Principles of Organic Farming Renewing the Earth’s Harvest Dr. Vandana Shiva Dr. Poonam Pande Dr. Jitendra Singh NAVDANYA A-60, Hauz Khas, New Delhi - 110 016 INDIA i Acknowledgement We at the NAVDANYA wish to acknowledge the farmers contributions who for centuries have grown and conserved diversity in their fields. In particular, we want to thank all those farmers who, through their participation in our conservation efforts are in effect co-authors of this work and are changing India’s farm destiny to one of hope and health. The editorial team Vandana Shiva Poonam Pande Jitendra Singh Principles of Organic Farming: Renewing the Earth’s Harvest © Navdanya, 2004 Published by Navdanya A-60, Hauz Khas, New Delhi - 110 016 INDIA Tel. : 0091-11-26853772, 26532460 Fax : 0091-11-2685 6795 Email : [email protected] Printed by Systems Vision, A-199 Okhla Phase- I New Delhi - 110 020 Publication of this volume has been made possible by the support received from The Royal Netherlands Embassy, New Delhi. ii Foreword he contemporary crisis of Indian agriculture is evident with the epidemic of farmers’ Tsuicides due to unpayable debt and the return of hunger and starvation for the first time since 1942. The shift to ecological farming has become necessary for renewal of the earth’s vital resources, for lowering costs of production and for increasing food security. We are publishing ’Principles of Organic Farming’ to facilitate the transition to an agriculture which is sustainable, guarantees livelihood security and food security. The demand for training in organic farming is increasing day by day. Most of the time the literature for training is available for certain specific aspects of organic farming, for example, dealing only on composting methods, or on pest management. The whole spectrum of technical skills and know-how needed for organic farming is not easily available in one place. Therefore, the present effort is to produce a document that describes the dimensions e.g., biodiversity conservation, seed supply, soil fertility maintenance, pest management, water conservation, issues of trade and distribution etc. of organic farming. Besides, environmental and health impact of chemical agricultue vs organic farming is essential for equipping any one interested in giving up toxic chemicals and shifting to ecological, sustainable farming methods. Thus this manual for training in organic farming provides material for knowhow of organic farming from the seed to the market, from the field to the table. It also combines scientific principles of agro-ecology, soil ecology, and biodiversity conservation with practical tools that all organic farmers need to have. Earlier publications and training manuals on biodiversity conservation and organic farming provided by Navdanya include: • Sustaining Diversity • Cultivating Diversity • Biodiversity Based Productivity • Ecological History of Food and Farming • Trainer’s Training Manual for Sustainable Agriculture and Biodiversity Conservation The Navdanya team involved in organic farming practices over the last fifteen years comprised of practicing farmers and agro-ecologists. Each learning from the other, so that the farmer’s knowledge accumulated over centuries combined with the latest insights in ecology to provide a sound and secure foundation for an organic future. Navdanya is a movement to provide alternatives to industrial agriculture and globalised agriculture. It is also a movement for ecological security and economic security for small and marginal peasants. Navdanya has evolved creative, innovative, practical alternatives to the Green Revolution and Genetic Engineering, which have been reproduced across the country and other parts of the Third World. iii Navdanya’s solutions to the present crises faced by the farmers and farming across the globe is holistic and systemic. Our approach is holistic because it covers all aspects of production, not just singular input substitution techniques – organic manures in place of chemical fertilizers, plant based pesticides in place of synthetic pesticides. Navdanya’s practical experience and training programs span across all production needs of farmers – seeds, soil fertility, pest control, and water conservation. Our practice and programs cover the entire food chain-from farmer’s fields to the tables and kitchens of consumers. We support sustainable production with social justice and fairness in distribution and trade. Navdanya has facilitated the establishment of more than 50 community seed banks and biodiversity conservation centers in different regions of India. Helping more than 200,000 farmers make a transition to organic farming through training by Navdanya and its partners in Uttaranchal, Uttar Pradesh, Bengal, Orissa, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Punjab and Rajasthan. Besides working directly with farmers in Uttaranchal and U.P., Navdanya has helped organizations to set up programmes for promoting biodiversity conservation and organic farming in different states over the past two decades. Karnataka Uttar Pradesh • Green Foundation • Vigyan Siksha Kendra, Manav Sewa • Prakriti Sanraksha Kendra Sansthan, Janhit Foundation Tamilnadu Uttaranchal • CIKS • Navdanya • Beej Bachao Andolan West Bengal • Vrihi Madhya Pradesh Orissa • Kisani Bija Abhiyan • PBSSA Jammu and Kashmir Rajasthan • Ladakh Women’s Alliance • Jagran Jan Vikas Samiti • Ladakh Ecology Group This manual built on fifteen years of the work by the Navdanya team as well as the additional scientific contribution by Dr. Poonam Pande, our soil-ecology specialist and Dr. Jitendra Singh, ecological pest and disease management specialist. We hope this manual will help spread the organic movement faster and further in India and will be useful resource for a shift from chemical to organic farming for farmers, NGOs, Government and Universities. In dedication to an organic future, Dr. Vandana Shiva Founder and President Navdanya iv Contents PART I CHAPTER I Chemical farming: The suicide economy .............................................................................................. 1 1.1 Chemical inputs: unnecessary hazards .......................................................................................... 1 1.1.1 The impacts of the green revolution ...................................................................................... 2 1.2 Threats to agro-biodiversity from the green revolution and genetic engineering ................... 2 1.2.1 Destruction of habitat and agro-ecosystems ........................................................................ 2 1.2.2 Monoculture production: promotion of green revolution ................................................... 2 1.2.3 Narrowing the variety base .................................................................................................... 3 1.2.4 The new threat of genetically engineered seeds ................................................................... 3 1.3 Chemical agriculture .......................................................................................................................... 3 1.4 Pesticides .............................................................................................................................................. 4 1.4.1 Case study ................................................................................................................................ 5 1.5 Chemical fertilizers ........................................................................................................................... 12 1.5.1 Fertilizer consumption ..........................................................................................................14 CHAPTER II Chemical farming: Damage to the environment ................................................................................ 16 2.1 Impact on soil .................................................................................................................................... 16 2.2 Impact on surface water and ground water: ............................................................................... 17 2.2.1 Pesticides in aquatic ecosystem ........................................................................................... 18 2.2.2 Pesticide residues in bottled water ...................................................................................... 19 2.3 Impact of pesticides on biodiversity.............................................................................................. 19 2.4 Effect on food chain ......................................................................................................................... 20 2.4.1 Food chain .............................................................................................................................. 21 2.5 Destruction of pollinators................................................................................................................ 22 2.5.1 Pollination biology and its importance in biodiversity conservation ............................. 23 2.5.2 Ecological significance.......................................................................................................... 23 2.5.3 Economic significance .......................................................................................................... 23 2.5.4 Current threats ....................................................................................................................... 24 v 2.5.5 Identification of the pollinators in the field .......................................................................