Impact of Organic Farming on Sustainable Livelihood of Farmers

Abstract

In developing countries, socially and economically poor people tend to live in rural areas. About 80 percent of the rural population is occupied in agriculture; the poor farmers sustain their life by improving their livelihood. In the recent years, organic farming is gaining more and more importance as it is found to be a sustainable method of farming and it has also resulted in an increased income source of smallholder farmers. In the past, most farmers used chemical fertilizers and pesticides for cultivation. After the green revolution, farmers started practicing organic cultivation. This study deals with the impact of organic farming on the sustainable livelihood of farmers. It makes an attempt to assess the organic farming impact on farmers’ income, yield level, cultivation practices, etc. by using compost manure. This chapter is based on primary data, structured interviews and secondary data drawn from books, journals, magazines, newspaper reports and government records. Overall, this study shows that every organic farmer possesses wetland, frequently cultivating paddy in their land. Most of the organic farmers use vermicompost, bio-fertilizer and compost manure in their farmland that leads to improved soil fertility levels and lessens nitrogen runoff-induced pollution to sustain a future for organic farming.