Description

ABOUT THE BOOK

The system of organic farming is not a new concept and has been in practice since ancient times in India. The primary aim of organic farming is to help soil stay in good health through the use of biological wastes, organic wastes and bio-fertilizers. Using organic manures help in sustainable crop production along with a pollution-free environment. Sometime it is called ‘green farming’.

This book is intended to be a unique and indispensable resource that offers a diverse range of valuable information, data and perspectives on organic agriculture at a time when the world community is increasingly aware of the problems of our current agricultural practices and the importance of creating sustainable agricultural and systems for the long-term health of humankind and the biosphere as a whole.

The organic movement has a history of almost 100 years, with over 50 years of continuous production on some farms. In addition, there has been huge growth of the organisations that underpin the organic movement and study by mainstream researchers over the last 30 years. The objectives of this book are to:

• describe and critically review key aspects of organic agriculture such as soil fertility management, plant and animal production, social and environmental issues etc.
• combine in one volume the insights of international experts who have direct experience with the organic movement, from on-farm work and teaching to marketing and rural appraisal; and
• provide a unique and timely science-based resource for researchers, teachers, extension workers, students, primary producers and others around the world Provide a handy textbook for UG students of all the SAUs and Agriculture Colleges in the country following the syllabus prescribed by the 5^th Dean’s Committee of ICAR

CONTENT

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Dr. Umesh Thapa is working as Professor in the Department of Vegetable Crops, Faculty of Horticulture, Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya and West Bengal. He has Brilliant career in Horticulture and is deeply attached in the field of Olericulture. Since 1997 he is actively engaged in teaching undergraduate courses both in faculty of horticulture and Agriculture and postgraduate in faculty of Horticulture in improvement and production related of Horticultural crops especially vegetable crops. He has to his credit a number of research papers and popular scientific articles in several scientific journal and magazines. He has experiences of supervising good number of Ad-hoc schemes financed by Government of West Bengal and private sectors and rendered services as resource person in different programmes. He participated and presented papers in various National and International conference, seminar, symposium and workshop. He is a life member of various reputed scientific societies and journals. Recently he has attended and presented a paper on International Conference of European Forum on Agricultural Research and Development at Zurich, Switzerland. He is the author of book entitled Varieties of Horticultural Crops.

Sri Pradyumna Tripathy presently works as Training Associate (Horticulture) Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology, Orissa. He has a brilliant academic career throughout. He did his B. Sc (Ag) and M.Sc (Ag) in Horticulture from Orissa university of Agriculture and Technology, Bhubaneswar. The authors secured first class position in his m. Sc. (Ag) Horticulture. The author has privilege of serving the university as Junior Scientist (Horticulture) and Training Associate (Horticulture), contributing to University’s mandate of research, extension and teaching. Several times, he has the opportunity of shouldering the additional responsibility of quality planting material production of Horticultural crops under Revolving Funds. The author is the life member of several scientific journals. He has published number of research papers and articles. He has delivered a number of radio talks and imparted training to State Govt. officials and NGO workers in different forums. Attended number of International and National training courses.

L.L. Somani is Retired Director, Resident Instructions, MPUAT, Udaipur. He went To Waite Agricultural Research Institute, Adelaide, Australia for undertaking post-doctoral work (1975-77). He has over 400 research and technical articles to his credit. He has authored/edited over a 15 dozen of books.