Scope of organic agriculture & opportunities for bio control agents

Organic Agriculture Definitions –

“Organic Agriculture (IFOAM definition) is a production system that sustains the health of soils, ecosystems and people.

It relies on ecological processes, biodiversity and cycles adapted to local conditions, rather than the use of inputs with adverse effects.

Organic farming is more about using naturally available resources optimally to enhance productivity & production.
 
Organic farming is a system of farming (certified inputs) which is dependent entirely on organic sources for crop nutrition and crop husbandry.

Natural farming refers to farming with nature and without chemicals.

Emergence –

Organic agriculture has grown out of the conscious efforts by inspired people to create the best possible relationship between the earth and men.

Assurance –

There has been a significant sensitization of the global community towards environmental preservation and assuring food quality.
Organic Agriculture is a potential way to achieve these eco-friendly tasks
Gives assurance to the consumer of good practices
However, if natural farming is done with clean practices which is without use of pesticides/limited approved pesticides it also safe.

Growing Market For Organic Food –

Growth : 20- 30 % per annum
Current Market : USD 31 Billion
(1% of total food sales)
Major Markets
USA : USD 12 Billion
JAPAN : USD 3 Billion
EUROPE : USD 10 -11 Billion

Organic Agriculture Growth & Certification –

The total area under organic farming in the EU continues to increase, and in 2017 covered 12.6 million hectares of agricultural land. Organic area made up 7% of total EU agricultural land in 2017. This article describes the situation of organic farming in the European Union (EU).Jan 30, 2019

ECOCERT offers the certification of your activities according to (EC) Regulations 834/2007, 889/2008 and 1235/2008 relative to organic farming in the European Union. Processed and unprocessed plant products, farm animals and their products intended for human consumption. Other unprocessed plant products.

Regulatory Mechanism –

For Export (Indian Context) :
Notified by Ministry of Commerce as NPOP. It is in operation since 2002
For Domestic.
A framework is s worked out and is notified under the Agricultural Produce Grading and Marking Act on the similar lines of NPOP.

The national Programme involves the accreditation Programme for certification bodies, norms for organic production, promotion of organic farming.
The NPOP standards for production and accreditation system have been recognized by USDA, European Commission and Switzerland as equivalent to their country standards.

Although Harmonization of standards in various countries is a challenge.

Remember: Tall nutritional claims on organic products are inappropriate. As it is more of a practice and doesn’t change or improve the nutritional value.
They can be at par with conventional products. Sometimes fresh organic products may have more bacterial load – US study. In such case we need to give thrust on wholesome food.

Organic In Europe: Prospects & Developments –

In 2016, the Research Institute of Organic Agriculture FiBL and IFOAM EU (www.ifoam-eu.-org) published the book “Organic in Europe” for the second time. It contains reflections about the Common Agricultural Policy as well as data on organic agriculture in Europe. The first edition was published in 2014 and included also country reports (see below).

The growth trends highlight the importance of using the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and other agri-food policies to create a more positive environment in which farmers and food companies feel confident making significant investment decisions. Without these investments, Europe will not be able to meet the growing demand amongst EU consumers for organic food. In mapping the latest trends across Europe, the research shows that in the EU alone the organic market grew at a relatively high rate of 7.4% in 2014 and retail sales valued at €24 billion. However, the increase in organic farmland area in the EU slowed – growing by just 1.1% and the number of producers actually fell by 0.2%.

FAQ’s & Cautionary Notes –

Is organically and naturally grown same??
Does organically certified means more nutrition or only chemically free??
Is soil health important for healthy crop.
Organic farming is a system of farming with certified inputs, and focus on maximum residual level. And Natural cultivation adopts clean cultivation practices would provide wholesome food
Tall nutritional claims on organic products are inappropriate. It means adopting good farming system.
Soil health is important and is an important part of farming system.

Use Of Biocontrol Agents – In Organic Farming

Bio fertilizers.
Biopesticides – Bio fungicides.
Plant vitalizer extracts.

Approaches To Pest Management –

CULTURAL METHODS :

• a. Field sanitation/crop residue management
• b. Tillage
• c. Application of manures and soil amendments
• d. Diversity
• e. Crop rotation
• f. Trap cropping
• g. Inter-cropping
• h. Strip farming
• i. Crop and Variety Selection
• j. Seed Quality
• k. Seeding Rate
• l. Seeding Date/time of planting
• m. Depth and Timing of Seeding
• n. Field Sanitation/Crop Residue management

Managing The Growth Environment –

• a. Forecasting
• b. Record- Keeping
• c. Healthy Soil
• d. Trap Strips
• e. Roguing
• f. Crop Competition
• g. Water management
• h. Weed Management
• i. Manual Control

Cultural Alternatives –

Crop rotation – rotation of crops and fallow periods.
Physical controls – such as tillage, mowing, chopping and flaming.
Sanitation – removing non-crop host and infected hosts.
Pruning and canopy management – physically manipulating the structure of the host plant.
Irrigation management – controlling water application and drainage.
Strategic choices – choice of field, location, planting and intended harvest dates, vigorous cultivars. Plant density, transplanting etc.,
Regulation – including mandatory host – free periods, host free zones, crop termination, seed indexing and detection.

Physical & Mechanical Control –

• a. Manual control
• b. Burning
• c. Solarization
• d. Flooding

Direct Control –

• A. Monitoring
• B. Biological Control
• C. Bio-pesticides/Natural Insecticides
• D. Botanical

Pest Management Methods –

Pest management methods can be categorized as biological cultural and organically accepted chemical alternatives.

Biological Alternatives –

Biological control by microbial agents-application of beneficial or antogonistic microorganism.
Biological control by multicellur organism including release of exotic parasites and predators.
Management practices, including natural mulches, living mulches, trap crops and cover crops to enhance the population of natural enemies.

Advantages Of Biocontrol –

1. Bio-control is exercised in a wide range of area and is safe.
2. Application of Biotic agents is easy.
3. The Biotic agents survive in nature till the pest is prevalent.
4. Farmer does not require any special treatment procedure.
5. No waiting period for harvesting.
6. Biological agents viz., baculoviruses, parasitoids and predators may be multiplied at farmer’s level.

Bio Input –

Case Study Products – NSPL INDIA

Range Of Bio Products –

Fig.1

What is a Bio Power –

What is a Bio Power ?
Bio Power is developed from extract of desirable beneficial attenuated bacteria fortified with Blue Green Algae. It contains natural Bio amino acids. This extract is formulated by using adjuvant. Bio Power is recommended for soil application near root zone area.

Mode of Action :
Bio Power acts on dividing cells of roots, increases secondary and tertiary roots and also increases root hairs, so that nutrients and water from soil are absorbed efficiently and easily resulting in healthy plant growth.

Advantages :

• Improves quality of fruits, vegetables, flowers and commercial produce.
• Imparts tolerance to abiotic and biotic stresses in different crops.
• Improves shelf life.
• Mobilizes nutrients in root zone of plants.

Bhuparis Trichoderma

Bhuparis Pseudomonas

Bio Prahar –
Photorhabdus Luminescens Akhurstii Strain K1