I donot agree with views of Waleed.My opinions are that any organic agriculture can be conservative.However every conservative farming is not always organic.For instance,use of any kind of chemical either fertilizer or pesticides are strictly forbidden.

However, conservative farming may be using both of chemical as well as organic modes in a sustainable combination.

Conservation agriculture considered some kind of organic farming,

I donot agree with views of Waleed.My opinions are that any organic agriculture can be conservative.However every conservative farming is not always organic.For instance,use of any kind of chemical either fertilizer or pesticides are strictly forbidden.

However, conservative farming may be using both of chemical as well as organic modes in a sustainable combination.

Under conditions where feeding a larger population like Indian conditions, conservation agriculture may be having viable options.However in countries having dwindling population,say Europe, organic could be having upper hand.

Conservation agriculture is the preferred alternative in view of the observation that a slow down in the brisk trade in agricultural chemicals or agrichemicals is not likely to be favoured by MNCs. A glance at Chapter 7 of Research Book: Pesticides Toxicity Specificity & Politics Chapter 7: ...

The multinational corporations, MNCs which are their manufacturers, are engaged in their trade that involves over $30 billion globally. They, in league with local and international bureaucracy, form the last community to be convinced that the pathways adopted by potentially toxic chemicals to reach the toxicity end point, are the routes by which several hundred thousand persons have died and many more are likely to meet the same fate in the not too distant future. They are not ready to recognize that the scourge of cancer and endocrine disruption that were rare before the advent of the second-generation pesticides, and are now being increasingly reported, are the end points of the toxicity trails of their products, by-products and waste products.

Politics of pesticide trade uses the long handle of social pollution to protect the interests of the MNCs to continue the use of highly toxic chemical pesticides. The network that operates the vicious circle for perpetuation of pesticide use comprises the MNCs and international agencies as its governors and the users all over the world as their passive sufferers. The handle of social pollution is used to flout many of the commitments made to the authorities with regard to maintenance of quality, labelling and protection of the health of workers, applicators, and home users.

Under the circumstances that our crops have generally been genetically modified it will take immense efforts to reduce the dependence on agri-chemicals.

Please do read the said chapter, if not the Book for more information on continuation of trade in toxic chemicals.

Mirza Arshad Ali Beg

Earlier , we had an indepth discussion on the issue. Instead of comparing the two concepts , though looks different , but many principles are peripherally linked to each other. Therefore, introducing some issues of organic farming into conservation agriculture , much better dividends are received ....

How organic farmers practice conservation agriculture in Europe (PDF ...

https://www.researchgate.net/.../271834580_How_organic_farmers_practice_conserv...

6 days ago - Full-Text Paper (PDF) | Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems | Feb 4, 2015 | The interest of organic farmers in adopting conservation agriculture principles including minimal soil disturbance, permanent soil cover and crop rotation has been growing since the early 2000's. However, currently...

I think that both types related with each other in many steps of application,but in practical view i think that conservation agriculture is more acceptable from public farmers.

regards

There is surely an interface between conservation agriculture and organic farming which revolve around conservation of natural resources , besides some basic differences in terms of many dos and dont in latter form of farming...

CONSERVATION AGRICULTURE aims to produce high crop yields while reducing production costs, maintaining the soil fertility and conserving water. It is a way to achieve sustainable agriculture and improve livelihoods.

Conservation agriculture has three basic principles:

Disturb the soil as little as possible

Keep the soil covered as much as possible

Mix and rotate crops.

organic agriculture can defined as "a production system that is managed to respond to site-specific conditions by integrating cultural, biological, and mechanical practices that foster cycling of resources, promote ecological balance, and conserve biodiversity."

More specifically, organic farming entails:

- Use of cover crops, green manures, animal manures and crop rotations to fertilize the soil, maximize biological activity and maintain long-term soil health. - Use of biological control, crop rotations and other techniques to manage weeds, insects and diseases. - An emphasis on biodiversity of the agricultural system and the surrounding environment. - Using rotational grazing and mixed forage pastures for livestock operations and alternative health care for animal well being. - Reduction of external and off-farm inputs and elimination of synthetic pesticides and fertilizers and other materials, such as hormones and antibiotics. - A focus on renewable resources, soil and water conservation, and management practices that restore, maintain and enhance ecological balance.

Both systems are quiet different if we take in consideration the size of the system. Conservation agriculture (CA) is more used in cereal and grain legumes crops in open field without irrigation system. Beside, organic agriculture (OA) is a whole system which is certified from the field to the fork. OA is a holistic system that deal with both animal and crop production along with processing and marketing; so we can not compare OA with CA. Recently, CA expend to attend vegetables production, but still the case of herbicide and some pesticide use which is not their best point.

In the background of these discussion, I keep saying integrate certain organic principles in conservation agriculture or vice-versa. And farmers have been getting better dividends than with either CA or OA alone...

Organic farming is primarily applied biology and is most likely to be successful when it accepts and follows biological principles. It solely depends on use of on-farm and off-farm crop residues and organic wastes, animal manures, green manures, crop rotations etc. The philosophy is to feed on soils rather than the crops. However, the conservation based farming system is best available option to sustainable agricultural and rural development.It reduce soil erosion, increase or maintain soil organic matter and can improve the efficiency of inputs, increase farm income, improve or sustain crop yields and protect and revitalize soil, biodiversity and the natural resource base. It is more on ecological approach while organic agriculture is mostly a soil based approach.

i think organic farming it is the better

Definitely, if one can combine both technically, it is better.

Instead of debating on the issue, whether CA is better or OA, let's address ecological issues and issues related to natural resources..Dr Tarafdar has rightly opined...

I agreed with Dr. Shrivastava and J. C. Tarafdar si, both practices has focused on the ecological and economical sustainability ... Now we has to find how integrated this two farming as that we can produce high quality and quantity food..To meet the increasing demand of the population

I agreed with Dr. Shrivastava and J. C. Tarafdar si, both practices has focused on the ecological and economical sustainability also.

I assume conservation farming to be broader term than organic.

I think ecological point of view both practices have equally important to tackle the imbalances in soil and climatic factors and ultimately quality food production

I am agree with Kulvin Singh.

Organic agriculture replacement an input for another but it not consider other aspect. Conservative agriculture apply conservatives practices but not all of them are organic, sometime can use chemical input.

I think both are complement.

Yes Dr Kulvir Singh , conservation agriculture entails much broader issues and somewhere more holistic in approach..

I agree with most of the comments discussed here, however when we look at a closer picture, vast population of Indian farmers are uneducated and unaware about the benefits of organic and conservational farming. They haven't been able to adapt to the advances that research is making.

Besides, considering a farmer opts for say organic farming, a.) the yield is lower, b.) the shelf life of his product is lower. c.) where is the market for him.

Unless government or entrepreneurs or food companies create a close network with farmers promising him the due rate and timely shipment, I don't see organic farming as a viable option for a farmer.

Considering conservation farming, the farmer would be delighted to understand the importance of conservational farming, however awareness is required.

In terms of land remediation, and profits to farmer organic farming clearly steals the show if managed well; however considering India's population and mindset of landfilling food, raises a concern weather it is sustainable for a country like ours.

Any form of agri discussion must be done with farmer community leading the show!

Regards!

Agreeing to your concerns regarding farmers about farmers awareness plus the researches reaching to farmers field but disagreeing to your remarks about lower yield , poor shelf life and no market for organic agriculture by and large .Our own experience with citrus fruits refute these remarks .We find huge consumers demand for organic fruits regardless of geographical location.

The issue is to separate organic farming with natural farming , since latter is followed under compulsion.Sustaining yield under organic farming is concern of everyone , especially in perennial fruits.We should stress that you cannot adopt organic farming everywhere , need to identify certain clusters of locations like hill agriculture is one such option.On the other hand, conservation agriculture demands a large scale comparing to educate farmers , I agree with you on this issue, though conservation agriculture is very popular in with tainted agriculture , especially in arid and semiarid areas.There is still a colossal gap between two approaches of farming while considering the performance at experimental field to farmers field.

Thanks Aparna for tossing up these issues which need serious rethinking..

Conservation agriculture is better than organic. Organic farming couldnt feed increasing population. In conservation agriculture we are utilizing the resources which are easily available in combination with inorganic also. So conservation agriculture is better.

Many people put their weight in CA and others in organic farming. But, actually decision to adopt either CA or organic farming is totally site-specific. For instance, if there is a demand of organic grains in one area (as organic grains have very high price), it suits to farmers of that area. if in some area climatic conditions are too harsh, less available water, low infiltration rate, dry areas, CA could be a good option. But before, recommending any thing either organic or CA, i would suggest you to consider locally prevailing environmental, socio-economic, and market conditions to make a rational decision.

I fully agree with the views of Dr. Waqas, both practices depends on the situation prevailed. These for addressing location specificity of agricultural problems. It builds upon farmers knowledge and experiences to manage production system.

Opinions expressed are more towards CA where OF may be a complimentary function. In SAT areas, OF may not be a favourable enterprise because of inadequate amount organic materials. So let us not make a blanket generalization.A good discussions and debate like the above would clear many doubts.

Tommorrows Ecology point of view conservation agriculture is better than organic farming

The problem is to get environmental advantages conservation agriculture should adopt by the majority of stakeholders and for year after year, which is actually not happening. If CA becomes a widespread practice in a large farm area, we can harness the actual ecological effect . It is true that sustainable agriculture is not possible without microorganisms in the soil but at the same time, I believe, organic farming may be adopted for high value crops with irrigation cautiously to avoid the development of newer pests and diseases due to the build up of organic matter in the soil over a period of time.

This is infact the major constraint in adoption of a technology, with the result , neither ecological environment is conserved nor the natural resource..

Conservation agriculture is widely used in the internal management of agricultural production resources, and its combination with organic agriculture is better, since it allows the sustainable use of resources and produces healthy food.

Both techniques of farming have advantages but also disadvantages (including overlaps). Any form of agriculture is contributing quickly to drastic changes in the landscape, worldwide. To respond to an increasing demand for food it will be imperative to maintain, or even increase productivity, while reducing the ecological footprint of farms, while conserving resources (soil, water, energy, germplasm).

Organic agriculture is a type of Conservation agriculture .

Organic farming is a philosophy which aims to enhance and work with natural biological cycles , aiming at co-existence with "nature", rather than dominance over nature. Organic farming is no solution to rural financial woes, although organic farming may be a useful marketing strategy in oversupplied markets or whilst ever a premium is paid for organic produce.

Conservation farming, is a philosophy of managing or controlling nature. "Control" ...... versus "co-existence" in the case of organic farming. Conservation farmers and organic farmers share a commitment to conservation as a goal, and to whole-farm systems as a means of achieving this goal . Conservation farming will benefit from access to a wider range of inputs compared with organic farming ...

Both methods try to maintain a balance between agriculture and resources. CA and OF rotate crops in order to keep the land fertile, plant cover crops to retain water, and replenish soil's organic matter to cultivate pest-resistance and high nutrient value and most important to maintain soil health, so in my opnion both are important

I am opposing with any extreme behavior with the crop production environments. CA has not provided clear definitions or standards necessary for any target environment. For instance, we are generalizing some specific applications of the dry-land production environments for the irrigated ones. We call CA but with more fertilizer and chemicals application, more dependency and more concerns and challenges in a continuous work which has never seen in a short term results. Whatever, Organic or Conservation depends directly on our decisions which should be in line with the nature and according to the realities. We should give some opportunity to the nature or the production environment defending itself to compensate our extreme behavior but with any beautiful name.

Some really good points and put the things so sientifically but equally emotionally. We often keeo saying , lets have a synthesize between CA and OF to derive much better dividends...

I believe that conservation agriculture allows preserving natural resources, which is why its applicability is very important in areas susceptible to loss of soil and nutrients. At the same time, organic agriculture is a current directed to the use of organic products, which is why its contribution to the conservation of soil resources is low.

Both farming methods – organic and conservation strive to maintain a balance between growing food demands and crop production. Both ways rotate crops to keep the soil fertile and use water retention techniques by planting cover crops. When it comes to meeting global food requirements and efficient farming techniques, organic farming and conservation farming have a pretty similar performance. However, the main difference between the two is environmental friendliness.

Please look at pending file: