Organic Livestock Farming in India: An Overview
Dr. Satveer Mokharia
MVSc scholar, Department of Veterinary Biochemistry,
College of Veterinary & Animal Science, Bikaner
RAJUVAS
Introduction:-
Organic livestock farming is defined as a system of livestock production that promotes the use of organic and biodegradable inputs from the ecosystem in terms of animal nutrition, animal health, animal housing and breeding. It deliberately avoids the use of synthetic inputs such as genetically engineered breeding inputs, drugs, additives and feed. Products like, honey, meat, eggs milk etc. obtained from livestock will help the products attain an organic tag in the market, leading to the development of trust over buyers. Waste products like the faecal matter of livestock are utilized as pesticides and manures. Cow urine can be used as a pest repellent as well as a growth promoter. Organic farmland now covers an area of more than 71.5 million hectares. Efficient utilization of waste matter from the livestock farm allows farmers to reduce their dependence on synthetic soil amendments from outside and thus, curb other extravagances.
The purpose of the present work is to study the prospects of organic animal husbandry and its possible constraints in developing countries.
What is the organic farming
In India organic farming system is being followed from ancient time farming system primarily aimed at cultivating the land and raising crops in such a way, as to keep the soil alive and in good health by use of organic wastes ( animal, crop farm wastes & aquatic wastes) and other biological materials along with beneficial bio fertilizers to release nutrients to crops for increased valuable production in an pollution free environment.
According to definition of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) study team on organic farming “organic farming is a system which excludes the use of synthetic inputs (such as, pesticides, fertilizers, feed additives & hormones etc) and to the maximum extent feasible rely upon crop rotations, crop residues, animal manures, off-farm organic waste, mineral grade rock additives and biological system of nutrient mobilization and plant protection”.
It is suggested by FAO that “Organic agriculture is a unique production management system which promotes and enhances agro-ecosystem health, including biodiversity, biological cycles and soil biological activity, and this is accomplished by using on-farm agronomic, biological and mechanical methods in exclusion of all synthetic off-farm inputs”.
Organic farming is based on agricultural systems and minimal use of non-renewable energy sources (e.g. artificial fertilizers). Livestock, and particularly ruminants, play an important role in maintaining the fertility of grasslands. The basic principles of organic livestock production can be summarized thus:
- Land-based activity, Good animal health and welfare
- Optimization rather than maximization of production
- Lower stocking densities and production levels than in conventional systems
Need of organic farming
With the uncontrolled increase in population our compulsion would be not only to stabilize agricultural production but to increase it further in sustainable manner. It have been realized by scientists that the ‘Green Revolution’ with high input use has reached a plateau and is now sustained with diminishing return of falling dividends. Thus, a natural balance needs to be maintained at all cost for existence of life and property. The obvious choice for that would be more relevant in the present era, when these agrochemicals which are produced from fossil fuel and are not renewable and are diminishing in availability. It may also cost heavily on our foreign exchange in future.
The key characteristics of organic farming include:-
- Providing crop nutrients indirectly using relatively insoluble nutrient sources which are made available to the plant by the action of soil micro-organisms.
- Protecting the long term fertility of soils by maintaining organic matter levels, encouraging soil biological activity, and careful mechanical intervention.
- Weed, disease and pest control relying primarily on crop rotations, natural predators, organic manuring, diversity, resistant varieties and limited thermal, biological and chemical intervention.
- Nitrogen self-sufficiency through the use of legumes and biological nitrogen fixation, as well as effective recycling of organic materials including crop residues and livestock manures.
- The extensive management of livestock, paying full regard to their evolutionary adaptations, needs and animal welfare issues with respect to nutrition, health, house, breeding and rearing careful attention to the impact of the farming system on the wider environment and the conservation of wildlife and natural habitats.
Problems in developing organic livestock farming:
While many tropical countries are making concerning efforts to boost organic production, especially of high-value commercial crops, with considerable success, some serious problems are still restricting growth in organic farming. Some of these potential obstacles especially when exporting livestock products, are as follows:
- Lack of Knowledge
- Small farms
- Problems in livestock Feeding
- Sanitary regulations
- Traceability
- Lack of training and certification facilities
Opportunities for tropical countries:
In spite of the potential drawbacks mentioned above, there are strong reasons for tropical countries to focus on organic livestock production.
Consumers pay a large price premium for organic food in the UK Belgium, Austria and Germany. Some developing countries are successfully exporting livestock –Products to developed countries. India and Nepal currently export certified organic honey. Organic Honey is a good entry point to focus on, along with small ruminants, when developing organic livestock production in developing countries.
Native breed of livestock, which predominate in tropical countries, are less susceptible to stress and disease, and so the need for allopathic medicines and antibiotics is much lower.
Conclusion:
- Organic farming in India has grown at a steady pace after the implementation of NPOP in 2001 by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
- Today India organic products have made their mark in the global market and are poised to reach new heights.
- The major countries where organic products were exported were USA followed by European Union and Canada.
- The other destinations of the export of organic products were Switzerland, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Middle East
References:
1) Basic steps in organic farming: https://agritech.tnau.ac.in/org_farm/orgfarm_introduction.html
2) Organic farming: Uttarakhand University of Horticulture and Forestry
3) Organic livestock production: www.wikipedia.org
4) Information System on Organic Livestock Farming, Retrieved from: ivri.nic.in
5) Organic Livestock Farming in India: An Overview: Neeraj Singh
