Organic Farming for Sustainability: A Study in East Khasi Hills District of Meghalaya

Author(s): Gayatri Saikia and Evangelene Kharakor

Abstract:

Organic farming is a system which avoids or largely excludes the use of synthetic inputs such as fertilizers, pesticides, hormones, feed additives etc., and to the maximum extent feasible rely upon crop rotations, crop residues, animal manures, off-farm organic waste, mineral grade rock additives and biological system of nutrient mobilization and plant protection. Meghalaya is currently one of the lowest users of chemicals in agriculture, using only about 17 to 20 kg of chemicals per hectare of land, and that is mostly limited to solanaceous crops. This study seeks to investigate the feasibility and long-term sustainability of adopting organic farming practices in East Khasi Hills district of Meghalaya. Specifically, it will examine the effects of organic practices on crop diversity, role of organic farming practices in agriculture and farmers` perceptions towards sustainable agriculture. The farmers adopt different organic farming practices in their field, with 39% of the respondents solely rely on composting, and the remaining percentage use a combination of companion planting, and crop covering which aim for long term soil health, pest management and sustainability.

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