The basics of organic gardening

An expert in the field, Mr.Raghavendra Rao, of Florra and Pommes talks about the organic way

What is organic gardening or organic farming?

• Organic farming is cultivating agricultural and horticultural crops using only organic manures, bio-fertilizers and bio-pesticides in a virgin soil.

Is it possible to adopt organic practices in cities? What examples can you give for such activity?

• The best options for organic farming in cities are backyards, balconies, terraces, pot culture and shade nets.

Can you highlight the various methods of organic gardening/farming?

• The different methods may be classified as traditional, converting non-virgin soils and advanced organic farming.

A critical issue is sourcing the inputs for organic gardening. Could you identify the inputs that are needed to pursue this method?

• The following inputs are required : River sand, organic manure, vermicompost, neem cake, pungam cake, vermiwash, coir compost, panchakavya (a mix of organic substances derived from bovine sources), bio-fertilizers like rhizobium, azospirillum, acetobacter, azotobacter, phosphobacterium, bio-pesticides like trichoderma, Pseudomonas, NP virus etc.

Where can the inputs be obtained in Chennai?

• Inputs are available from Florra and Pommes, #10, 2nd Main Road, Kasturiba Nagar, Adyar, Chennai 600020, Tel: (044) 24425893 Email: jonnalr@yahoo.com, Tamil Nadu Agriculture University and Agri-Horticulture Society on Cathedral Road (opp.Drive-in-Woodlands).

Are some species better suited for cultivation in the city environment?

• Any vegetable or horticulture food crop or commercial timber is well-suited to city conditions. In a hot environment if green houses are provided, crops like vanilla and other flowering varieties may be cultivated.

Is organic farming expensive to pursue?

• It is not costly to pursue organic farming, since the inputs are available locally and compost can be prepared at home (using kitchen waste, for example).

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