“We have been feeding our children
chemicals and reducing their
immunity. Nothing produced today
comes free of chemicals, it is sad. We
just wanted to our bid. Try keeping an
organically grown vegetable outside,
without refrigeration. It will last at
least 4 to 5 days, sometimes even more.
The same cannot be said for other
produces.”It is a long and elaborate story, a real-life struggle and
success of a thought that became a larger than life
dream. Not only are these spirited individuals in the
pursuit of healthy living, they are the lucky ones that
have discovered what sets their heart aglow. The airy
breeze, the large land area, and the sun shining through
is what gets these humans up and going every day.
There are quite a few alternatives to organic farming,
but this remains one of the few techniques to show
consistent soil quality and reduced soil erosion. Not
only is organic farming more energy efficient, it creates
a lot less pollution and stress on soil and water. It has
the potential to restore biodiversity over a large class of
plants, insects, and microorganisms. The yields may
be low and this may seem like a problem to farmers
when switching to organic farming from conventional
farming methods. But in most cases, the prices of
organic vegetables are steep and this is because
consumers that know the importance of it are willing to
pay higher amounts. This generally acts as a buffer for
farmers who worry about the low yield and the quality
of their land.
Beyond all this, organic farming has opened up new
avenues of employment to many farmers and women
from rural backgrounds. They also reduce the contact
of farm workers to chemical pesticides and inorganic
substituents, having a positive impact on their health.
It is interesting to know that organic farming has
the potential to feed the world and also preserve
biodiversity. In a recent study, it was estimated that in
the year 2050, there would be enough food to feed a
10 billion population, even with low-yielding organic
farms. This can be accomplished by following a more
plant-based diet and reducing the consumption of
meat. Of course, this by no means translates into
preventing others from eating what they choose to, but,
the numbers speak for themselves.The success rate of existing farmlands being sufficient
to feed the population, without the need for expansion,
is a whopping 94% for vegans and vegetarians. It is at
nearly 40% for an organic diet and 15% for a meat-
based diet. But, as denoted previously, no one can be
forced to forgo a dietary choice. There are many other
alternatives to conventional farming along with organic
farming- integrated farming being one. Although this is
one method, it is not the only one available and each
method has significance. The success and reach of
organic farming at every household is still an unrealized
dream, the demand exceeds the supplies and the
availability of organic crops is restricted.In what is probably the first of its kind, Swarnabhoomi
farms aims at bridging that gap between the consumer
and the farm and it is already making waves.Here’s hoping for a better tomorrow and a sustainable
now.