A farming strategy in harmony with nature

CEBU, Philippines - Organic farming is a strategy of producing food and other products without using substances and chemicals that may pollute or damage the environment. It uses materials and practices that enhance the ecological balance of natural systems and integrate the parts of farming system into an environment-friendly way.

Organic farming has long been existed even in the times of our forefathers. It has only gain popularity when results have been supported with scientific researches and pilot tested by farmer beneficiaries. This is a sustainable and environmentally sound technology.

What are some Approaches?

a) Agronomic approach – comprised farming systems that will improve soil fertility, minimize soil erosion and provide favorable growth.

• Alley cropping – arable crops are grown in alleys between rows of hedges that are pruned periodically during the cropping season.

• Multiple cropping – two or more crops are grown in a year. Examples of this is intercropping and mixed cropping.

• Relay cropping – involves the planting of two or more annual crops with the second crop planted after the first crop has reached reproductive stage.

• Agrosilvopasture – integrating agricultural crops, forest trees and livestocks.

• Crop rotation – systematic planting of different crops in succession on the same piece of land.

• Green manuring – leguminous plants are planted in the field and they are plowed under as the plants are on their reproductive stage.

• Planting of N-fixing trees – planting of leguminous trees whose leaf biomass can be source of organic fertilizers because of high nitrogen content.

• Application of bio-fertilizers – involves the inoculation of agricultural crops with Rhizobium and mychorriza.

b) Cultural approach – involves the addition of organic matter and cultural management of pests and diseases.

• Application of organic fertilizers – apply organic fertilizers such as compost, animal and farm wastes, commercial organic fertilizers, guano, etc.

• Cultural management of pest – involves the use of resistant varieties, removal of alternate host, use of pest-free planting materials, maintenance of the cleanliness of the farm, burning of disease plant parts and physical removal of pest. Moreover, the use of biological control, disruption of pest mating cycles, traps and barriers, and botanical pesticides and other practices that help control pests and diseases.

Environmental Effects and Economic Viability

Organic farming is deemed as environment-friendly because chemical fertilizers and pesticides are avoided. Thus, the system enhances ecological biodiversity rather than cause pollution and deterioration of the environment.

Organic farming is considered economically viable. Although, it is not as productive in modern agriculture, it is still profitable because of the relatively less cost of production and organically grown products command higher prices in the markets. Nowadays, people started looking for farm products with less or more importantly no chemical inputs for health reasons.

I order that the productivity in organic farming system can be sustained, nutrient losses must be minimized through various soil and water conservation measures. Furthermore, there is a need to optimize nutrient addition through organic means and adoption of technologies on natural subsidies such as biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) and mycorrhiza.