ORGANIC farming can be understood as an agricultural method that doesn't make use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides. It involves farming practices, like crop rotation and the use of compost.

Green manure, biological pest control methods and special cultivation techniques are employed to maintain soil productivity.

A major benefit to consumers of organic farming is that food/produce obtained from it is free of contamination. The organically grown foods have better tastes than the those grown by harmful chemicals such as pesticides, fungicides and herbicides.

The tastiness of fruit and vegetables is directly related to its sugar content, which in turn is a function of the quality of nutrition that the plant itself has enjoyed. In the organic farming original nutritional content of food is preserved due to the absence of synthetic fertilisers and pesticides which renders the structural and metabolic integrity of their cellular structure superior to those conventionally grown.

As a result, organically grown foods can be stored for a longer period and they do not show susceptibility to rapid mold and rotting. The development of better taste and longer shelf-life of our horticultural produce will enable us to compete in the international markets and earn foreign exchange for the country.

Soil is the medium in which crops grow. But unfortunately every year fertile soils become victim of water erosion in the barani areas and wind erosion in the arid regions. Fertilisers are one of the key inputs to agricultural production as balanced use of fertilisers helps in increasing yield from 30-60 per cent in different parts of the country.

Almost the entire available soil in the country is nutrient deficient. The soaring fertiliser prices have compelled 60-70 per cent of our farmers to forego chemical fertilisers. These farmers can choose organic farming as their forte in order to maintain the fertility status of their soils because the organic farming solely relies upon crop rotations, crop residues, animal manures, legumes, green manures, off-farm organic wastes in order to boost activities of beneficial micro-organisms necessary for recycling of plant nutrients and production of humus essential for soil fertility.

The persistent husbandry of the life of the soil in organic agriculture improves the conditions which dissuade many weeds and favour crops. The crops, being healthier, are also better able to compete with those weeds that are present.

In organic farming all possible measures are taken to prevent the incidence of pests, diseases, and weeds. When the insect-pest reaches Economic Threshold Level (ETL) organic farming solely relies upon the biological control of insect-pests along with the uses of biopesticides/botanicals to check insect-pests population. The growth of beneficial insects is encouraged by growing suitable plants which attract them. Beneficial insects are actually predators which control harmful insects.

Special types of crops are known as 'companion crops' and are grown to control pests. These crops help in diverting or discouraging the growth of harmful pests. Biological pesticides such as neem extract and spinosad are useful in controlling different pests. The practice of crop rotation helps in disturbing the reproduction cycles of pests, thereby inhibiting their growth.

Disease resistant varieties are chosen for cultivation, in order to keep diseases at bay without having to spend money on costly pesticides and protecting the crops.

The phenomena of global warming have changed the water requirements of our agricultural crops and now they have become thirstier. The changed crop water use efficiency of our crops along with the already deteriorating state of water reserves has resulted in the decline of final yields.

In this context the use of mulches assumes more importance as this huge loss of soil moisture can be minimised by creating a mulch layer. Mulch is developed either by spreading a thin layer of crop residues on the soil surface or stirring the soil with appropriate implements that leave most of the vegetative portion of a crop on the surface.

Mulching reduces both run off and evaporation losses resulting in better moisture conservation and the efficient use of water.

Organic farming preserves the fertility of our soils, enhances the quality and shelf-life of horticultural produce, controls insect-pests without disturbing the ecosystem and biodiversity of beneficial organisms, and lastly in the looming scenario of global warming it can help us to make efficient use of water for agriculture.

Therefore use of modern technology in combination with organic farming practices helps in creating a balanced and sustainable environment for crop growth.

So it can be inferred that organic farming methods take a holistic approach in growing crops rather than exploiting the available natural resources. Countries like Pakistan can revolutionise its agricultural system if the culture of organic farming is earnestly implemented.