Impact of Sustainable Organic Farming on Biodiversity and Environment

Abstract

  This study was designed to access the impact of sustainable organic farming on biodiversity and environmental parameters from farmer’s perspective in four villages of Kotputli Tehsil in Jaipur district of Rajasthan. The study sample comprises of 80 farmers who are practicing organic farming in Kiratpura, Kansli, Karwas and Sundarpura villages of Kotputli Tehsil in Jaipur district. The present study was based on both primary and secondary data. Primary data was collected with the help of stratified random sampling and personal interview survey conducted through structured questionnaire. For analyzing primary data frequency and percentage method were used. The results revealed that all the sampled certified organic farmers observed the effects of organic farming and they viewed that practice of crop diversification in organic farming suitable for maximum biodiversity and also attract new species in organic farms, as well as organic agriculture leads to increase in population of microbes, earthworms in organic farms and Bio pesticides prepared from plant and animal waste eg. Leaves of Neem (Azadirachta indica) tree, animal dung etc. is environmental friendly. Around 90 percent farmers observed that population of birds, bees and beetles have increased and natural pest reduced in their organic farms, but around 70 organic farmers did not observed the predatory insects and micro organisms in organic farms. Around 92 percent respondents observed that organic farming improves water retention capacity of soil due to use of organic manure and crop production increased due to improvement in soil fertility.