Organic Agriculture

• Definitions
• Principle aims of organic agriculture
• Principles of Organic Agriculture
• Integrating principles in farming/ processing
• National Standards for Organic Production
• PGS-India Standards
Part 1

1.1 Organic Agriculture

Organic agriculture seeks to produce healthy, good quality food in an ecologically
responsible way. The organic management systems are designed to avoid the need
for agrochemicals and to minimize damage to the environment and wildlife. Organic
growers world over use sustainable management practices to maintain optimum
natural fertility and biological activity in the soil, and to enhance the farm environment
by encouraging farm wildlife. This helps to support plenty of natural predators, thereby
preventing pests and diseases from reaching damaging levels. A healthy organic soil
ensures sustained availability of nutrients through intricate biological processes,
recycling of biomass keeps it rich in organic carbon and precious biological life and
the combination of all such natural processes help produce crops that yield better in
quantity and quality and is able to resist pests and diseases.

Organic agriculture is based on following fundamental rules:

• Nature knows best and has provided the model understood over centuries. One
must learn and emulate from it
• Intimate understanding of nature's ways and integrating the same in farm
operations is the key
• Nature has provided the ways to meet the demand and maintain balance among
various component. It does not believe in mining of the soil and resources and do
not degrade it.
• Organic agriculture regards soil as a living entity
• All life forms are integral part of the system and are significant contributors to its
fertility.
• Management and preservation of all life forms in its full diversity is fundamental to
success

Philosophy behind organic agriculture

Sir Albert Howard, father of modern organic agriculture in his famous book “An
Agricultural Testament” summarized the philosophy of organic agriculture as:
“Mother earth never attempts to farm without livestock; she always raises mixed crops;
great pains are taken to preserve the soil and to prevent erosion; the mixed vegetable
and animal wastes are converted into humus; there is no waste; the processes of
growth and processes of decay balance one another; ample provision is made to
maintain large reserves of fertility; the greatest care is taken to store rainfall; both
plants and animals are left to protect themselves against disease.”

Since organic agriculture means placing farming on integral relationship, we must

understand the relationship between the soil, water and plants, between soil-soil
microbes and waste products, between the vegetable kingdom and the animal
kingdom of which the apex animal is the human being, between agriculture and
forestry, between soil, water and atmosphere etc. It is the totality of these relationships
that is the bedrock of organic farming.

1.2 Definitions

1.2.1 Definitions
Over last 50 years different organizations have suggested various definitions to
modern organic farming. Some of the widely accepted definitions are listed below:

a. USDA Definition
“organic farming is a system which avoids or largely excludes the use of
synthetic inputs (such as fertilizers, pesticides, hormones, feed additives 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”.

b. FAO Definition
“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”.

c. IFOAM Definition
“Organic Agriculture is a production system that sustains the health of soils,
ecosystems and people. It relies on ecological processes, biodiversity and
cycles adapted to local conditions, rather than the use of inputs with adverse
effects. Organic agriculture combines tradition, innovation and science to
benefit the shared environment and promote fair relationships and a good
quality of life for all involved”.

d. Definition under National Programme for Organic Production (NPOP)

“Organic agriculture is a system of farm design and management to create an
ecosystem, which can achieve sustainable productivity without the use of
artificial external inputs such as chemicals, fertilizers and pesticides”.

e. Definition suggested by Task Force on Organic Agriculture (2014)

“Organic agriculture is a unique production management system which
promotes and enhances agro-ecosystem health, including biodiversity,
biological cycles and soil biological activity. This is accomplished by using on-
farm agronomic, biological and mechanical methods in exclusion of all synthetic
off-farm inputs”.
1.3 Principle aims of organic agriculture
The principal aim of organic farming is to establish and maintain a harmonious and
interdependent relationship between soil-plant, plant-animal and animal soil systems
to create a sustainable agro- ecological system based on local resources. Organic
farming uses environment friendly methods of crop and livestock production, without
the use of synthetic fertilizers, growth hormones, growth enhancing antibiotics,
synthetic pesticides or gene manipulation. As per IFOAM (2002) organic agriculture
should be based on following aims:
▪ To produce high quality food in sufficient quantity
▪ To interact in a constructive and life-enhancing way with natural systems and
cycles.
▪ To consider the wider social and ecological impact of organic production and
processing systems.
▪ To encourage and enhance biological cycles within the farming system,
involving microorganisms, soil flora and fauna, plants and animals.
▪ To develop a valuable and sustainable aquatic ecosystem
▪ To maintain and increase long-term fertility of soils.
▪ To maintain the genetic diversity of the production system and its surroundings,
including the protection of plant and wild life habitats.
▪ To promote the healthy use and proper care of water resources and all life
therein.
▪ To use, as far as possible, renewable resources in locally organized production
systems.
▪ To create a harmonious balance between crop production and animal
husbandry.
▪ To give all livestock conditions of life with due consideration for the basic
aspects of their innate behavior.
▪ To minimize all forms of pollution.
▪ To process organic products using renewable resources.
▪ To produce fully biodegradable organic products.
▪ To produce textiles which are long lasting and of good quality.
▪ To allow everyone involved in organic production and processing a quality of
life, which meets their basic needs and allows an adequate return and
satisfaction from their work, including a safe working environment.
▪ To progress towards an entire production, processing and distribution chain
which is both socially just and ecologically responsible.

1.4 Principles of organic agriculture

International Federation for Agriculture Movements (IFOAM) has codified the
principles of organic agriculture during 2005. These principles are now the roots from
which organic agriculture is growing and developing. These principles while
emphasizing on core issues of health, ecology, fairness and care also elaborate the
contribution that organic agriculture can make to the world, and a vision to improve
entire agriculture in a global context.

IFOAM’s four principles of organic agriculture

i. The principle of health
ii. The principle of ecology
iii. The principle of fairness
iv. The principle of care

i. Principle of Health
Organic agriculture should sustain and enhance the health of soil, plant, animal,
human and planet as one and indivisible. Health is the wholeness and integrity of
living systems ensuring maintenance of physical, mental, social and ecological
wellbeing. Immunity, resilience and regeneration are key characteristics of health.
The role of organic agriculture, whether in farming, processing, distribution, or
consumption, is to sustain and enhance the health of ecosystems and organisms
from the smallest microorganism in the soil to human beings. In particular, organic
agriculture is intended to produce high quality, nutritious food that contributes to
preventive health care and well being and to achieve this it prohibits the use of
chemical fertilizers, pesticides, hormones, synthetic drugs and antibiotics and
chemical food additives directly or indirectly in the entire food production chain.

ii. Principle of Ecology

Organic agriculture should be based on living ecological systems and cycles, work
with them, emulate them and help sustain them. It states that production is to be
based on ecological processes, and recycling. Nourishment and well being is
achieved through the ecology of the specific production environment. For
example, in the case of crops this is the living soil; for animals it is the farm
ecosystem; for fish and marine organisms, the aquatic environment. Organic
farming, pastoral and wild harvest systems should fit the cycles and ecological
balances in nature. These cycles are universal but their operation is site-specific.
Organic management must be adapted to local conditions, ecology, culture and
scale. To maintain and improve environmental quality and conserve resources,
input use policy must rely on reuse, recycling and efficient management of
materials and energy. Organic Agriculture should attain ecological balance
through the design of farming systems, establishment of habitats and
maintenance of genetic and agricultural diversity. Those who produce, process,
trade, or consume organic products should protect and benefit the common
environment including landscapes, climate, habitats, biodiversity, air and water.

Organic agriculture should attain ecological balance through the design of farming
systems, establishment of habitats and maintenance of genetic and agricultural
diversity. Those who produce, process, trade, or consume organic products
 should protect and benefit the common environment including landscapes,
climate, habitats, biodiversity, air and water.

iii. Principle of Fairness

Organic agriculture should build on relationships that ensure fairness with regard
to the common environment and life opportunities. Equity, respect, justice and
stewardship of the shared world, both among people and in their relations to other
living beings, is the foundation for ensuring fairness.

This principle emphasizes that those involved in Organic Agriculture should

conduct human relationships in a manner that ensures fairness at all levels and to
all parties - farmers, workers, processors, distributors, traders and consumers.
Organic Agriculture should provide everyone involved with a good quality of life,
and contribute to food sovereignty and reduction of poverty. It aims to produce a
sufficient supply of good quality food and other products.

This principle also insists that animals should be provided with the conditions and
opportunities of life that accord with their physiology, natural behavior and well-
being. Natural and environmental resources that are used for production and
consumption should be managed in a way that is socially and ecologically just and
should be held in trust for future generations. Fairness requires systems of
production, distribution and trade that are open and equitable and account for real
environmental and social costs.

iv. Principle of Care

Organic agriculture should be managed in a precautionary and responsible
manner to protect the health and well-being of current and future generations and
the environment. Organic Agriculture is a living and dynamic system that responds
to internal and external demands and conditions. Practitioners of organic
agriculture can enhance efficiency and increase productivity, but this should not
be at the cost of health and well-being of any living form including human.
Consequently, new technologies need to be assessed and existing methods
reviewed. Given the incomplete understanding of ecosystems and agriculture,
care must be taken.

This principle states that precaution and responsibility are the key concerns in
management, development and technology choices in organic agriculture.
Science is necessary to ensure that organic agriculture is healthy, safe and
ecologically sound. However, scientific knowledge alone is not sufficient. Practical
experience, accumulated wisdom and traditional and indigenous knowledge offer
valid solutions, tested by time. Organic agriculture should prevent significant risks
by adopting appropriate technologies and rejecting unpredictable ones, such as
genetic engineering. Decisions should reflect the values and needs of all who
might be affected, through transparent and participatory processes.
1.5 Integrating principles in farming/ processing operations

a. Implementing Principle of Health

i. Management of soil health and fertility through diversified cropping systems,
crop rotations, multi/ intercropping, conservation and enhancement of
nutrient cycles and resource recycling.
ii. Making soils chemical residue free through adoption of conversion period
iii. Management of livestock in a way where they can express natural behavior.
iv. Ensuring health care system through preventive measures and immunity in
animals.
v. Complete prohibition on use of synthetic inputs such as chemical fertilizers,
pesticides, hormones and growth stimulants in plants, synthetic feed and
feed supplements for animals and avoiding to the extent possible use of
hormones, synthetic feed supplements, synthetic drugs and antibiotics.
vi. Absolute no to genetically modified organisms, their products and derivatives
vii. Prohibition on the use of ionizing radiations (such as gamma rays, X-rays
etc)
viii. Minimizing use of synthetic food additives, preservatives and nutritional
supplements in food processing

b. Implementing Principle of Ecology

i. Addressing biodiversity and habitat management needs for various
ecological needs and conservation of different life forms through planting of
diversified trees, hedge rows, buffer crops and diversified cropping systems
ii. Ensure genetic and agricultural diversity through mix cropping and multi-
variety cropping cultivation
iii. Minimum reliance on external inputs and practices that are not environment
friendly and put extra financial burden on grower
iv. Maximum reliance on on-farm resource recycling
v. Adoption of non-polluting practices (avoiding contamination)
vi. Conservation of natural resources such as water through rain water
harvesting

c. Implementing Principle of fairness

i. Allow all living forms to thrive and adopt management practices for pest
control using ecological and preventive approaches
ii. Fairness at all levels including farmers, farm workers, processors, traders
and consumers
iii. Animals are provided with the conditions and opportunities of life suiting to
their physiological and ethological needs
iv. Conservation and maintenance of natural resources (preventing soil erosion,
rain water conservation etc)
 v. Entire production system considers real environmental and social costs and
prevents damage and losses

d. Implementing Principle of care

i. Selection of technologies to ensure safe, healthy and ecologically sound
production system
ii. Combination of traditional wisdom, indigenous practices and modern
science is the best way to develop practices which respect for all its
participating components such as soil, water, air, plants and animals.
iii. Prohibiting technologies with environmental risks such as GMOs and
ionizing radiations
iv. Maintain very high level of integrity and trust for consumers through
certification process

1.6 National Standards for Organic Crop Production

National Programme on Organic Production (NPOP) and PGS-India organic
guarantee system have prescribed Standards for Organic Production. These
standards are comparable to widely adopted international standards of IFOAM, USDA
and European Union.

a. Maintenance of documentation – Organic certification system requires

documentation of entire production process starting with advance crop plan to
documentation of practices, inputs use, nutrient and pest management,
harvest, storage, handling and processing etc

b. Crop production plan – Annual crop production plan is required to be

submitted to the certification body which may include the crops to be taken,
area, seeds, types and quantity of inputs proposed to be used, description of
monitoring processes, contamination control and post harvest handling.

c. Conversion – When a conventional or non-organic farm is converted to

organic, it has to pass through a transition period known as conversion period,
which may span over a period of 24 to 36 months depending upon the crop and
past usage of inputs.

d. Landscape - Entire farm design has to ensure that it contribute beneficially to

entire ecosystem through biodiversity, landscape management and resource
conservation.

e. Choice of crops and varieties – Varieties used shall be adapted to the local
climatic conditions. All seeds and planting material shall be of organic in origin.
In cases of non-availability conventional seeds without any chemical treatment
 can be used. Use of Genetically modified seeds; transgenic plants or plant
material is prohibited.

f. Diversity in production system – Maintenance of diversity keeping in view of

local requirements and pressure of pests and diseases while maintaining soil
fertility, organic matter, microbial activity and general soil health through
diversified plantations, multi-cropping, crop rotations etc

g. Nutrient management – Fertilization management largely relies on use of

biodegradable material of plant/ animal origin from organic farms, minimize
nutrient losses, and prevent accumulation of heavy metals and pollutants.
Prohibition on use of all synthetic fertilizers directly or indirectly. Natural mineral
fertilizers can be used as supplementary sources on establishment of need.

h. Pest, disease and weed management – Weeds, pets and diseases are
controlled through preventive cultural techniques, which includes: habitat
management, balanced nutrient management, diversity, rotations, green
manures, use of resistant varieties etc. Pests can also be managed by using
natural enemies of pests, mechanical, biological, botanical and organically
acceptable chemicals. Use of synthetic pesticides in any form is prohibited. Use
of genetically modified organisms and their products is also prohibited.

i. Contamination control – Preventive measures shall be taken to prevent

contamination through water and air drift including management of buffer zones
and adopting measures to prevent contamination in field, storages and transit.

j. Soil and water conservation – Soil and water resources to be handled in a

sustainable manner. Prevent soil erosion, salination and excessive and
improper use of water. Clearing of land through burning is prohibited.

k. Collection of non-cultivated material of plant origin/ forest produce –

Collection of non-cultivated material from forests under organic certification is
allowed from areas where no prohibited substances have been used. Collection
is to be carried out in sustainable manner from the identified area as per the
forest management rules.

(Detailed training manual on NPOP Certification system available at …..) To

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1.7 PGS-India Standards for Organic Crop Production
1. Scope
Crop production standards prescribed here refer to cultivation of any agricultural and
non-agricultural crops/ plants for the production of food and fibre and their derivatives
or by-products and collection of non-timber wild harvest produce from natural forests.

2. Habitat Management and General Requirements

a. Maintain sufficient diversity on farm through maintenance of diversity
plantations, biological nitrogen fixation bushes and trees on farm boundary or
as hedge rows. Integration of randomly located multipurpose trees on farm
bunds and in utility spaces help in creation of habitat for maintenance and
survival of different beneficial life forms.
b. Integration of agro-forestry, if feasible should be considered
c. Adequate measures should be adopted to conserve and harvest rain water
d. Preferably the entire land holding with livestock should be converted to organic
according to these standards.
e. If it is not possible to convert the entire farm (split production) then the
measures must be in place to ensure that organic and non-organic parts are
clearly and continuously separate.
f. Simultaneous production of same crop (parallel production) in organic and non-
organic needs to be avoided.

3. Diversity Management
a. Organic farming systems should avoid monocropping and ensure continuously
changing farm diversity. Diversity is also a key to maintain soil fertility and to
effectively manage the pressure from insects, diseases and weeds. Diversity
should also help in maintaining or increasing soil organic matter, soil fertility,
microbial activity and general soil health.

b. Diversity can be achieved by adopting mixed cropping, intercropping and crop

rotations. Cover crops, trap crops and multi-layered farming practices are also
effective tools for diversity management. Soil fertility can be maintained by
integration of legumes or deep rooted plants in cropping systems, frequent use
of green manures, planned rotations and fertilization with organic inputs.

4. Integration of livestock
As organic farming systems largely depend upon farming system approach,
therefore it is important to integrate livestock along with crop production. This will
not only help in overall farm diversity but will also ensure continuous availability of
dung and urine for manuring and soil fertility management.
5. Soil and Water Conservation
a. Soil and water resources to be managed in sustainable manner and
measures to be taken to prevent erosion and salination of soil, excessive and
improper use of water and the pollution of ground and surface water.
b. Clearing or destruction of forest is prohibited, burning of straw or biomass shall
be restricted to minimum
c. Measures to be in place to prevent land degradation and pollution of ground
and surface water.

6. Contamination Control
a. Adequate measures to be taken to prevent contamination through water, air
drift, mixing or comingling through:
b. Raised bunds and escape channels to prevent rain water runoff from non-
organic fields
c. Buffer zones between organic and non-organic farms
d. Separate storage in time and space both for inputs and farm produce
e. Cleaning of machines and tools while using in organic farm
f. Any other measure suggested by the group/ certification programme

7. Conversion requirements
a. For a farm and its crop production products to be certified organic, it is
mandatory that the farm and entire farming operations of organic production
unit has under gone a period of conversion, complying with all the standard
requirements for following period:
i. 36 months for perennial plants
ii. 24 months for plants/ crops other than perennials

b. In cases where de-facto requirements under these standards have been met
for several years and the same can be verified from available documents,
conversion period can be reduced to 12 months at the discretion of Regional
Council.

c. In default organic areas where there is no history of prohibited substances use

and administration has imposed the ban on use of such substances and
adequate measures are in place to prevent entry of such prohibited substances,
the requirement of conversion period can be dispensed with. But such
exception can be granted only by the PGS-NEC on recommendations of PGS
Secretariat after physical verification and endorsement by verification
committee constituted for the purpose.

8. Seeds and planting material

a. All seeds and planting material shall be certified organic. When certified organic
seed and planting materials are not available (Local group need to ensure non-
 availability), chemically untreated conventional seed and planting material can
be used.

b. Use of Genetically modified seed/ planting material/ transgenic plants,

microorganisms (GMO) or their products, directly or indirectly are strictly
prohibited

9. Soil fertility and nutrient management

a. Green manuring, legume cover crop/ intercropping, multi cropping, effective
crop rotations and recycling of organic farm generated plant biomass through
composting or mulching should form the basis of nutrient management
b. Sufficient quantities of biodegradable material of plant or animal origin should
be used
c. Biodegradable material of plant/animal origin must be composted through
aerobic composting method where pile temperature has been maintained
between 1310 and 1700 F for minimum 5 days.
d. Raw dung-urine products should be used only after controlled fermentation
e. Mined mineral fertilizers in their natural composition can be used. In case of
micronutrient deficiency, micronutrients can be used mixed with compost.
f. Off-farm/ purchased inputs should be evaluated before use by the group to
ensure that no prohibited substances have been used in their making and
method of production is physical, mechanical or biological.
g. Off-farm/industry produced inputs approved by NPOP accredited certification
body as approved input for use in organic farming can be used without further
approval of the group.
h. Microbial preparations such as biofertilizers, biodynamic preparations, EM
solutions etc can be used.
i. Use of mineral nitrogen and all synthetic fertilizers, chemical hormones,
synthetic growth promoters, directly or indirectly are prohibited.
j. Use of sewage, sludge, human excreta or their products are prohibited

10. Insect pest, disease and weed management

a. Insect pest and disease management should rely primarily on best
management practices such as balanced soil fertility management, use of crops
and varieties resistant to pests and adapted to local situations, diversity
management, effective crop rotations, multi-cropping/ intercropping, green
manures, manipulation of planting and sowing time and habitat manipulation
through diversified plats, hedge rows, insectary plants, trap crops etc.
b. Pest problems may also be controlled through physical, mechanical and
biological approaches such as (but not limited to):
i. Removal of infested plants/ parts,
ii. Collection and destruction of egg masses
iii. Use of light traps, yellow and blue sticky traps, pheromone traps
iv. Mechanical such as tilling, scrapping, hoeing
 v. Biological such release of pest predators, parasites, pathogens,
installation of bird perches,
c. In cases where cultural and preventive approaches are not sufficient and there
is imminent threat to the crop then plant protection products derived from plant
or animal origin and prepared by using physical, mechanical or biological
methods can be used. Products approved for use in organic farming by
certification bodies accredited under National Programme for Organic
Production (NPOP) can also be used.
d. Natural mined products and biological products such as microbial biopesticides
can be used
e. On-farm produced plant extracts, oils or fermented products can be used
provided no synthetic ingredients is used in such preparations,
f. Weed management can be done through mulching with biodegradable material,
mowing, livestock grazing, hand or mechanical weeding, flame, heat or
electrical means or by using plastic or other synthetic mulches, provided that
such mulches are removed from the field after harvest.
g. Use of synthetic herbicides, fungicides, insecticides and other chemical
preparations including synthetic plant growth regulators and synthetic dyes are
strictly prohibited. Use of genetically engineered organisms or products are also
prohibited.

11. Collection of non-cultivated products of plant origin from wild habitats and
forests
a. The collection of wild plants and parts thereof and products including Tusser
cocoon, Honey, Lac, Medicinal Plants and Herbs, Roots and tuber, grown
naturally, and in forest shall be certified as organic provided:
i. It is derived from a designated area for collection, clearly depicted in the
map and is permitted by the forest department or state department,
which is subject to inspection,
ii. The collection areas have not received any treatment with products other
than those authorizedP for use in organic production,
iii. The collection area shall be at appropriate distance from conventional
farming and sources of pollution and contamination,
iv. The products are derived from a stable and sustainable environment and
total collection shall not exceed the sustainable yield of the ecosystem
or threaten the existence of plant and species.

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