The organic movement has seen a surge in demand due to a dynamic shift in environmental awareness among the general population over the past decade or so. There has been a change from supply-driven dynamic to a demand-driven one. More farmers have migrated of this kind of production due to premium prices as well as subsidies offered by governments. Interestingly, in developing countries, traditional methods of farming are still employed despite global inclinations towards organic production. This is partly due to lack of certification and inadequacy in scientific advancements in those areas. In addition to this, many of the farmers lack the technological know-how of organic production.
However, there have been instances in which farmers have migrated to this mode of farming due to the economic advantages. Basically, organic production entails the use of biodiversity to produce crops and does not involve use of pesticides or chemical fertilizers. Sir Albert Howard, the pioneer of organic farming, steered the agricultural world to it with the aim of creating a more eco-friendly way of production. Organic farming has fascinated many in the field due to its multi-faceted approach that includes crop rotation and the use of compost manure to increase agricultural yields. It functions on the premise of biological functions such as decomposition and thrives due to benefits of recycling and use of environmentally-friendly products. One of the sole objectives of organic production is to maintain soil productivity by using special cultivation techniques (Paull, 2011).
As stated before, organic production maintains soil integrity through special cultivation techniques such as decomposition and green manure. The essence of replacing nutrients from previously cultivated crops is upheld through these techniques. Biological processes are inherently superior to the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides in improving soil fertility and viability. This is what is colloquially referred to as ‘feeding the soil to feed the plant’. A number of other techniques are employed to make this method of farming advantageous as compared to the rest. This includes reduction in tillage and cover crops. Soil integrity is also enhanced when the soil retains its carbon content which makes it more organic which subsequently reduces greenhouse gases and reverses climate change (Fließbach, 2006).
Weed management is also another advantage of using this method. Rather than eliminate weeds altogether therefore tipping the ecosystem scale, they are suppressed by encouraging crop competition and phytotoxic effects. The use of synthetic herbicides is eliminated through alternative methods such as cultural and biological integration. Rotation of crops is done annually to reduce the prevalence of weeds and this entails the use of different cover crops with different growth cycles to discourage the growth of weeds associated with particular crops. With the emergence of technological innovations, use of natural microorganisms to suppress the germination of weeds are being explored to help with their management (Kremer & Li, 2003).
There have been numerous challenges with organic production. First and foremost, the marketing of organic produce has proved to be more tedious as compared to more conventional produce that arises from traditional methods of farming. Farmers find it immensely difficult to market produce on their own. However, this situation has been remedied through the formation of farming co-operations and establishment of farmers markets that provide better opportunities for the public to have access to organic produce (Tegtmeier & Duffy, 2005). The amount of work put into organic production cannot be overlooked. It requires indefatigable efforts in weed management as well as other methods of cultivation. Biodynamic agriculture has provided relief and has significantly changed the amount of labor that is required. Nonetheless, developing countries that do not have access to such innovations, rely on labor-intensive techniques.
Resolutions to increasing and enhancing organic production rely on the collaboration of farmers, governments and regulatory bodies. Knowledge sharing has greatly influenced how farmers adopt this method and therefore new projects are set up to increase awareness and technological know-how. Increasing adoption rates of organic production would require significant government involvement, whereby the latter provides technical assistance as well as funds to facilitate research. For instance, in Finland, the pulp and paper industry has developed an ingenious solution to manage carbon and nutrients in the soil. It entails the addition of decomposable wood fibers to the soil in order to restore soils that exhausted. It also enhances the water retention capabilities of the soil therefore promoting microbiological activity. This is a boost to environmental conservation efforts as paper is put into good use and both representatives from the agricultural and paper sector work collaboratively to find working solutions.
Organic production has proved to significantly contribute to the economies of western worlds and a many developing countries. The application of these organic principles play a vital role in the sustenance of the ecosystem. It further promotes cost-effectiveness. The role of any initiative should always aim to improve the living conditions of those who are involves and therefore offering them excellent opportunities to succeed. Socio-economic development is reliant on organic production as goes with the millennium development goals. It plays perfectly into the narrative of poverty reduction and efforts to curb drastic climate changes. Conclusively, it is safe to say that organic production has a bright future due to numerous contributing factors. The advancement of technology will continue being one of the key drivers to increase organic production. It is therefore imperative that environmentally-friendly policies are adopted to fuel this industry.
