Organic Farming: 7 Money-Making Facts to Know

Organic farming is nothing more than the traditional method of farming, the type that farmers probably used five thousand years ago. It is the holier than thou type of farming. It is farming without the ugly use of techniques considered to be harmful to humans and the society.

With over $100 billion market worldwide and growing, organic farming can no longer be ignored or brushed aside as the ramblings of modern day cave men. Here you have seven money-making facts that could help any organic farmer.

1.      Organic farming uses fertilizers

Of course, organic farmers also expect high returns on their investments so, yes, they use fertilizers and pesticides too. But in keeping with their agenda of maintaining a safe environment for everyone, traditional farmers don’t use synthetic petrochemical fertilizers and pesticides.

Rather, they employ green manure, compost and biological pest control. Think bone meal from animals, or pyrethrin from flowers, if it’s natural, it’s usable.

2.       Organic farming is traditional farming with scientific advancements

Organic farmers are not some out-dated chumps who are too stuck on old practices to embrace the new. Or are too stingy to purchase modern fertilizers. They actually apply scientific knowledge and principles to the traditional and natural methods.

3.       It uses modern technology to increase production

Contrary to popular opinion, this system of farming is not so old as to not embrace the new. It may be similar in structure to the traditional method of farming but uses farm machinery to support practices it employs.

4.       Organic farm takes advantage of crop rotation to boost yield

It is a chief technique used in enhancing agricultural productivity. Plants are grown to specifically fix the loss nutrients of the soil. Crops are rotated to confuse pests and renew the soil.

5.       It also employs pest control to reduce pests and diseases

It is not completely true that organic farmers don’t factor in pests because they don’t use pesticides.

No good farmer, conventional or organic, goes to bed without having done his best in keeping pests from eating away his labours. In this case, mulches (biological pest control) are used to control diseases and weeds.

6.       Organic farming makes polyculturists out of farmers

While conventional farming roots for the cultivation of one crop in one location (as Usain Bolt roots for Manchester United), natural farming however promotes multiple cropping in the same space. In theory, as one crop takes nutrients out of the soil, another vegetable plant replenishes it.

Pretty much like feeding the crop to feed the crop. What can be more ingenious!

7.       Organic farming helps reduce soil erosion

Soil erosion is caused by a few factors and the impact on a farmer may cost him more than a few naira notes in damage.

However, some natural farming techniques (crop rotation in particular) help minimize that risk.

With erosion reduced to the barest minimum, actually farming can continue thus bringing in more money and food for the farmer and his family.

So, if you are considering organic farming, be confident that you are entering the territory ambitious farmers who have also considered it noble to spare a thought for our environment.