NABARD ARDNABARD Grade AState AAO
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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.
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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
