Course

Theory

Unit I

Organic farming – concept and definition, its relevance to India and global agriculture and future prospects; principles of organic agriculture; organics and farming standards; organic farming and sustainable agriculture; selection and conversion of land, soil and water management – land use, conservation tillage; shelter zones, hedges, pasture management, agro-forestry.

Unit II

Organic farming and water use efficiency; soil fertility, nutrient recycling, organic residues, organic manures, composting, soil biota and decomposition of organic residues, earthworms and vermicompost, green manures, bio-fertilizers and biogas technology.

Unit III

Farming systems, selection of crops and crop rotations, multiple and relay cropping systems, intercropping in relation to maintenance of soil productivity

Unit IV

Tillage, tilth, frequency, Control of weeds, diseases and insect pest management, biological agents and pheromones, bio-pesticides.

Unit V

Socio-economic impacts; marketing and export potential: inspection, certification, labeling and accreditation procedures; organic farming and national economy.

Practical

Method of making compost by anaerobic method, Method of making vermicompost, Identification and nursery raising of important agro-forestry tress and tress for shelter belts, Efficient use of biofertilizers, technique of treating legume seeds with Rhizobium cultures, use of Azotobacter, Azospirillum, and PSB cultures in field, Visit to a biogas plant, Visit to an organic farm, Quality standards, inspection, certification and labeling and accreditation, Procedures for farm produce from organic farms

To study the principles and practices of organic farming for sustainable crop production.