Tips For Organic Farming

Organic agriculture is the practice of combining manual methods, modern technology and also the balance of nature. This practice aims to produce high-quality food sources without the use of chemicals as fertilizers or as a pests and disease control.

Organic farming restore the environmental balance with no effect of polluting the environment. So, It is nothing wrong to label this organic farming is an environmental friendly agricultural practices.

Because today's world is threatened various forms of illnesses caused by food, many countries began to promote organic food. It is one of the best ways to deal with all the problems of human health and environmental pollution.

Prevention is better than cure, let us all change our diets with foods that are grown organically.

1) Location :

• free from contamination areas.

• Have a clean water source.

• Not close to conventional farms (non-organic).

• For farmers who want to open a commercial organic farm, we recommend you to select a new area to explore.

• Create a buffer area (plant material or pollution prevention) such as walls, ditches or high plant that planted close together.

2) Cultivation :

• Use seeds or vegetative reproduction that free from chemical pesticides.
• Use two methods of planting ( sowing seeds or direct planting ). Use compost and organic fertilizer for the preparation of beds.
• Organic matter, organic fertilizers, and natural growth hormone as FFJ (fermented fruit juice) and FPJ (fermented plant juice) as a crop fertilizer.
• Watering should be done twice a day, morning and evening. Use chlorine-free water. 

3) Weeds Control :

• Weeds that grow in beds and out of beds should always be removed. This is because weeds can be a host for some insect pests.
• Use two methods of weed control either manually (weeding by hand) or using a lawn mower.
• weeding should be done preferably once a week. Less weeds means less competition between weeds and crops. Insect pests also can be reduced.
• Mulching can be used to control the weed problem. Moreover, it can keep the soil moist. Examples of mulch are silver shine, rice straw, dried leaves and coconut husks.

4) Pest and disease control :

• Cultural : Use the recommended spacing, plant varieties must be resistant / tolerant from disease, mulching, inter-cropping / rotation, planting trees repellent (traction or pest repellent).

• Mechanical : Wrap the fruit, use noise during the night to expel pest and use small machinery to control weeds.

• Physical : Light Trap, trap color (yellow / blue), pheromones, fencing, insect-proof house.

• Biology : use of insects, fungi, bacteria and viruses that are beneficial natural predators of insect pests.

• Organic pesticide sprays. Types of organic pesticides depend on the type of pests and crop diseases.

5) Harvesting:

• Organic vegetables yield must be harvested when it is mature enough. It is must be washed to remove residual soil that sticks to the leaves and stems of vegetables.

• The best time to harvest is early morning or late afternoon. This will reduce the stress of crops (vegetables are not quickly withered).

• Keep vegetables at a temperature between 10 and 12 ºC. Vegetables will last around a week or more.

• After one or two times the planting is done in the same beds, it is should be rested for about two weeks without any crops. The aim is to restore soil fertility.

• Ideally, plant crops from legumes type such as peanuts, green peas and soybeans three times a year to restore nutrients lost. In addition, we will be able byproduct of legumes.

6) Benefits of organic farming:

• Have fresh, quality and safe for consumption food without any side effects.

• It is free from the use of chemical / synthetic which is could be the cause of disease.

• Maintain a balance of natural ecosystems, conserve microorganisms land, conserving soil and we can reduce environmental pollution.

• Feel  fresh organic vegetables, “crunchy” and lasts longer if kept at the right temperature.