INTRODUCTION

Organic farming is a term or form of agriculture that relies on techniques such as crop rotation, green manure, compost and biological pest control. Organic farming uses fertilizers and pesticides but excludes or strictly limits the use of manufactured (synthetic) fertilizers, pesticides which include herbicides, insecticides and fungicides. Plant growth regulators such as hormones, livestock antibiotics, food additives genetically modified organisms, human sewage sludge and nanomaterial. The aim of this system of farming is to achieve a high level of food quality, environmentally, safety and well-being of humans Organic agriculture includes: Using green fertilizers like crop waste and animal dung also called compost for soil fertility using biological methods to repel insects,pest and weeds In organic farming, the use of farmyard manure, animal droppings, green manure, compost manure (which is a mixture
1

of animal remains and plant which is allowed to decompose before application to the soil

NEED FOR ORGANIC FARMING

Organic farming methods combine scientific knowledge of ecology and modern technology with traditional farming based on naturally occurring processes. Concerns have grown increasingly about the use of genetically modified substances and the genetics change in natural food source and as a result, the nutritional value or content of the food substance is reduced and altered. The issue of organic farming has become prevalent topic in the western media since the appearance of epidemics like bird flu and mad cow diseases which originate in animals and later spreads to humans. The spread of these diseases has partly been blamed on the source of feed of these animals because the inorganic content of this feed are high.

DIFFERENT TYPES OF ORGANIC MANURES

FARM YARD MANURE Farm yard manure refers to the decomposed mixture of dung and urine of farm animals along with litter and left over.it is prepared basically using cow dung, urine waste straw and other dairy waste, it is highly useful ADVANTAGES Increases the water holding capacity of the soil The ability to improve the soil, tilth and aeration It stimulates activity of micro-organisms that made plant food element in the soil readily to crops COMPOSTS Composting is natures process of recycling decomposed organic materials into a rich soil. It is a process of reducing vegetable and animal waste to a quickly utilizable condition for improving and maintaining soil fertility. These are produced through the action of micro-organisms on wastes. Waste may
3

include leaves, roots and stubbles, kitchen waste, shredded twigs, crop residues,straw,weeds and human habitation wastes The two type of composite are: AerobicAnaerobic

Green Manuring
This improves the soil fertility and supply a part of nutrient requirement of crops (particularly N).Green manure refers to crops which have already been uprooted and have often already been stuffed under the soil. The then dying plants are of a type of cover crop often grown primarily to add nutrients and organic matter to the soil, Example Nitrogen fixing crops. Typically, a green manure crop is grown for a specific period of time, and then plowed under and incorporated into the soil while green or shortly after flowering. Any plant cannot be used as a green manure in practical farming. Leguminous plant are largely used as green manure due to their symbiotic N fixing capacity, some non-leguminous plants are also used due to local availability, quick growth, drought tolerance and adaptation to diverse condition.
4

Green manure should possess the following traits Is easy to incorporate Is tolerant to pest and diseases Show early establishment, high seedling vigor Is quickly decomposable Possess early onset of N fixation and its efficient sustenance. Be tolerant to drought, shade, flood and adverse temperature

ADVANTAGES OF ORGANIC FARMING

Organic farming improves soil quality. This is because there are no leftovers in the soil which might be harmful to life after planting. Unlike Organic farming where synthetic fertilizer are used. They live residues which are not beneficial to the ecosystem. Organic farming leaves soils that are rich in macro-nutrients that can be used for decades to grow crops vertically.

The produce from organic farms is pesticide free and produce in a suitable way. Organically produced crops are usually rich in nutrient contents as compared to intensively produced ones whose composition might be altered Animals which graze on organic fields and feed, experience better health, less sickness, disease and ultimately produce better fasting milk for consumers Eating organic food may infect, reduce the risk of heartattacks,strokes and cancer for individuals who abstain from consuming products produced by conventional farming methods The increase in crop diversity and organic farming methods breakup diseases and pest cycles

DISADVANTAGES OF ORGANIC FARMING

At times they lead to bacterial contamination of produce because this method use farm yard manure and compost Organic farm products may have a shorter shelf life and may look more blemished Because organic methods do not produce as many crops as intensive methods, the price of organic produce have increased price When compared with inorganic (intensive farm) you discover that organic farm has its own flaws. This is because Inorganic farm methods become necessary because of the need to produce enough food for the ever increasing human population. This method increase crop yield to 3-4 times to those produced organically. Inorganic farming has been a direct factor in increase in agricultural productivity
7

The cost of food has also declined and more food is traded globally and yields increase more quickly. These facts are not to say that inorganic method of farming. This is because The use of pesticide is on the increase but the effectiveness of these pesticides is decreasing Poor countries cannot buy enough fertilizer to achieve high crop yield Increase in the use of synthetic fertilizer is causing reduction in the quality of soil and water Increase in crop yield may not be sustainable where storage facilities or market for sale is not readily available.

CONCLUSION
In conclusion, it will be right to say that the benefit of practicing organic farming which is also known as (low-Input) agriculture out-weighs the benefit we get from intensive agriculture. This is because organic farm is such more environmentally friendly and cheaper to practice. The benefits we get as a result of practicing the method of agriculture (organic farming) include Production of natural and healthy food with high quality Maintenance of soil fertility for future purpose It maintains the biological variety and the hereditary resources Keeps the environment healthy It encourages biological activity in agricultural system from micro-organism, soil plants and animals.

RECOMMENDATION
Organic farming should be adopted as it is safer for human health, soil fertility, environmentally friendly and causes minimal distortion to the ecosystem. It is true that the yield of intensive method of farming is more than that of organic farming. But studies reveal that when organic farming is adopted, during the first three years of implementation, the yield of intensive farming is more. But after that, the yields of organic farming begin to improve. The problem of short shelf life can be improved by the use of good species. The bacterial infection on crops can be addressed by treating the manures properly before applying to soil.

10

REFERENCES
Abawi GS & Widmer T.L 2000.Impact of soil health management practices on soilborne pathogens, nematodes and root diseases of vegetable crops. Applied soil ecology 15, 13-47. Carruthers SP Harris PM Tranter RB Jones S Miller FA Bennet RM. Alteiri MA 1995. Agroecology: the science of sustainable agriculture intermediate technology publications, London. Atkinson D Baddeley J Goicocchea N Green J Sanchez-Diaz M & Watson CA 2002.AMF in low agriculture. In: Mycorrhizal technology: from genes to bioproducts achievments and hurdles in arbuscularmycorrhizal research, ed H Schuepp, Birkhauser Basel

11