Permaculture farming is a sustainable farming method that is nature-based and productive for future generations. Conventional farming, also referred to as chemical farming, is based on chemical inputs to control pests and increase growth.
Differences between Permaculture and Conventional farming
- Monoculture
- Monoculture is the growing of a single crop in a particular area.
- Permaculture does not support monoculture, while conventional farming utilizes monoculture.
- Soil Health
- Permaculture uses organic fertilizers, while conventional farming uses chemical fertilizers that can make soil less fertile.
- Mulching
- Mulching is the process of covering the soil with a protective layer of organic or inorganic material. It can help with weed control, water conservation, and soil protection.
- Permaculture uses mulching, while conventional farming doesn’t always.
- Suitability to semi-arid regions
- Conventional farming is more suitable for semi-arid regions, while permaculture is not.
- System Design
- Permaculture is an integrated design system that considers local conditions, while conventional farming is more suited to monoculture cropping.
- Ethics
- Permaculture is based on ethics of caring for the earth, people, and fair share.
Permaculture Farming
- Principles
- Earth care, people care, and reciprocal means of sharing fairly
- Practices
- Organic fertilizers, mulching, and the integration of farming systems
- Goals
- Achieves self-reliance and long-term sustainability
- Benefits
- More resistant to chemicals, less pollution, and helps maintain soil health
Conventional Farming
- Practices
- Chemical fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, and other chemicals used to control pests and promote growth
- Objectives
- Increase crop yields, often through GMOs and chemical application
- Challenges
- Results in soil salination, imbalance in the soil, and poor bioavailability of minerals
UPSC PYQ Prelims Question
Q. How is permaculture farming different from conventional chemical farming? (2021)
- Permaculture farming discourages monocultural practices but in conventional chemical farming, monoculture practices are predominant.
- Conventional chemical farming can cause an increase in soil salinity but the occurrence of such phenomenon is not observed in permaculture farming.
- Conventional chemical farming is easily possible in semi-arid regions but permaculture farming is not so easily possible in such regions.
- Practice of mulching is very important in permaculture farming but not necessarily so in conventional chemical farming.
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
(a) 1 and 3
(b) 1, 2 and 4
(c) 4 only
(d) 2 and 3
Ans: (b)
Q. With references to organic farming in India, consider the following statements: (2018)
- ‘The National Programme for Organic Production’ (NPOP) is operated under the guidelines and directions of the Union Ministry of Rural Development.
- ‘The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority’ (APEDA) functions as the Secretariat for the implementation of NPOP.
- Sikkim has become India’s first fully organic State.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Ans: B
