Organic Farming in Northeast Region of India: Boon for Environmental Sustainability

Author: Popiha Bordoloi & A. Arunachalam

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Abstract

The changes observed in the environment are occurring slowly over time. Organic farming has the nature friendly approach and it acts as a natural tool for the environmental protection and sustainable development while considering the agricultural production system. Environmental health is the prime importance for organic farming. In the crop production technique of organic farming mineral fertilizers and other chemical pesticides are not encourage, so the nutrient and energy cycling is increased and the retentive abilities of the soil for nutrients and water are also enhanced. Such management techniques plays an important role in boosts the stable biodiversity, promotes water conservation and water management, reduce climate change and helps in soil erosion control. The paper presents a framework for selection of indicators based on the principles of organic agriculture which may be used to monitor and improve the performance of organic agriculture with respect to environmental sustainability. On the basis of review of scientific literature the impact of organic agriculture on environmental sustainability is studied in North Eastern region of India.

Keywords

Sustainable Agriculture, Organic Farming, Environmental Sustainability, NE India

Conclusion

Organic farming helps for environmental sustainability by promoting a less polluting agricultural system. It offers a viable system of crop production which assures the sustainability of environment as in organic agriculture biodiversity in soil is increases, reduces the runoff loss as well as nutrient loss, enhances the soil productivity and encourages the predation for pest control. Organic farming system is a highly complex and integrated biological system to maintain good soil heath and other component of agriculture production system and environment. The negative impacts on environment from agriculture are creating the issues of unsustainability of the environment. Organic agriculture ensures the reduction of natural resources degradation, soil enrichment and conditioning, soil stabilization, eco friendly waste decomposition, carbon sequestration, balancing the pest and predation and encourages the pollinators. It has both direct and indirect effect to soil properties as it affects more than one component of the system simultaneously. Organic agriculture can balance the resource use efficiency and environmental performance which are important for resource sufficiency perspective of sustainability. But it may not be enough to solve the challenges of global food demand and agriculture. The productivity of organic farming is somewhat less compared to conventional farming. So, there is a need to identify suitable crops and other products on regional basis for organic production that has more demands nationally and internationally for income generations. For getting the full benefit from Organic agriculture all the aspects like economical, social and institutional aspects need to be considered. Further research are needed for commercialization of Organic farming in North Eastern Region of India by implementation of modern and improved technology for income generation and for environmental sustainability.

References

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How to cite this article

Popiha Bordoloi & A. Arunachalam (2022). Organic Farming in Northeast Region of India: Boon for Environmental Sustainability. Biological Forum – An International Journal, 14(4): 302-306.