s

WORKING PAPER SERIES EU-INDIA INNOVATION NETWORK PROJECT Contract n. IND/B7-3001/95/115-31 Website: www.it.brighton.ac.uk/research/seake/euindia.html

Working Paper no: WP/eu-ind/120 SEAKE Centre, University of Brighton, UK Organic Farming – A Hope for Punjab R.Singh

SEAKE Centre (Social and Educational Applications Knowledge Engineering) School of Information Management Faculty of Information Technology University of Brighton Moulsecoomb, Brighton, BN2 4GJ UK Website: www.bton.ac.uk Organic farming – a hope for Punjab By Ranjit Singh

Agriculture in Punjab needs new directions in order to improve financial conditions of peasantry. This can be done to a great extent by diversifying agriculture. New opportunities have been made available due to globalization of the trade. In fact globalization of the trade. In fact, globalization has brought forth opportunities as well as threats. Punjab can create in international-market for vegetables, fruits, flowers and milk products. But we can only compete in world market by producing quality product. In order to produce for the world market, a dynamic agricultural production system is required. This will require a suitable technology, effective communication and delivery system and supportive government policies. It is the best time for those farmers who can produce for processing and international market and it is the worst time for those farmers who will not be able to compete. Our products are of poor quality and have traces of chemicals used to control weeds and pests. Residues of chemicals used to control weeds and pests. Residues of chemical fertilizers have been detected. The contamination of food material with pesticides is becoming a very serious problem. Punjab uses the maximum amount of chemicals in agriculture as compared to any other state of the country. In the world market, people are very much conscious of the purity of the products. Special emphasis is being laid on organic farming i.e. farming without the use of chemicals. Such products are known as organic products and are sold at a premium. The European Union has passed strict regulations on organic products and farmers have to observe the same to be label his produce as organic product. The regulations apply to milk and meat products also. According to these regulations, farmers are not allowed to use any chemicals on the crop, including fodder. The use of a chemical will only be allowed if it is essential for the control of a harmful organism or a particular disease for which other biological, cultural, physical or plant breeding alternative are not available and the conditions for its use preclude any direct contact with the seed, crop or crop products. However, in the case of perennial crops, direct contact may take place, but only outside the growing season of the edible parts (fruits), provided that such application does not indirectly result in the presence of residue of the chemical in the edible parts, and its use not result in or contribute to unacceptable effects or contamination of the environment. Similarly, for the purpose of fertilisation or soil conditioning an unauthorised product can be used if it is essential for the purpose of fertilisation or soil conditioning an unauthorised product can be used if it is essential for specific nutrition requirements of crops of specific soil conditioning purposes. Anyhow, prior approval of the competent authority is required before its use. The concept of organic production system is not new. It came into existence about a quarter century ago through the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movement (IFOAM). Principles for organic production have been developed as concrete and constructive response to the criticism of the negative impact of the conventional production regime. In Denmark the state regulation of organic production came into force in December 1987. While in Denmark last month, I visited organic farm and factories processing organic products, and talked to persons concerned. Opponents of organic farming plead that it will not be possible to raise crops successfully without the application of chemical fertilizers, weedicides and pesticides. The experiences of Denmark, the USA and other European countries confirm that it is possible to raise crops vegetables and fruits without the application of chemicals. Danish farmers told me that they faced some setback at the initial stages but now they are getting similar yields of higher quality. Presently 20 per cent of the milk supplied from dairies there retail stores is organic and sells at a 25 percent higher price. Organic farming will no only be able to capture foreign market but will also help in preserving the eco-system and sustainability of farming. Since a majority of farms in Punjab are small, organic farming cannot be taken up by individual farmers. There has to be a “cluster farm approach” to maintain sustainability.

Strategy: In Punjab there are areas having specialization to produce cash crops such as potatoes, tomatoes, chilies, basmati, etc. There is a need to identify such areas. To begin with, new projects pertaining to high-tech agriculture can be started in selected areas. One block can be selected from each district according to the major crop of that area. Even from each block 10 to 15 villages can be identified. Punjab Agricultural University should be entrusted with the responsibility of developing suitable technology for each selected crop. There is also a need to establish one processing plant for each block. A marketing network should be developed with the help of local cooperative societies for each block and for each crop. Selected farmers must be given proper training in the cultivation of these crops. Punjab has nine krishi vigyan kendras and a centre at Ludhiana. These kendras can me made responsible for providing training. A state-level committee should plan and execute the new programmes.