Implementation by the central and state governments of organic farming policies will be a fitting tribute to late Gandhian economist J.C. Kumarappa (JCK), according to G.S. Purushothaman, president, Organic Farming Organization (OFO), Vellore.
Speaking on `Organic Farming’ during a colloquium on `Ecological Economics of Dr. J.C. Kumarappa and its Relevance to India Today’,
Mr. Purushothaman said according to estimates that 121 hectares of agricultural area had been degraded due to soil erosion and use of chemicals.
Fertilizer consumption
The fertilizer consumption has increased manifold in the past 40 years, but the increase in production has only doubled, according to a report by the Indian Council for Agricultural Research (ICAR), New Delhi.
Besides, 70 per cent of the healthy-looking vegetables and fruits have a high level of residual pesticides. With increased consumption of plant protection chemicals, the produce loss due to insect pests and diseases has increased five-fold, he said.
The organic farming expert said that the government and farmers could join together and switch over to organic farming first in the rainfed area all over India as suggested by JCK.
Statutory committee
set up
It is heartening to note that the Government of India has set up a statutory committee of Parliament to end the problems of agriculture and distress of farmers.
It has recommended the establishment of an Organic Finance and Development Corporation to assist organic farming within six months.
Decline in soil health
The committee has also pointed to the severe decline in soil health on account of the use of chemical fertilizers, and the fact that it will take 3 to 5 years to restore the soil health in the area where chemical farming is replaced with organic farming.
As suggested by JCK, the OFO has been motivating farmers to switch over to organic farming since 1985. About 300 farmers in Vellore district have switched over to organic farming.
About 30,000 tonnes of organic products are produced annually in the district.
The organic matter in the soil has increased to 2 mg per kg of soil from 0.5 mg which is the average of Tamil Nadu, he said.
“Nearly 70 per cent of the healthy-looking vegetables and fruits have a high level of residual pesticides”
