INSIGHT UPSC QUIZ

ANSWER: (A) 

Benefits of Organic Farming: Organic agriculture offers a means to substitute costlier agricultural inputs (such as HYV seeds, chemical fertilisers, pesticides etc.) with locally produced organic inputs that are cheaper and thereby generate good returns on investment. 

• Organic agriculture also generates income through exports as the demand for organically grown crops is on a rise. 
• Studies across countries have shown that organically grown food has more nutritional value than chemical farming thus providing us with healthy foods. Since organic farming requires more labour input than conventional farming, India will find organic farming an attractive proposition. 
• Finally, the produce is pesticide-free and produced in an environmentally sustainable way.
• Pests and diseases occur to organic crops as well. However, it is managed using chemical free methods.
• It has been observed that the yields from organic farming are less than modern agricultural farming in the initial years. Therefore, small and marginal farmers may find it difficult to adapt to large- scale production. 
• Organic produce may also have more blemishes and a shorter shelf life than sprayed produce. 
• Moreover, choice in production of off-season crops is quite limited in organic farming. 
• Nevertheless, organic farming helps in sustainable development of agriculture and India has a clear advantage in producing organic products for both domestic and international markets.