A B C of Organic Agriculture - I

As my objective of writing this blog is to make people aware of organic living, I'd like to throw some light on the concept of organic agriculture. The first thing that comes into ones mind when he comes across the word organic is fertilizer and pesticide free food, but there is much more to it.

  The definition of organic agriculture was coined by the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IOFAM), which is a worldwide movement spreading across 108 countries and 750 members. According to IOFAM organic agriculture is defined as, 

"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."

As stated in the definition, the goal of organically producing food is to create an ecological balance which involves benefits for the consumers, the farmers and over and above for our planet. The body also came up with the principles of organic agriculture. The four principle of organic agriculture are:

• The principle of Health - "Organic Agriculture should sustain and enhance the health of soil, plant, animal, human and planet as one and indivisible."
• The principle of Ecology - "Organic Agriculture should be based on living ecological systems and cycles, work with them, emulate them and help sustain them."
• The principle of Fairness - "Organic Agriculture should build on relationships that ensure fairness with regard to the common environment and life opportunities."
• The 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."

This post introduces everyone to the fundamental definition of organic agriculture and its underlying principles. The further posts in the A B C series would explore the organic agriculture practices employed by farmers who strive to provide healthy produce and sustainable environment. So watch out this space for more interesting fundas on organic living.