Organic, Natural or Chemical-Free Farming: Fear, Confusion, and Reality

Organic, Natural or Chemical-Free Farming: Fear, Confusion, and Reality?

-Yatin Mehta

After 2001, the advent of organic farming occurred, and in the last 10 years, its promotion has reached new heights. However, a comprehensive study is needed on how much fear, how much confusion, and how much reality lies behind all this.

1. The fear of "chemicals": In India, a huge confusion and fear regarding the term 'chemical' has been created, leaving aside who did it and why. The situation is such that if something is labeled as having chemicals, people's hands start trembling while taking it. It doesn’t matter what the chemical is. The reality is completely different; the appropriate term should be harmful chemicals, which are pesticides. However, here, knowledgeable people include both pesticides and fertilizers in the same category. They will consume zinc and iron fortified organic flour, but will not eat flour produced from crops that were given zinc sulfate in the fields. They are afraid of pesticides of which they have zero knowledge but do not see the chemicals in creams that go on their lips, even when there is a warning about allergy testing. They forget that fertilizers such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium are essential nutrients for plant growth. If these are in short supply in food, they will also be less in the body, and then chemicals will have to be consumed directly to make up for them.

1. Chemical farming- cancer fear: Excessive or irregular use of pesticides can have an impact on health, but this concern is not applicable everywhere. Why is it that, in the case of the train from Bathinda to Bikaner, which is often referred to as the 'cancer train,' there are no similar trains operating elsewhere? Either the level of pesticide use in that area is not comparable to other places, or some reports suggest there are issues with the water in that region. It is also pertinent to note that there are more cancer patients in northeastern India than in Punjab, where the use of pesticides is considerably lower. The actual causes of cancer cases include water quality, air quality, lifestyle, smoking, alcohol consumption, genetics, among others— not just agriculture and agricultural chemicals.

1. Organic has a better taste: A delusion or truth: Often the taste of organic is said to be better, primarily due to 'freshness' and 'processing time', and not just because of organic versus chemical farming. Most organic vegetables and fruits go directly from peri-urban areas to consumers, with very little time between harvesting and cooking. In contrast, regular vegetables take longer to reach from the field to being cooked, and changes also happen due to refrigeration. It is not fair to compare two-day-old conventional vegetables with fresh organic ones. If the same vegetable is grown using both methods and consumed at the same freshness, the taste difference will be very minimal — which might be more psychological than real.

1. Foreign strategy and market play: In a large country like India, if productivity decreases (for example, if production in organic farming declines), it could threaten the country's food security. Subsequently, the country would be forced to buy organic (or chemically treated) products from abroad. This year, Chinese garlic has created quite a stir. Large quantities of lentils and oilseeds are still being purchased every year. Many domestic companies are launching organic brands in India, but this seems more like a market-building strategy rather than a complete 'health and environmental service'.

1. Solution: Move towards balanced farming — in which pesticides are used minimally, as needed, and scientifically. The inclusion of techniques like Integrated Pest Management (IPM), sustainable agricultural practices, and residue monitoring will be beneficial for all. Instead of just rattling on about organic and natural, efforts are needed to maintain a balance of food security, nutrition, costs, and yield.

The issue of organic versus conventional farming is not just about agriculture, but is also connected to social, political, and economic strategies. It involves a cocktail of fear, confusion, and the market. India needs a science-based agricultural policy, not a 'fear-based' market creation.

The debate between organic and chemical farming is more related to markets, confusion, and emotions than science. We should trust data, not fear.

India needs modern, sustainable, and scientific farming, not fear of chemicals.

Note: These are the author's personal views based on 10 years of experience.