Organic farming- healthy for gut, nature and farmer

Author: Anvita Srivastava

Healthy for your gut Organic agriculture products are becoming popular among people. Amogh Jagthap, a management graduate who has ditched corporate life and at present doing organic farming. 25 years old Jagthap believes that organic farming not only produces healthy food but also help the farmers in increasing productivity as well as giving back to mother earth.

Do you know that organic food has myriads of health benefits?

It is rich in antioxidants that help in preventing heart diseases, cancer, vision problems, premature ageing and cognitive malfunction. Improving your immune system and make your body disease resistant.

But are you aware that organic farming not merely provides you with wholesome food but also help in combatting climate change and helpful for the farmers?

Do you know that greenhouse emission in climate change comes from chemical farming? The nitrogen fertilizer used in the chemical farming emits 300 times more damaging than carbon dioxide. These chemical fertilizers are not only responsible for climate change but also carcinogenic (having the potential to cause cancer) and it is a threat for the well being of mankind. It neither supports the farmer as it increases the cost of production resulting in debt and also reduces the fertility of the soil.

Organic farming-sustainable for the eco-system

However, organic farming that works on sustainable farm practices can help in reversing climate catastrophe. It not only produces food laden with nutrients organic food can also help in maintaining the balance of eco-system. With no use of chemical fertilizer, the organic and natural manure helps in restoring the fertility of the soil, which increases the productivity of the farm. Amogh Jagthap (25) who is practising organic farming for the past four years near Mandya in Karnataka echoes the same sentiment. He said, “In my 20 acres of land, I cultivate vegetables, fruits and trees with the use of organic farming by using organic manure and also the natural farming method based on Jeevamrut and beejamrut. The chemical farming not only takes away the nutrients from the food but also harms the soil. It reduces fertility and reduces the number of earthworms which is not good for agriculture.”

Organic Farming-Boon for Farmers

This method of farming also helps the farmers as the investment reduces, as most of the manure can be prepared on the field itself. Jagthap said, “There is a lack of awareness among the farming community regarding organic farming. Farmers should understand that this is the only viable method of farming as it produces nutritious produce and also helps in storing carbon that raises the productivity of the farm. In organic farming, you are adding organic material to the soil which will nothing but bring richness to it and also invite butterflies, bees for pollinating which is very important for the crops. However, the results of organic farming can be witnessed only after two-three years, so patience is the only key to be a successful organic farmer.”

Fight Climate Change with Organic Farming

Organic farming also helps in fighting climate change as the practices used by organic agriculture as minimum tillage, no use of synthetic manures, sound practices like crop rotation, no nitrate leaching to groundwater and surface water and the greater integration of nitrogen-fixing legumes, increase the return of carbon to the soil. This means, more carbon in soil will result in less carbon in the atmosphere and therefore it can also help in removing the past emissions. Organic farming enriches the soil with nutrients that also helps farmers in fighting climate change as if you add organic material the soils become more resilient to floods, drought and land degradation process.

Better for human life, forest and farmers- Amogh Jagthap

“ Better for human life, forest and environment organic and natural farming are beneficial for the farmers as it reduces the cost of production. With an increase in awareness among people regarding organic produce, the demand for organic Agri- produce is also gaining momentum. It is the time when farmers need to leap towards organic farming,” added Jagthap.

Amog association with REWA

Passionate for organic farming and an environmentalist, Amogh is very soon collaborating with Raise Empower Women Around (REWA), an NGO that works for the empowerment of women from the marginalized community and also works for creating eco-friendly products to provide a livelihood to these women. With this collaboration, Amogh will be actively involved in the production of eco-friendly products of REWA such as mud bottles, mud tables, bamboo products to help the marginalized people.

Author: Anvita Srivastava