RESEARCH PRIORITIES FOR PROMOTING

ORGANIC FARMING IN ARID REGION

Dr S K Sharma
Why Organic Farming
Crop yield - Stagnation
Sustainable Agriculture in the state -
Protecting long term fertility
Environment & Health concern
Pesticide Residue
Cost of production for purchase of more inputs
Resource poor farmer
Vast Animal wealth
Scope for using livestock wastes/organic manures
Farming system concept
Manurial policy - Use of synthetic fertilizers are strictly
prohibited
Manures & organic wastes are to be used
Standardization of use of organic manures/wastes from
different sources
1. FYM/compost
2. Vermicompost
3. Green manure/green leaf manuring
What should be dose/method of application in different
crops
High B:C ratio
Low cost of production/kg of produce
Enrichment of existing organic sources by blending with
natural minerals
Exploring agronomic ways to enhance fertility
Crop rotation potential
Intercropping/mixcropping/alleycropping/agroforestry
/agrostology
Ways for correcting deficiencyof nutrients, if appears later
in standing crop
Need for development of crop varieties response to crop
organic manures
Plant protection
i) Identification of insect-pests-disease
free zone
Arid area - very good
ii) Development of insect pests/disease
resistant crop varieties
iii) Exploring possibility of insect pests
disease control through biopesticides
(Trichoderma), Trichogamma & NPV
Herbal/Natural Plant products
•Neem seed kernel extract
•Neem dry leaf powder
•Turmeric powder
•Garlic extract
•Cow urine
•Others
Exploring preventive way to insect, pests & diseases
•Agronomic ways
•Adjusting date of sowing crop rotation
•Method of sowing
•Depth of sowing
•Seed treatment
•Solar treatment
•Hot water treatment
•Cold water treatment
•Permitted radiation
Exploring possibility of insect pests & disease
control through permitted methods
•Pheromone based technology in white grubs such
techniques be explored for other major
insects/pests/diseases
Microbial control - Mycopesticides
Whitegrubs
Ways to find out weed control - cycle
wheel hoe
Quality aspects of organically produced
foods & associated improvement in human
health/animal health
•Collaborative research
• Agril. Scientists
•Medical scientists
•Veterinary scientists
•Homescience scientists
• . Monitoring soil health index - with different sources to assess
effectiveness of manures for sustainability &protecting Environment
• Soil organic matter
• Soil permeability
• Hydraulic conductivity
• Infiltration
• Ground water pollution
• Soil aggregation
• Soil water holding capacity
Need for developing complete package of practices
for each crops
Integrated farming system research with emphasis
on crop-animal-human concern
• which crop - which manure - which animal
Research is also needed
for processing of produce/preservation
without chemical preservatives/without use of artificial
responses
Storage - Need for safe storage through natural
products/type of begs
/physical techniques
Neem leaf/Turmeric
Need to produce Organic seed : Basic input