1

Organic Crop Farming

Arable farmers today are facing considerable challenges in running a profitable business. In recent months they have seen unprecedented price rises in their main
operating costs such as fuel, fertiliser and energy. No farming enterprise has been able to avoid the impact of these soaring prices. In addition, they have been
affected by a shortage of seasonal workers to operate efficiently through the harvest season, extreme weather events caused by climate change and a reduction in the
price paid for their produce. Farmers are having to reduce their costs and adapt their business models in response to these challenges. Some are considering
diversifying away from conventional farming to organic farming. This would reduce their reliance on expensive artificial fertilisers and the fuel costs involved with
spreading them across their fields. Organic methods of crop production offer a possible solution to these problems but it is not by any means a simple solution and
requires careful consideration and planning.
organically which is over 1.6% of all agricultural land. Over half of
What is Organic Farming? this land is in the Oceania region (38 million hectares), followed by
Organic farming is also known as ecological farming. It is an Europe (20 million hectares) and Latin America (12 million hectares).
agricultural system of cultivating land to produce food using natural The global retail market for organic food is also showing strong
substances and processes. Crops are nurtured and grown without the growth. Consumers are becoming more aware of environmental issues
use of synthetic fertilisers and pesticides. Organic techniques include: and the numerous health benefits associated with a natural diet. Many
perceive organic food to be higher quality with rich nutritional value
 biological pest control and multiple health benefits. As a result of increased public demand
 crop rotation total sales in the organic food market exceeded 126 billion Euros last
 companion planting year. The following table shows this retail growth:
 fostering natural insect predators
 mixed crops for pest control Growth in organic retail sales (million €)
Region 2010 2017 2023
 natural fertilisers such as
Africa 0.28 16.52 17.27
compost and green manure.
Asia 1902.24 10079.24 13167.36
There are sound environmental reasons and ecological benefits to Europe 20413.85 39566.12 54600.25
organic farming. This uses sustainable techniques which benefit the Latin
14.37 1138.80 816.88
wildlife, protect the environment and conserve natural resources. America
Healthy and fertile soil helps build resilience to the impacts of climate North
20184.78 45162.80 56402.94
change. Organic farms release fewer greenhouse gas emissions and America
are more energy efficient, using 45% less energy than conventional Oceania 742.44 1357.73 1674.16
farms. World
43257.97 97321.21 126678.87
Total
Growth in Organic Farming There are 3.4 million organic producers in 190 countries with the
largest number in India. Swiss consumers spent the most per person
Organic farmland is increasing at a rate of 5% every year with all on organic food and Denmark continues to have the highest organic
continents seeing strong growth. Over 78 million hectares are farmed market share with 13% of its total food market

Guide produced by: Nicole Mabhiza, 0115, ZW333

 2

. industry. Applicants are required to produce an Organic System Plan

which provides a detailed description of how the farming practices
and procedures will meet the organic standards.
Organic Certification A physical barrier such as a road, hedge or a 10-metre buffer zone
must separate organic farmland from conventional farmland. This is
The labelling and marketing of organic food products is strictly to protect the organic crops from contamination by chemical
controlled and regulated. It is illegal to call a food product organic if it fertilizers and pesticides used in traditional farming which may drift
has not been inspected and certified by an approved organic control over to the organic land.
body. Any substance or compounds used in organic agriculture must
comply with organic regulations and be verified as suitable for use in Following a review of the application and documentation an inspector
organic production systems. will visit the farm to carry out an initial inspection. This visit will take
approximately two hours for smaller operations and up to a full day
Producer Certification for larger, more complex operations. The inspector will report their
findings and identify any changes that are needed to bring production
Organic agricultural methods are internationally regulated and legally into line with the standards. Farms must undergo a conversion period
enforced by governments in many countries. Certification and where the land is managed using the organic production methods
accreditation systems have been established to protect the production outlined in the Organic System Plan. The conversion period for land
of organic goods. Any person or business that produces organic is typically two years. This provides time to establish organic
products must hold a legal certificate of registration from a management techniques and build soil fertility and biological activity.
government approved control body and be inspected at least annually. All plants that are grown during the conversion period must come
The process of gaining approval is long and demanding with complex from organic seeds. For crops to be marketed as organic the seeds
documentation and a considerable amount of initial investment. To must be sown and harvested from land that has completed its
start the process a completed application form must be submitted conversion period and has organic status. The conversion period can
along with the registration fee which varies depending on the size of be a financially difficult time for farmers. Organic methods often
the land. A certification officer will be assigned who acts as a point of result in lower yields and higher production costs. The food produced
contact and provides guidance throughout the conversion and during the conversion period cannot be classified as organic and
certification process. All certification officers have extensive therefore cannot command a premium price. This leaves the farm in a
knowledge of the regulations as well as practical experience in the state of uncertainty with reduced income
.

Once all these stages have been successfully completed the farm will achieve organic status and be registered in the National Register. A Certificate of Compliance
will be issued which confirms the farm is a certified organic producer and the crops can now be marketed as organic. A farm schedule will specify the crops
produced, the fields and area under organic management, and the date organic conversion began. Certification is valid for one year. Fees are payable on the renewal
date each year and an annual inspection is completed to ensure the production and processing standards are still being met. The farm will also benefit from ongoing
support from the certification officer who is dedicated to looking after the licence.

The Future
Guide produced by: Nicole Mabhiza, 0115, ZW333
 3

Organic farming has a bright future. Public demand for organic food is growing so fast that consumer demand is exceeding some domestic supplies. Significant
industry growth is predicted in the next decade. The European Union has set a target that 25% of all agricultural land will be organically farmed by 2030. It is also a
popular farming method in other continents where production and fertiliser costs are expensive. In some countries organic farming produces 80% more than
conventional farms and organic farmers earn higher incomes due to lower production costs and the price premium paid for their organic produce. Whatever the
location there has never been a better time for conventional farms to convert to organic farming.

Guide produced by: Nicole Mabhiza, 0115, ZW333