Enhancing Seed Health for Organic Vegetable Production Systems: Challenges and Opportunities

Organic vegetable production is a rapidly expanding segment within the fast growing organic sector of agricultural production. Although pests and diseases remain a challenge in organic production, the growth and expansion of this system is dependent on sustained use of good quality organic seed. Due to the limited supply of organic seed, the National Organic Program (NOP) allows the use of untreated conventional seed in organic production of vegetables and other crops. Conventional seed derives from a high input production system using synthetic pesticides and fertilizers. They also offer many varieties and are readily available at a much lower price compared to organic seed. Organic systems demand cultivars with different characteristics often absent in conventional cultivars, and this need begins with the seed. It is not common practice for farmers to test or sanitize seed before planting. Consequently, the use of such conventional seeds, which may not be well adapted to the low input organic production system, could favor disease susceptibility, establishment of seedborne pathogens especially in vegetables and their subsequent dissemination in the organic production system. Our overall goal is to improve organic vegetable crop health and production in the southeastern U.S. through application of sustainable seed health management and help limit seed borne infections, transmission and dissemination in organic vegetable production fields.

Farmers Information Needs on Organic Vegetable Farming in Two Agro-climatic Zones of Assam

Most farmers are not aware of the various aspects of organic farming of vegetables despite the fact that the state of Assam is “naturally organic by default”. Besides having tremendous potential to grow crops organically, organic farming is yet to taste success in the state of Assam. Information is currently seen by many as the main limiting factor to growth in the organic sector in the state. Hence, there is need to equip the farmers with the necessary information related to the organic cultivation and certification process with respect to important vegetable crops The study was undertaken in North Bank Plains Zone and Central Brahmaputra Valley Zone of Assam, primarily to understand farmers’ information needs in relation to organic vegetable production. The study also identified the factors influencing the information needs and constraints as perceived by the farmers in meeting their information needs. A multi-stage, purposive cum proportionate random sampling design was adopted for the study in order to select 120 respondents. The study revealed that majority of the respondents (95.83%) expressed that they need information on inspection and certification process on organic vegetable production, followed by the need for information on soil treatment for organic vegetable production, and on the variety/planting material suitable for organic vegetable production. Findings of correlation analysis indicated that among the 10 independent variables, 6 variables showed significant and positive relationship and 4 variables showed significant and negative relationship with the information needs of farmers in relation to organic vegetable production at 0.01 level of probability. Findings revealed that “lack of knowledge about inspection and certification process of organic vegetable production” was the major constraint faced by the respondents with the highest score (PCI-296) and hence was ranked 1st followed by “Lack of knowledge about market linkages’ (PCI-280) and ‘Lack of access to credit facilities’ (PCI-278) which were ranked 2nd and 3rd important constraints faced by them in meeting their information needs. It implies that NGOs, KVKs, various development workers and extension agencies should put more efforts to modify and channel the information needs of organic vegetable farmers in the desirable direction through their preferred medium.

FEASIBILITY STUDY OF ORGANIC VEGETABLE FARMING IN BAITADI DISTRICT

Our study was conducted to know the feasibility of organic vegetable farming in Baitadi district along with the current situation of farming. Accelerating use of agrochemicals,higher production cost and deteriorating ecosystem health have advocated the need to change external input use agriculture towards safe and sustainable organic production .Current research emphasize on the constraints and feasibility of organic vegetable production by selecting farmers of Baitadi District.This study adopted a random sampling technique to select the 60 respondent and the collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics for mean, median, frequency, ranking and trend analysis; binary Logistic model to identify factors determining the decision to cultivate in separate plots for home consumption and market. The study revealed that years of schooling and production for both subsistence and commercial farming were statistically significant for the decision to cultivate in separate plots for home and market consumption. Majority of respondents were Chhetri (46.67%) followed by Brahmin (43.33%).The findings also reveals that majority of the households were male headed (78.33%) and literate (65%). Huge populations (68.33%) were found involved in agriculture followed by others in business, service and pension. Major problems of the study area were lack of knowledge about organic farming, and government intervention. Majority of the farmers are confident that use of chemicals and fertilizers is dangerous for human health and they are consenting to adopt organic farming if technical and credit supports are provided.

Faunistic analysis and seasonal fluctuation of ladybeetles in an agro-ecological system installed for organic vegetable production

Plans for an agro-ecological system for agricultural production must consider vegetal diversification in agricultural properties because, among other advantages, it can help the biological control of pests when it focuses on such an end. Predator ladybeetles (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) can be found in different environments; they play an important role in biological control. The aims of the present study were to feature ladybeetle populations through faunistic analysis and determine their fluctuations in an agro-ecological system comprising seven sub-systems subjected to different cultivation systems in Seropédica County, RJ. The experiment was conducted from December/2018 to December/2019 at Módulo de Cultivo Orgânico Intensivo de Hortaliças (MCOIH), which is located at Sistema Integrado de Produção Agroecológica (SIPA). In total, 1,231 adult ladybeetles were captured, distributed into 13 species, 3 genera and 2 tribes of Coccinellidae, which resulted in S (taxon richness) = 19, Shannon-Wiener diversity index (H’) = 0.65 (at 0 to 1 scale) and Margalef diversity index (α) = 2.53 (values lower than 2.0 represent low diversity sites). Equitability was low (E = 0.22), since one of the ladybeetle species has prevailed: Cycloneda sanguinea (most frequent, dominating and constant) in MCOIH, as well as in each of the sub-systems. However, the simplest sub-systems installed for vegetable production (monoculture gardens) were not favorable for ladybeetle diversity, whereas sub-systems installed for polyculture of leafy vegetables recorded the greatest taxa diversity of ladybeetles, including species that predate in aphids that attack vegetables [Coleomegilla maculata, Coleomegilla quadrifasciata, Cycloneda sanguinea, Eriopis connexa, Harmonia axyridis, Hippodamia convergens and Hyperaspis (Hyperaspis) festiva]. The sub-system comprising gliricidia was used to produce fertilization biomass and favored the predominance of C. sanguinea in comparison to the other ladybeetle species in MCOIH. Spring was the season mostly favoring the occurrence of C. sanguinea and H. convergens adults; which were dominant species in ladybeetle assemblage in MCOIH; however, C. sanguinea was constant and H. convergens was accessory.

Investigating the factors that affect the adoption of organic agriculture in Asokwa, Kumasi Metropolis

Urban agriculture, particularly organic vegetable production is promoted because of its contribution to food security and enhanced income. More so, organic agriculture considerably enhances the income of urban farmers who practice it. The objective was to investigate the factors that affect farmers' decision to adopt organic agriculture. Due to the contamination of vegetables with conventional agriculture systems, increasing concerns about the quality of food, the health of consumers and the environmental impacts of farming systems, organic agriculture is being promoted by the Ministry of Food and Agriculture as a means of addressing the problem. Since the introduction of organic agriculture, some farmers have adopted the technology while others have not. Sixteen farmers were selected, ten from those adopting and six from those not adopting. Semi-structured in-depth interviews were used to extract data from the participants. For those who adopted, the knowledge of their parents and forefathers on agriculture and their personal experiences by comparing their organic produce with conventional ones greatly inspired their decision on adoption. Factors leading to non-adoption are: inadequate awareness about organic farming, difficulty in controlling pests, diseases and improving soil fertility and perceived lack of market for the organic vegetables. As a result, effective extension monitoring and training are recommended to enhance the adoption and sustainability of organic agriculture.

Organic Grape Production and Producer Status in Adıyaman Province; Example of Besni District

This study was carried out to evaluate the socio-economic structure and organic farming activities of grape producers in Besni. A face-to-face survey was conducted with producers producing organic grapes. Data were obtained by interviewing a total of 50 producers. The number of organic products grown between 2005 and 2018 increased from 205 to 213 in Turkey. The number of producers engaged in cultivation in this area has increased more than 5 times compared to 2005. It reached nearly 80.000 in 2018. The area of organic vegetable production increased from 203.811 to 626.884 hectares in Turkey. While the production area increased 2.5 times, the production amount increased almost 4 times. Today, a variety of products in organic vegetable production, planting area, the number of farmers has increased in Turkey. The findings were obtained education level of the producers, the number of individuals in the family, record keeping, annual total income, newspaper reading, grape yield, grape cultivation area, property and rental land, credit usage, weed control, organic farming knowledge level, organic farming by using variables such as thoughts and grape variety. There are serious differences between conventional agriculture and organic farming. The family structure is effective in production activities. It has been determined that the thoughts of organic farming have changed depending on the age and experience of the producers. Organic grape producers have turned to organic farming due to their desire to sell their products at higher prices with state supports. Also, it has been suggested that organic farming is important in terms of the sustainability of living life all over the world. Increasing producer income and environmental awareness are among the main reasons for the transition to organic farming.