1. Organic Farming of Medicinal Plants in KPK. By Allah Dad
Khan, Former . Director General Agriculture Extension KPK Province
[email protected] 03329221298
2. What is Organic Farming Organic farming is a production
system which avoids or excludes the use of synthetic
preparations-artificial fertilizers, pesticides, growth
accelerators and fodder additives. As an alternative to these
means, OF applies a number of modern preventive methods to maintain
the natural soil fertility, such as: 1 Alternating sowing of
cultures (with leguminous plants inclusive) 2 Suited use of manure
3 Stimulating the populations of useful insects (entomophages and
pathogens for the pests) 4 Vegetation associations (combined
cultivation of two or more cultures in one and the same place) 5
Use of mechanical methods for weed control 6 Use of sustainable
plant varieties and live stock breeds that are well adapted to the
relevant environmental conditions
3. Top 10 Reasons to Support Organic Farming in the 21st
Century 1. Reduce The Toxic Load: Keep Chemicals Out of the Air,
Water, Soil and our Bodies. 2. Reduce if Not Eliminate Off Farm
Pollution. 3. Protect Future Generations 4. Build Healthy Soil 5.
Taste Better and Truer Flavor 6. Assist Family Farmers of all Sizes
7. Avoid Hasty and Poor Science in Your Food 8. Eating with a Sense
of Place 9. Promote Biodiversity 10. Celebrate the Culture of
Agriculture 11.Sustainable agriculture production1 12.Restoration
of Soil Fertility 13.Production of Quality foods 14.Avoidation of
pollution of soil and ground water 15.Water and air including low
cost technology
4. Principlesof organic Farming Following the above mentioned
principles and processes ensure to archive the main principles of
International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM),
which are: 1. Production of enough high quality and nutritious
food. 2. Organic farming, pastoral and wild harvest systems should
fit the cycles and ecological balances in nature. Organic
management must be adapted to local conditions, ecology, culture
and scale. 3. Maintenance of natural soil fertility 4. Inputs
should be reduced by reuse, recycling and efficient management of
materials and energy in order to maintain and improve environmental
quality and conserve resources. 5. Organic agriculture should
provide everyone involved with a good quality of life, and
contribute to food sovereignty and reduction of poverty 6. 6.
Practitioners of organic agriculture can enhance efficiency and
increase productivity, but this should not be at the risk of health
and well-being. Consequently, any harmful action should be
stopped
5. Basic Steps of Organic Farming Organic farming approach
involves following five steps 1. Conversion of land from
conventional management to organic management 2. Management of the
entire surrounding system to ensure biodiversity and sustainability
of the system 3. Crop production with the use of alternative
sources of nutrients such as crop rotation, residue management,
organic manures and biological inputs. 4. Management of weeds and
pests by better management practices, physical and cultural means
and by biological control system 5. Maintenance of live stock in
tandem with organic concept and make them an integral part of the
entire system
6. Q u ic k T im e a n d a P h o t o - J P E G d e c o m p r e
s s o r a r e n e e d e d t o s e e t h is p ic t u r e .
SoilOrganicMatter Bodies of microorganisms involved in
decomposition 3. Byproducts of decomposition Partly decomposed
(unrecognizable) plant residues
7. C:N Ratio SOM 10-12:1 Plant Litter 20-400:1 Bacteria 4:1
Fungi 10:1 Soil OrganicMatter SOM is: 55% C 5% N 0.5% P 0.5% S
Alive Microbial Biomass (fungi, bacteria) 2-5% of SOM Dead
Non-humic substances 20-30% of SOM Humic substances 60-80% of
SOM
8. How does Organic Matter Improve Soil? 1) increase water
holding capacity 2) nutrients attach to O.M. 3) O.M. improves tilth
(aggregate) The amount of humus in soil is directly proportional to
the amount of nitrogen in soil Soils high in O.M. are easily worked
and may be described as having good tilth.
9. Why Organic Farming Organic farming in the form of
agriculture includes crop rotation, application of green manure,
compost, bio fertilizers, biological pest and diseases control to
maintain soil productivity and restrict the use of synthetic
fertilizers and pesticides. Infact the organic farming rely on the
management of the soil. It enhances the chemical, biological and
physical properties of the soil and the increasing amount of
nutrition in soil plays a key role in suppressing weeds, pests and
diseases in eco-friendly manner .
10. Techniques for Organic Farmingfor Medicinal Plants 1. Zero
cultivation /no till cultivation 2. Practice Clean Culture 3.
Integrated Pest Management (IPM).GAP 4. Insect traps, lure and
attractants. 5. Use of Biological pest control (natural enemies of
pest) 6. Use of Organic Compost fertilizer and bio micro
inoculants. 7. Use of Organic Pest and Disease control materials.
8. Use of indigenous resistant plant varieties and strain. 9.
Practice crop rotation and following (resting the soil for some
time). 10. Growing and inter-cropping of pest repellant and herbal
plants. 11. Integrated Weed Management (IWM) 12. Growing the right
crop on the right soil, climate and at the right time. 13.
Solarization 14. Integrated Nutrient Management ( I NM) 15.
Vermipost 16. Integrated Farm Management ( IFM)
11. 1. Zerocultivation/notill farming is a way of growing crops
or pasture from year to year without disturbing the soil through
tillage. No-till is an agricultural technique which increases the
amount of water that infiltrates into the soil and increases
organic matter retention and cycling of nutrients in the soil.
12. 2.Practice cleanculture. Cultivation and weed control will
also help not only in soil aeration and softening of soil mass but
will also reduce or disturb the breeding place of insect pests and
fungal diseases.
13. 3.IntegratedPest Management (IPM) Integrated Pest
Management (IPM) is a pest control program using combination of all
practices to reduce or eliminate pest damage. This includes
natural, biological and mechanical practices as well as bio and
chemical pesticide application.
14. Good Agriculture Practices Guidelines for Good Agricultural
Practice (GAP) of Medicinal Plants Principles and Guidelines for
Good Agricultural Practice (GAP) 1 Seeds and propagation material
Seeds in use are to be identified botanically, indicating plant
variety, cultivar, chemotype and origin1. The material used should
be 100 % traceable. The same applies to vegetatively propagated
parent material. Parent material used in organic production has to
be certified as authentically organic. 2. Cultivation Depending on
the method of cultivation e.g. conventional or organic, growers
should be allowed to follow different Standard Operating Procedures
for cultivation (to be elaborated). In general, care should be
taken to avoid environmental disturbances. The principles of good
crop husbandry must be followed including an appropriate rotation
of crops. 3. Soil and Fertilization Medicinal and aromatic plants
should not be grown in soils that are contaminated by sludge.
Furthermore, soils should not be contaminated by heavy metals,
residues of plant protection products and any other unnatural
chemicals. It should therefore be endeavoured to apply the use of
chemical products with as minimum negative effect as possible.
15. Good Agriculture Practices 4. Irrigation Irrigation should
be minimized as much as possible and only be applied according to
the needs of the plant. 5. Tillage should be adapted to the growth
and requirements of plants. 6. Pesticide and herbicide application
shoud be avoided as far as possible. 7. Harvest Harvesting should
take place when the plants are of best possible quality, according
to their different utilizations. 8. Primary processing Primary
processing after harvest includes such processing steps as washing,
freezing, distilling, drying, etc. All these processes, whether for
food or medicinal use 9.Packaging After the repeated control and
eventual elimination of low-quality materials and any foreign
bodies, the product should be preferably packaged in new, clean and
dry sacks, bags or chests. The label must be clear, permanently
fixed and be made of non-toxic material. Information must conform
with the national labelling regulations 10.Storage and Transport
Packaged dried materials and essential oils should be stored in a
dry, well aerated building, in which the daily temperature
fluctuations are limited and good aeration is guaranteed. Fresh
products (except basil) should be stored between 1C and 5C while
frozen products should be stored below 18C (or below 20C for longer
term storage).
16. Good Agriculture Practices 11. Personnel and Facilities
Personnel should receive adequate botanical education before
performing tasks that require this knowledge. 12. . Documentation
All parent materials and processing steps, including the location
of cultivation, have to be documented. Field records showing
previous cropping and used inputs should be maintained by all
growers. 13. Education It is highly advisable to educate all
personnel dealing with the crop or those engaged in the management
of production, in production techniques as well as the appropriate
use of herbicides and pesticides. 14. Quality Guarantee
Consultation between producers and buyers of medicinal and aromatic
plants, with regard to quality questions, e.g. active principles
and other characteristic ingredients, optical and sensoric
properties, limited germ numbers, plant protection chemical
residues and heavy metals, must be based on nternationally
recognized or national specifications and should be laid down in
written form.
17. 4.Insect traps, lure and attractants. 1.Light Traps 2.Lure
with attractants 3 Chemical sex attractant 4. Blue electric lamp
5.Yellow pads
18. 5.Use of Biological Pest and Disease Control The use of
living plant and animals or living organisms to control pest and
diseases are called Biological Control. They may be microorganisms
such as bacteria, fungi, virus or bigger life forms like insects,
worms, reptiles, mammal and birds. You can learn to increase the
beneficial insects, microorganisms and other animal and plant life
in your farms to counter pests and diseases harming your crops. Let
us protect and increase these beneficial enemies of pests.
19. 6. Use of Organic Fertilizer Farm Yard Manure Manure is
obtained from the solid and liquid excrements and the padding of
live stock animals after being left to decay. The manure which has
matured is good for agricultural use. In addition The bird manure
is the richest one of all organic types of manure. It is three
times richer in nitrogen and potassium and about four times richer
in phosphorus than the ordinary mixed manure produced from live
stock animals. Ashes are alkali fertilizer. It has the effect of
neutralizing the soil acidity and improving the functioning of
nitrogen-fixing bacteria. Ashes may also be used for whitewashing.
Green Manure Farm Slurry
20. 7.Usedof Organic Pest and Disease Control Herbal
preparations to control pest and diseases can easily be made by
farmers themselves since we have abundant plants in the country
that are suitable ingredient.
21. 8.Practice crop rotation and following (resting the soil
for some time). Crop rotation or changing crops grown in certain
areas to avoid the buildup of certain pest or disease affecting
certain crops. Example, rotating onions with pepper . Resting the
soil for one to two years to allow natural vegetation and the
growth of natural enemies to introduce balance of nature, while
enriching your soil environment for future crop production.
22. 9. Growing and inter-croppingof pest repellant andherbal
plants There are crops that repel certain insect pests.
Intercropping tomato with cabbages and cauliflower will help reduce
the diamondback moth attacking cabbages. Learn what these crop
combinations. You will not only reduce your cost of pest and
disease control but may even increase your income per unit area
with the crop combination.
23. 10. Integrated WeedManagement Certain weeds are difficult
to remove or control, like grasses. Planting vines and crawling
crops like sweet potato and cover crops will help suppress
weeds.
24. 11.Growingtherightcropontherightsoil, climateandat
therighttime. There are suitable crops that are ideal for certain
season of the year and suitable soils for their healthy and
productive growth. Learn the nature of the plants and their
preferences before deciding what to grow in your farm.
25. 12. Solarization It is a non contaminant soil
disinfestation technique. It is based on the sun irradition to
provide a temperature rise; and humidity increase this effect. The
use of polyethylene ( usually transparent) to cover the ground soil
(upper layer), increases the thermical effect and avoid soil
moisture loss, raising temperature to letal levels for living soil
organism.
26. 13 IntegratedNutrient Management
27. 14. Vermipost WHAT IS VERMICOMPOSTING/WORM FARMING? The
process of using worms to aid in the decomposition of organic
matter. I.e., organic matter is put in a bin with worms; the worms
eat the organic matter and break it down, leaving behind a nutrient
rich product known as 'vermicompost', 'worm castings', 'worm manu
BENEFITS OF VERMICOMPOSTING Improves soil structure Increases the
soil's ability to retain water Improves the growth and structure of
root systems Enhances germination, growth, and yield of plants
Increases the micro-organism population in soil by 10-20x Makes
nutrients more available for plant uptake Very space efficient.
Worm composting can be done even in a small apartment Not to
mention all that food waste that's being turned into fertilizer
instead of being thrown away .
28. 15.IntegratedFarm Management Integrated Farm Management
(IFM) involves: a commitment to good husbandry and animal welfare
efficient soil management and appropriate cultivation techniques
the use of crop rotations minimum reliance on crop protection
chemicals and fertilisers careful choice of seed varieties
maintenance of the landscape and rural communities enhancement of
wildlife habitats a commitment to team spirit based on
communication, training and involvement.
29. The biologicalagents Predators such as ladybird beetle,
spiders, dragonflies and mites. Parasites such as Trichogramma,
Braconids Pathogens such as bacteria and fungi which cause diseases
to pest.
30. SOME ENENIES OF INSECT PESTS 1. Trichogramma 2. Braconid 3.
Pirate bug 4. Spiders 5. Praying Manthis 6. Birds 7. Frogs
etc.
31. Types of Biopesticides Microbial pesticides consist of a
microorganism (e.g., a bacterium, fungus, virus, or protozoan) as
the active ingredient. Microbial pesticides can control many
different kinds of pests, although each separate active ingredient
is relatively specific for its target pest[s]. For example, there
are fungi that control certain weeds, and other fungi that kill
specific insects. Example BT Biochemical pesticides are naturally
occurring substances that control pests by non-toxic mechanisms.
Conventional pesticides, by contrast, are generally synthetic
materials that directly kill or inactivate the pest. Biochemical
pesticides include substances, such as insect sex pheromones Plant
pesticides are pesticidal substances that plants produce from
genetic material that has been added to the plant. For example,
scientists can take the gene for the Bt pesticidal protein and
introduce the gene into the plant's own genetic material
32. CONCLUSION We can now grow our crops, following the natural
law and adopt Natural Organic and Biological Farming Systems that
are self sustaining, production cost reduction, and healthful
organic food crops that are very much in demand in the domestic and
export market today.