Download Back To Organic Farming

Back To Organic Farming
By Dinesh Balsaver
The top 9 inches of our soil is where plant growth is sustained and therefore this is the area
that is the mainspring of our agricultural production. Our health and indeed, our life itself
depend on the change taking place in these 9 inches of soil.
According to Nature’s design, trees and the ’microbes’ in the soil are mutually
interdependent. Trees provide shade and leaves to the microbes and they, in turn, loosen
minerals from the rocks and make them available to the trees. This symbiotic relationship (or
mutual interdependence) was broken about 5000 years ago, when Man started agriculture
by cutting down trees and clearing the forest for growing crops. The soil microbes were
deprived of shade and leaves and their activity started going down. As their activity declined,
plant nutrition suffered and the soil became infertile.
Fortunately, our farmers’ forefathers were using cow dung manure (a rich source of soil
microbes) on their farms; therefore the microbial activity was sustained to some extent.
However, over the past 50 years or so, since chemical fertilizers such as Urea, Ammonium
Sulphate, etc, have come on the scene, the decline in microbial activity has become more
pronounced.
Farmers are now realizing that the use of chemical fertilizers gives a temporary boost to the
yield but is damaging to the soil in the long run. They are now turning to organic farming,
which means stopping the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides and increasing the use
of cow dung manure, composts, green manuring and bacterial cultures, etc.
Organically grown food is healthier and commands a premium over conventional food
because of its higher mineral content. Organic farming therefore, provided an opportunity to
double the income of our farmer, firstly through reduced input costs and secondly through
higher returns for his produce.
As an organic farmer, I am living in exciting times. If this article has kindled some interest in
the reader and he wants to know more about the foreseeable changes in the all important 9
inches of soil, I will be happy to share my experience. My farm at Kamshet is a two and a
half hour drive from Juhu. You can contact me on the following numbers:
Mumbai - 26201371