Organic: to combat pesticide residues

This paper analyses the use of fertilisers and pesticides within Indian agriculture, discussing the comparative advantages of organic farming as an alternative method of agricultural production. It draws attention to the fact that high doses of chemical fertilisers and pesticides are causing severe environmental and health hazards, including the contamination of ground water. The author argues that agrochemicals pollute the environment primarily because of their wasteful application, and because crops use them inefficiently. The paper claims that fertiliser use efficiency is revealed to be only 30-35% - the remaining proportion reaching underground water resources.The author argues that organic agriculture is a holistic production management system, which enhances the health of the agro-ecosystem, including biodiversity, biological cycles and soil biological activity.The author recommends a number of steps to strengthen organic farming throughout India, including:appropriate research and extension services should be developed to make available to the small farmers all the relevant information on organic farmingcertification and labelling capacities should be developed to overcome the prohibitive costs involved in gaining certification by external agenciescertification processes should be simplified and made accessible to small farmersbiofertilisers, bioagents, biopesticides and other organic inputs should be made available to the small land holders at sufficient quantities and reasonable pricesdomestic market for organic products be encouraged and developedmarketing linkages, both domestic and international, should be ensured for resource-poor small farmerssubsidies and other financial support schemes should be undertaken to help the small growers bear the initial expenses for converting to 'certified organic' farms, and so on.[adapted from author]