Question

What are the benefits of organic farming?

Answer 1

Hint: A type of farming that adopts environment friendly agricultural practices like use of biological fertilisers and natural pest control is known as organic farming. The crop produced by organic farming is called organic crop.

Complete answer:
There are various benefits of using organic farming. The benefits of organic farming are as follows:
- Organic farming helps to reduce pollution. Organic farming does not make use of chemicals like synthetic fertilizers, pesticides or herbicides. These chemicals are the major sources of water and soil pollution. They also cause air pollution. These chemicals can get washed away from farms to nearby water sources creating water pollution. They can also be absorbed by plants from where they can enter the food chain. When applied in excess, these chemicals can leach and reach into groundwater causing groundwater pollution. Spraying of fertilizers, pesticides or herbicides also releases them in air causing air pollution. Organic farming prevents pollution by avoiding the use of these harmful chemicals.

- Organic farming helps to protect the population of crop pollinators like insects and bees.
- It helps to reduce the surface runoff and thus helps in preventing soil erosion.
- It is extremely beneficial for maintaining the structure of soil. It helps to restore the organic matter and other soil nutrients.
- It helps in recycling of agricultural wastes.
- It is better for the health of crop plants. It helps to improve the natural resistance of crop plants against diseases and pests.
- It creates a healthier working environment for farmers.

Note: Organic farming is beneficial for crops, farmers, consumers, pollinators, soil and environment. It uses practices like crop rotation, use of biological fertilizers like manure, compost, natural methods of pest control etc. It does not use harmful chemical fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, and genetically modified crops.