The Organic Revolution!

Kill Pests, Not Human Beings!

Dr. Aarti Mishra

According to the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Pollutants, 9 out of the 12 most dangerous and persistent chemicals are Pesticides.

A pesticide is a substance that destroys or incapacitates pests by poisoning them. Pesticides protect plants from insects, weeds and diseases; but they also target fish, birds, micro-organisms and mammals.

The American Medical association (A.M.A) states that exposure to pesticides should be limited and alternatives to pesticides should be found.

EFFECT OF PESTICIDES ON HUMAN HEALTH

Many studies have shown that exposure to pesticides is associated with-

a)   DIFFERENT TYPES OF CANCERS- Leukemia, lymphoma, cancer of the brain, kidneys, prostate gland and pancreas; breast cancer and liver, lungs and skin cancer.

b)    NEUROLOGICAL EFFECTS- People, who are exposed to even small amounts of pesticides, have 70% greater risk of developing Parkinson’s disease.

c)      Impaired fertility in men

d)   Birth defects, abnormal fetal growth and fetal death.

Ill EFFECTS OF PESTICIDES ON THE ENVIRONMENT

* About 95% of the sprayed pesticides reach a destination other than their intended target and cause contamination of air, water and soil.

* The use of pesticides destroys natural habitat (especially for birds), decreases bio-diversity and threatens endangered species.

* Pests often develop resistance to a pesticide. As a result, farmers are forced to use a new pesticide or a greater dose of the pesticide to overcome resistance.

All this leads to worsening of the problem of pollution, which ultimately affects human health also.

The Annual U.S cost of pesticides is estimated to be $9.6 billions because of adverse effects on human health and the environment.

DO WE HAVE AN ALTERNATIVE TO CONVENTIONAL   FARMING?

Fortunately, Organic Farming is there to rescue the human population.

* Organic Farming is a type of agriculture that uses green manure, crop-rotation and natural pest-control methods and avoids or excludes the use of synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, food additives and hormones.

* Organic Farming methods are legally enforced and internationally regulated by many countries according to the standards set by the International Federation Of Organic Agriculture Movement. (IFOAM)

THE NEED FOR ORGANIC FARMING IN INDIA

In India, Organic Farming is required because of many reasons apart from safeguarding human health.

1)   During the sixties, the ‘Green Revolution’ ushered in the era of chemical fertilizers and pesticides leading to a spurt in agricultural production.

·          Today, scientists have realized that the production yielded by the ‘Green Revolution’ has reached a plateau/stage of stagnation.

·          Conventional agriculture is today characterized by diminished returns even after higher costs of inputs.

(So, the rising cost of vegetables and fruits should not surprise you! They are a result of faulty agricultural practices.)

2)   Due to tremendous increase in Indian population, the need of the hour is to increase agricultural production in a sustainable manner.

·          Chemical fertilizers and pesticides are manufactured from massive amounts of petroleum, which is non-renewable and whose availability is decreasing day by day.

PRODUCTIVITY WITH ORGANIC FARMING

A wake-up call for Indians!

* Several studies all over the world have shown that Organic Farming can produce as much yield as Conventional Farming and in some cases much more!

This is particularly true for a developing country like India.

1. International studies have shown that soils under organic cultivation retain moisture and require 25% less irrigation than conventional soils.

·          A study conducted in 2003 revealed that yields from organic farms are 20-40% higher as compared to those from conventional farms during drought.

·          This fact is of paramount importance in our country, where farmers are largely dependent on rainfall for a bountiful yield from their farms.

2)   A study conducted in 2007 (to determine the efficiency of organic agriculture versus conventional agriculture) concluded that in developing countries like India, Organic Farming yields 80% more production than with conventional farming.

·          This is because in developing countries, the materials needed for organic farming are more easily available than synthetic farming materials.

(Indian farmers can raise animals for manure and use Natural pest-control methods.)

PRINCIPLES OF ORGANIC FARMING

Organic farming is based on the very principles that conventional farming violates, that is, Human Health and Health of the environment.

ORGANIC FARMING’S  PRINCIPLE OF HEALTH

Organic Agriculture maintains the health of human beings, animals, plants and soils and considers them as one.

According to this principle the health of people cannot be segregated from the health of the Eco-system.

A healthy soil will produce healthy crops which will nourish the health of animals and human beings.

CAN WE HAVE SOME CERTIFIED ORGANIC FOOD, PLEASE?

ARE PESTICIDES WORTH THEIR USE IN AGRICULTURE?

31 pesticides that have been banned in other countries are still being used in Indian Agriculture.

WHERE DOES THE BUCK STOP?

YOU DECIDE!

Dr. Aarti Mishra
http://in.linkedin.com/doctorsword

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