Organic farming key to fighting climate change Climate change threatens humanity

Yaiphaba Meitei Kharibam
IMPHAL, Sep 3 : Even as various communities and tribes fight for their identity and rights, climate change remains a pressing issue that threatens all, not based on ethnicity.
One critical factor in combating climate change is organic farming, which plays a pivotal role in promoting sustainability.
Simply put, organic farming is an agricultural system that fosters soil fertility, biodiversity, and overall ecosystem health by relying on natural processes and inputs, rather than synthetic fertilizers and pesticides.
Global warming is primarily caused by greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
Speaking to The Sangai Express, Dr Tensubam Basanta, a Soil Scientist at  ICAR-Research Complex for NEH Region, said that organic farming reduces GHG emission and energy consumption in several ways.
Saying that synthetic fertilizers and pesticides are not used in organic farming, he added that synthetic nitrogen fertilizer, a potent GHG, is a major source of nitrous oxide, a GHG. He also said that nitrous oxide is 300 times more potent than carbon dioxide.
The scientist continued that producing synthetic fertilizers and pesticides is energy intensive and requires fossil fuel.
Saying that organic farming reduces overall fossil fuel use and requires less energy, he added that the use of natural compost, manure, and cover crops in organic farming helps reduce GHG emissions.
It is true that organic farming directly or indirectly mitigates the pattern of climate change, he stated.
If left unmanaged, cow dung, which is used to make natural compost, produces methane gas, contributing to global warming and ozone layer depletion, Dr Basanta said.
The scientist further stated that organic farming  relies more on manual and small-scale techniques and it tends to reduce energy use associated with irrigation, transport etc.
He further stated that organic practices like cover cropping, crop rotation and composting improve soil structure and prevent soil erosion.
Cover cropping is the practice of planting crops to improve soil health, rather than for harvest, by protecting the soil from direct sunlight and rainfall.
He explained that cover cropping reduces the  rate of carbon dioxide release from soil.
When carbon is tapped in soil, it forms minerals that are beneficial to soil health by interacting with other substances, he said.
Dr Basanta emphasized that organic farmers should use natural composts proactively, before diseases affect crops, since organic composts cannot completely eliminate pests.
He added that a collective effort of the Government and the farmers is required to promote organic farming and suggested that organic farmers should be encouraged by developing their market more efficiently.
An organic farmer noted that organic farming is less popular in Manipur despite its health benefits  because most farmers work on small fields and prioritize profits.
Stating that most farmers rely on chemical fertilizers to prevent crop diseases, he pointed out that the supply of organic composts is inadequate to promote widespread organic farming in Manipur.
He suggested that the Government should promote the production of natural composts to promote organic farming.
This report is part of the 6th Manipur State Level Media Fellowship Programme, organized by the Department of Environment and Climate Change, focusing on climate change reporting.