| Organic Forming - Guidelines | ||||||||||||||||||
| Organic farming is a crop production method respecting the rules of the nature. Organic farming is targeted to produce nutritive, healthy and pollution free food. It maximises the use of on farm resources and minimises the use of off-farm resources. It is a farming system that seeks to avoid the use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides. It is not profit oriented but social profit oriented. Commitment to nature protection is a pre-requisite for practising organic farming. In organic farming entire system ie. plant, animal, soil, water and micro-organism are to be protected. | ||||||||||||||||||
Objectives |
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Why? |
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| Excessive applications of pesticides and fertilisers have caused damage to the soil and environment besides affecting crop production. Use of pesticides in the world has registered ten fold increase from 1945 to 1975. About 5.2 million tonnes pesticides-were sold during 1995 and about two third was used in developed countries like USA and Europe. Similarly, fertiliser consumption has also been increased substantially. In India, about 80,000 tonnes of pesticides are used. Pesticide residue is the second largest agent causing cancer, next to cigarettes. A recent study in US revealed that risk of cancer due to pesticide is 3 out of 1000 people. Besides, the pesticides and fertilisers persist in the soil are harmful to the beneficial soil micro-organism and earthworms and thereby resulting in degradation of soil fertility. | ||||||||||||||||||
Scope |
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| Organic farming helps in rejuvenating the degraded
soil and ensure sustainability of crop production. Common man and
farmers are aware of the hazards from use of chemicals and pesticides.
It is a common practice that farmers maintain part of their rice
fields without pesticide application for their own consumption.
When vegetables are grown in the Kitchen garden, no chemical fertilisers
or pesticides are used since the house wife knows that the vegetables
are meant for their own consumption. Now, the consumers are preferring to consume natural/ethnic foods, particularly organic foods across the world. Moreover, they are ready to pay a premium price for such foods. The demand for organic agricultural products is increasing day by day. |
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Minimum requirements |
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| In organic farming system, certain minimum requirements
are to be met to fulfil its objectives. Then only the farm is certified
as organic. i) Conversion: When a farmer switches over to the system of organic farming from the conventional system of farming, it is known as conversion. The time between the start of organic management and certification is called conversion period. The farmers should have a conversion plan prepared if the entire field is not converted into organic at a time. In that case it is necessary to maintain organic and non-organic fields separately. In the long run the entire form including livestock should be converted into organic. The conversion period is decided based on the past use of the land and ecological situation. Generally, the conversion period is two years for annual crops and three years for perennial crops. However, the conversion period can be relaxed based on the verification by certification agency if the requirements are fully met. During conversion, steps should be taken to maintain bio-diversity, viz. swamps, gross lands, forests, etc. ii) Mixed farming: Animal husbandry, poultry, fisheries, etc. should be practised in addition to agricultural farming. Shifting cultivation is not allowed. iii) Cropping Pattern: Crop rotation should be followed if annual crops are grown. Intercropping should be practised when perennial crops are grown. Crop rotation should cover green manure as well as fodder crops. In case of perennial crops, cover crops like Kolinji should be grown to protect the soil. Monocropping should be avoided. iv) Planting: Species and varieties cultivated should be adapted to soil and climatic condition and resistant to pests and diseases. Seeds/Planting materials should be procured from organic source. If not available, chemically untreated seeds/planting materials can be used one time use of genetically engineered seeds or planting materials such as tissue culture, pollen culture, transgenic plants is not allowed. v) Manurial Policy Soil fertility should be maintained/enhanced through raising green manure crops, leguminous crops etc. The residues of plants after harvest should be incorporated into the soil as far as possible. Bio-degradable materials of microbial, plant or animal origin shall be applied as manures. (eq. compost, vermicompost, farm yard manure, sheep penning etc.) Use of synthetic/chemical fertilisers is not permitted. The mineral based materials like rock phosphate, gypsum, lime, etc. can be applied in limited quantities when there is absolute necessity. The following products are permitted for use in manuring/soil conditioning in organic fields:- |
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The following products shall be used when they are absolutely needed and taking into consideration of factors like contaminations, depletion of natural resources, nutritional imbalances, etc. If proposing for certification, the certification agency may be consulted before using these inputs. |
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vi) Pest, Disease and Weed management: Use of synthetic/chemical pesticides, fungicides and weedicides is prohibited. Natural enemies shall be encouraged and protected. (for e.g. raising trees in the farm attracts birds which kills pests of the crops, nest construction etc.) Products collected from the local farm, animals, plants and micro-organisms and prepared at the farm are allowed for control of pests and diseases. (eq. Neem Seed Kernel Extract, cow urine spray). Use of genetically engineered organisms and products are prohibited for controlling pests and diseases. Similarly, use of synthetic growth regulators is not permitted. Slash weeding is to be done between the plants. Weeds under the base of the plants shall be cleaned and put as mulch around the plant base. The weeded materials should be applied as mulch in the ground itself. The products that are permitted for control of pest & diseases are: |
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The following products shall be used when they are absolutely necessary and taking environmental impact into consideration. The certification agency shall be consulted before using these inputs. |
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vii) Soil and water conservation: Measures like stone pitching/contour wall construction are to be taken up to prevent soil erosion. In case of saline soils, saline resistant varieties may be grown. Judicious irrigation is to be practised. Mulching is required. Pollution of surface and ground water shall be prevented. Clearing of primary forest is prohibited. Cleaning of land through straw burning should be restricted to minimum. viii) Contamination control: It is necessary to take the following measures to minimise the contamination from outside and within farm. a) If neighbouring fields are non-organic, a buffer zone should be maintained. The height of buffer crop shall be twice the height of organic crop and the width of the buffer shall be 25-50 feet. (When chilli is grown as the main organic crop, castor or Agathi (Sesbania) can be grown as buffer crop. The crops from the buffer zone should be sold as non-organic). b) If the farm is under conversion, equipments used for conventional areas shall be well cleaned before using for organic areas. c) Products based on polythene, polypropeline and other polycarbarnates are allowed to cover protected structure, insect netting, nursery, drying, etc. subject to the condition that these materials shall be removed from the field after use and they shall not burnt or put in the soil. Use of polychloricle based products like PVC pipe is prohibited. ix) Processing: Processing technologies like solar drying, freeze drying, hot air chambers are permitted. Irradiation of agricultural produce is not permitted. No synthetic additives/days are to be added during processing. x) Labelling: The label should convey clear accurate information on the organic status of the product. (i.e. conversion in progress or organic). The labels for organic and conversion in progress products should be distinguishable by different coloured labels. The details like name of the product, quantity of the product, name and address of the producer, name of certification agency, certification, lot number etc. are to be given in the label. Lot number is helpful in tracing back the product particularly the field no. in which it is grown in case of contamination. Lot no. should include the crop, country, field no, date of harvest (in Julian Calendar) and production year. The Julian Calendar is ranging from 1 to 365 or 366, starting 1st January, as I and December 31st as 365/366. |
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| xi) Packaging: For packing, recycling and reusable
materials like clean jute bags, shall be used. Use of bio-degradable
materials shall also be used. Unnecessary packaging material should
be avoided. Organic and non-organic products shall not be stored
and transported together except when labelled. xii) Social Justice: Social right and justice are integral part of organic agriculture. The laws relating to labour welfare and rights of children should be honoured. All employees and their families should have access to potable water, food, housing, education, transportation and health services. All employees should have equal wages when doing same job. They must have equal opportunities irrespective of colour, creed and gender. Social security needs (include maternity, sickness and retirement benefits) should be met. Labour conditions regarding noise, dust, light and exposure to chemicals should be within acceptable limits; and they should have adequate protection. The rights of indigenous people should be respected. xiii) Documentation: Documentation of farm activities is must for acquiring certification especially when both conventional and organic crops are raised. The following documents/records are to be maintained. |
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Certification Process |
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| Certification of organic farms is required to satisfy
the consumers that the produce is totally organic. Certification
agency conducts the inspection that minimum requirements prescribed
for organic agriculture is fully met and issues certificate. The producer makes contact with certifying agency. Certification agency provides information on standards, fees, application, inspection, certification and appeal procedures. The producer then submits application along with field history, form map, record keeping system etc. Then the contract indicating scope, obligation, inspection and certification, sanction and appeals, duration, fee structure is executed. Then the Inspector of agency comes and carries out inspection. The Inspector gives inspection report with his recommendation to the agency, Then the agency issues approval or denial of certificate. Certificate is given for current year's harvest only and hence annual certification is required. |
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| Ginger |
| Ginger (Zingiber officinale) is one of the important spices grown in India. Ginger of commerce is the dried rhizome. It is marketed in different forms such as raw ginger, dry ginger, bleached dry ginger, ginger powder, ginger oil, ginger oleoresin, gingerale, ginger candy, ginger beer, brined ginger, ginger wine, ginger squash, ginger flakes etc. |
Climate and soil |
| Ginger is cultivated in almost all states in India. Kerala is the major ginger growing state. Other major ginger growing states are Orissa, Meghalaya, Himachal Pradesh and Karnataka. Ginger grows in warm and humid climate. It is mainly cultivated in the tropics from sea level to an altitude of above 1500 MSL and it can be grown both under rainfed and irrigated conditions. For successful cultivation of the crop, a moderate rainfall at the sowing time till the rhizomes sprout, fairly heavy and well distributed showers during the growing period and dry weather for about a month before harvesting are necessary. Ginger thrives the best in well drained soils like sandy or clay loam, red loam or lateritic loam. A friable loam rich in humus is ideal. However, being an exhusting crop it may not be desirable to grow ginger in the same site year after year. |
Maintenance of buffer zone |
| In order to cultivate ginger organically, a buffer zone of 25 to 50 feet is to be left all around from the conventional farm, depending upon the location of the farm. The produce from this buffer zone belt shall not be treated as organic. Being an annual crop, the conversion period required will be two years. Ginger can be cultivated organically as an inter or mixed crop provided all the other crops are grown following organic methods. It is desirable to include a leguminous crop in rotation with ginger. Ginger-banana legume or ginger-vegetable-legume can be adopted. |
Sources of planting material |
| Carefully preserved seed rhizomes free from pests and diseases which are collected from organically cultivated farms can be used for planting. However, to begin with seed material from high yielding local varieties may be used in the absence of organically produced seed materials. Seed rhizomes should not be treated with any chemicals. The seed rate varies from region to region and with method of cultivation adopted. The seed rate varies from 1500- 2500 k9 per hectare. |
Preparation of land and planting |
| While preparing the land, minimum tillage operations
may be adopted. Beds of 15 cm height, I m width and of convenient
length may be prepared giving at least 50 cm spacing between beds.
Solarisation of the beds is beneficial in checking the multiplication
of pests and disease causing organisms. Solarisation is a technique
by which polythene sheets are covered over moist beds of the field,
reaching all the sides and exposing to sun for a period of 20-30
days. The polythene sheets used for soil solarisation should be
kept away safely after the work is completed. At the time of planting, apply 25g powdered neem coke and mix well with the soil in each pit taken at a spacing of 20-25 cm within and between rows. Seed rhizomes may be put in shallow pits and mixed with well rotten cattle manure or compost mixed with Trichoderma, an antagonistic (Parasitic) fungi (10g compost inoculated with Trichoderma). The best time for planting in West Coast is during the first fortnight of May with the receipt of monsoon showers. Under irrigated conditions, it can be planted well in advance during the middle of February or early March. |
Cultural practices |
| Mulching the ginger beds with green leaves is an essential operation to enhance germination of seed rhizomes and to prevent washing off of soil due to heavy rain. This also helps to add organic matter to the soil and conserve moisture during the later part of the cropping seasons. The first mulching is to be done with green leaves @ 10-12 t/ha at the time of planting. It is to be repeated @ 5 t/ha at 40th and 90th day after planting. Use of "Lantana camara" and Vitex negundo as mulch may reduce the infestation of shoot borer. Cow dung slurry or liquid manure may be poured on the bed after each mulching to enhance microbial activity and nutrient availability. Weeding may be carried out depending on the intensity of weed growth. Such materials may be used for mulching. Proper drainage channels are to be provided in the inter rows to drain off stagnant water. |
Manuring |
| Application of well rotten cow dung or compost @ 5-6 t/ha may be made as a basal dose while planting the rhizomes in the pits. In addition, application of neem cake @ 2 t/ha is also desirable. |
Plant protection |
| Pests |
| Shoot borer is the major pest infesting ginger. Regular field surveillance and adoption of phytosanitary measures are necessary for pest management. It appears during July -October period. Spot out the shoots infested by the borer and cut open the shoot and pick out the caterpillar and destroy. Spray neem oil (0.5%) at fortnightly intervals if found necessary. Light traps will be useful in attracting and collecting the adult moths. |
Diseases |
| Soft rot or rhizome rot is a major disease of ginger.
While selecting the area for ginger cultivation care should be taken
to see that the area is well drained as water stagnation pre- disposes
the plants to infection. Hence provide adequate drainage. Select
seed rhizomes from disease free areas since this disease is seed
borne. Solarisation of soil done at the time of bed preparation
can reduce the fungus inoculum. However, if the disease is noticed,
the affected clumps are to be removed carefully along with the soil
surrounding the rhizome to reduce the spread. Trichoderma may be
applied at the time of planting and subsequently if necessary. Restricted use of Bordeaux mixture (1%) in disease prone areas may be made to control it as spot application. |
Harvesting and post harvest operations |
| The crop is ready to harvest in about eight to ten
months depending upon the maturity of the variety. When fully mature
leaves turn yellow and start drying up gradually. Clumps are lifted
carefully with a spade or digging fork and rhizomes are separated
from dried leaves, roots and adhering soil. The average yield of
fresh ginger per hectare varies with varieties ranging from 15 to
25 tonnes. For making vegetable ginger, harvesting is done from the 6th month onwards. The rhizomes are thoroughly washed in water twice or thrice after harvest and sun-dried for a day. For preparing dry ginger the produce is kept soaked in water overnight. Rhizomes are then rubbed well to clean them. After cleaning, rhizomes are removed from the water and the outer skin is removed with a bamboo splinter or wooden knife having pointed ends. Iron knife is not recommended, as colour will be faded. In order to get rid of the last bit of the skin or dirt, the dry rhizomes are rubbed together. The peeled rhizomes are washed and dried in the sun uniformly for one week. Rhizomes are to be dried to a moisture level of 11% and they are stored properly to avoid infestation by storage pests. Storage of dry ginger for longer periods is not desirable. The yield of dry ginger is 16-25 percent of the fresh ginger depending upon the variety and location where the crop is grown. Burning of sulphur for processing ginger is not allowed. |
Preservation of seed rhizomes |
| The rhizomes to be used as seed material should be preserved carefully. The indigenous practices like spreading layers of leaves of Glycosmis pentaphylla being followed by farmers can very well be adopted for this purpose. In order to get good germination, the seed rhizomes are to be stored properly in pits under shade. For seed materials, big and healthy rhizomes from disease-free plants are selected immediately after harvest. For this purpose, healthy and disease-free clumps are marked in the field when the crop is 68 months old and still green. Seed rhizomes are stored in pits of convenient size made inside the shed to protect from the sun and rain. Walls of the pits may be coated with cow dung paste. Seed rhizomes are stored in these pits in layers along with well-dried sand/saw dust (i.e. put one layer of seed rhizomes, then put 2 cm thick layer of sand/saw dust). Sufficient gap is to be left at the top of the pits for adequate aeration. Seed rhizomes in pits need inspection once in twenty days to remove shrivelled and disease affected rhizomes. Seed rhizomes can also be stored in pits dug in the ground under the shade of a tree provided there is no chance for water to enter the pits. In some areas, the rhizomes are loosely heaped over a layer of sand or paddy husk and covered with dry leaves in a thatched shed. |
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