‘Organic’ means food that has been grown the way nature meant it to be grown. Many farmers know the value of organic because it also protects their soil. There are also farmers who grow organically to protect their land but are unable to sell their produce separately and it enters the market along with the non-organic products. But we must be aware that 90% – 99% of the produce in the general market is non-organic. In India, pesticide companies lure farmers into using pesticides and fertilisers by saying that it’s a ‘medicine’ for their plants. Once started, it’s very difficult to stop using these chemicals. The government offers subsidies to farmers for pesticides and fertilisers. Some farmers may not be aware of the damage these do to their land. Others don’t know how to get out of the cycle.
