that ensures that seeds meet certain standards of purity, identity, and germination. Organic seed certification is a process that ensures that seeds are produced and handled in a way that meets the standards of organic agriculture. Organic seed certification is important because it helps to ensure that organic farmers have access to high-quality seeds that are free of contamination from conventional agricultural practices.

Seed certification is a process that ensures that seeds meet certain quality standards. The standards vary depending on the type of seed and the country in which it is being sold. In general, seed certification ensures that seeds are pure, free of disease, and have the desired characteristics, such as germination rate and yield potential.

Here are some frequently asked questions about organic farming and seed certification:

What is organic farming?
Organic farming is a method of crop and livestock production that involves much more than choosing not to use pesticides, fertilizers, genetically modified organisms, antibiotics and growth hormones. Organic production is a holistic system designed to optimize the productivity and fitness of diverse communities within the agro-ecosystem, including soil organisms, plants, livestock and people. The principal goal of organic production is to develop enterprises that are sustainable and harmonious with the environment.
What are the benefits of organic farming?
There are many benefits to organic farming, including:
Improved soil health: Organic farming practices help to improve soil health by increasing organic matter content, reducing erosion, and promoting the growth of beneficial soil organisms.
Reduced Water Pollution: Organic farming practices help to reduce water pollution by reducing the use of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides.
Improved air quality: Organic farming practices help to improve air quality by reducing the use of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides.
Increased biodiversity: Organic farming practices help to increase biodiversity by providing habitat for beneficial insects, birds, and other wildlife.
Improved animal welfare: Organic farming practices help to improve animal welfare by providing animals with access to the outdoors, fresh air, and sunlight, and by allowing them to express their natural behaviors.
Increased food safety: Organic farming practices help to increase food safety by reducing the use of synthetic chemicals that can contaminate food.
What are the challenges of organic farming?
There are some challenges to organic farming, including:
Higher costs: Organic farming practices can be more expensive than conventional farming practices.
Lower yields: Organic farming practices can result in lower yields than conventional farming practices.
Increased risk of pests and diseases: Organic farming practices can increase the risk of pests and diseases, as there is less use of synthetic pesticides.
Lack of government support: Organic farmers often receive less government support than conventional farmers.
What is seed certification?
Seed certification is a process that ensures that seeds meet certain quality standards. The standards vary depending on the type of seed and the country in which it is being sold. In general, seed certification ensures that seeds are pure, free of disease, and have the desired characteristics, such as germination rate and yield potential.
What are the benefits of seed certification?
There are many benefits to seed certification, including:
Improved crop yields: Certified seeds are more likely to produce higher yields than non-certified seeds.
Reduced crop losses: Certified seeds are less likely to be infected with diseases or pests, which can reduce crop losses.
Improved food quality: Certified seeds are more likely to produce high-quality food that is safe to eat.
Increased crop diversity: Certified seeds can help to increase crop diversity by providing farmers with access to a wider range of seed varieties.
Improved farmer livelihoods: Certified seeds can help to improve farmer livelihoods by increasing crop yields and reducing crop losses.
What are the challenges of seed certification?
There are some challenges to seed certification, including:
The cost of certification: Seed certification can be expensive for farmers, especially small-scale farmers.
The complexity of the certification process: The certification process can be complex and time-consuming for farmers.
The lack of access to certified seeds: Certified seeds may not be available to all farmers, especially those in remote areas.
The lack of awareness of seed certification: Many farmers are not aware of the benefits of seed certification.

Organic farming is a method of crop and livestock production that involves much more than choosing not to use pesticides, fertilizers, genetically modified organisms, antibiotics and growth hormones. Organic production is a holistic system designed to optimize the productivity and fitness of diverse communities within the agro-ecosystem, including soil organisms, plants, livestock and people. The principal goal of organic production is to develop enterprises that are sustainable and harmonious with the environment.
Seed certification is a process that ensures that seeds meet certain quality standards. These standards may include the purity of the seed, the germination rate, and the absence of pests and diseases. Seed certification is important to ensure that farmers have access to high-quality seeds that will produce healthy crops.

Here are some MCQs on the Concept Of Organic Farming and seed certification:

Which of the following is not a principle of organic farming?
(A) Use of natural fertilizers and pesticides
(B) Rotation of crops
(C) Genetic engineering
(D) Integrated pest management
Which of the following is not a benefit of organic farming?
(A) Improved soil health
(B) Reduced water pollution
(C) Increased crop yields
(D) Increased use of pesticides
Which of the following is not a requirement for seed certification?
(A) The seed must be pure.
(B) The seed must have a high germination rate.
(C) The seed must be free of pests and diseases.
(D) The seed must be grown in a specific location.
Which of the following is not a role of the Organic Trade Association?
(A) To promote organic farming
(B) To certify organic products
(C) To educate consumers about organic farming
(D) To lobby for government policies that support organic farming
Which of the following is not a challenge facing organic farming?
(A) The cost of organic certification
(B) The lack of research on organic farming
(C) The competition from conventional farming
(D) The public’s perception of organic farming