SEMESTER 1 – PROJECT REPORT

MASSIVE ONLINE OPEN COURSE (MOOC)

IN
ORGANIC FARMING
Submitted to
MAHATMA GANDHI UNIVERSITY
KOTTAYAM

Name of Student : ARDHRA MURALI

Register No: 20011016
Name of the programme : BCOM CA
Department : COMMERCE
ASSUMPTION COLLEGE (Autonomous)
Changanassery, Kerala
2021
CHAPTER 1 : INTRODUCTION
MOOC stands for ‘Massive Open Online course’ (term originated in US in
2008).

Mahatma Gandhi University introduced MOOC on organic farming as a

project for first year students . understand the importance of organic farming
and to produce food while establishing an ecological balance .

I’m Ardhra Murali , 1 year BCOM Computer Application of Assumption

college, Changanassery (Autonomous ) . And I’m presenting this report to
explain the output I have received from organic farming.

CHAPTER 2: MATERIALS AND METHODS

CROPS SELECTED :

1. Green chilli
2. Amaranthus
3. Brinjal
4. Elephant yam
5. Colocasia
6. Banana

SOURCE OF SEEDS / SEEDLINGS :

Seeds/seedlings used for farming was from different sources. Seeds
of Amaranthus , green chilli and brinjal were given by Krishibhavan
whereas seedlings of banana , elephant yam and colocasia were from
Nursery .

AREA OR NO . OF GROWBAGS:
 The crops used for cultivation was planted in my home itself , they
were planted in the backyard of my house. We used approximately
100 square metres of land for planting amaranthus , elephant yam ,
colocasia , banana and brinjal . green chilli was planted in growbags .
They all received direct sunlight which means about 6-8 hours a day
since sunlight is really essential for the growth of vegetables .
The heavy rainfall also affected my crops badly .

MANURE

Since chicken manure has very high nitrogen content which is needed
for all plants , it was used .
Dried cow dung was also used in addition to the chicken manure .
It was easily obtained from uur neighbourhood as they have cows and
hens with no cost .
Also bio waste from kitchen was also used for nourishment .

BIO-PESTICIDES :

Bio-pesticides are used for better yield and pest control .

The following bio-pesticides were used :

• Neem oil - it acts as both fungicide and pesticide . it works on arthropod

pests that often eat vegetables and controls common fungi that
grow on vegetable plants . Neem oil was bought from shop .
• Tobacco decoction - It controls aphids and soft bodied insects that
infests vegetable crops . it was prepared in our home .

Preparation :

By stepping 500 g of tobacco in 4.5 litres of water for 24 hours .

Dissolve 120g of ordinary bar soap separately in another vessel .
Then the soap solution and mixed thoroughly . dilute this stock
solution by adding 6-7 times more water before spraying .
 LAND PREPARTION :
As mentioned earlier , about 100 sq.m was used for farming .
Amaranthus was planted in a bed formation after ploughing for 2-3
times . used a shovel to tum the soil around so the top soil is in the
bottom .

Broke apart large clods dirt , until all of the soil had similar size and
consistency . The soil was loosened using a garden hoe .

Weeds were removed . The pH of the soil was checked and found that it was
4.5 . so lime was mixed to control pH .

Green chilly was planted in growbags in which pebbles were lined to

aid draining .
Well drained soil with pH 6.5 – 7.5 is good for brinjal
Elephant yam , Banana snd colocasia were planted conveniently ..
SEEDLING OR PLANTING

Amaranthus , green chilli , brinjal , Elephant yam , Banana and

colocasia were the crops 1 planted .

Amaranthus was sowed for bed formation . after 1 week , seeds

sprouted and the stem was elongated with space in between .
Water was sprayed regularly . After 2 Weeks , watering was done in
alternative days . After 3 Weeks , the Amaranthus was ready to
harvesting .

In the case of brinjal cultivation , After 2-3 Weeks of sowing , seeds

germinated . Seedlings were spaced about 1.5 – 2 ft apart .
Took optimum care while transplanting as it might affect it’s growth .
The plant started to fruit After 3-4 months .

Green chilli was planted in the Growbags and was watered frequently .
Elephant yam , Colocasia and Banana saplings were planted on the
ground and watered daily . they didn’t need much Care .

CHAPTER 3: PHOTOS
 CHAPTER 4 : COST - BENEFIT
ANALYSIS
All the crops I cultivated were benefitting . it was not at all profit motive .

Even though we encountered rainfalls and winds , we were able to yield

pure organic vegetables at home .

A course of Amaranthus was used and distributed to our neighbourhood.

Green chilli grew and produced a great amount of yield and still yielding .

We could harvest brinjal also in a better produce .

Banana could also be harvested as it was planted about 10 months back.

We couldn’t harvest Elephant yam and colocasia since they are long- term
crops.

During the process, we managed to bring great effect in different stages of

growth .

Manures were given from our neighbourhood. Bio –waste was available which
helped the growth of these plants .

This was cost relatively really low and was effective too .

CHAPTER 5 :CONCLUSIONS
In conclusion ,vegetable gardening is a rewarding activity that produce fresh
and healthy vegetables from your backyard straight to the kitchen .

During this pandemic , we could use these pesticide - free pure vegetables
that adds to the health of all members of the family .

It is high time that all should grow an organic vegetable garden for the sake of
themselves as well as the upcoming generations .this project should be
introduced to schools and from there to homes. Not only the yields we get
from the garden , but also it helps us mentally to forget all our pains and
sufferings through engaging in framing .

Let’s eat pesticide free farm fresh veggies from our own home and be healthy
forever.

ABSTRACT

Organic farming is a modern and sustainable form of agriculture that

provides consumers fresh natural farm products . It’s objective is to use
techniques to improve crop fields without harming the natural environment.

In this project , I tried to assess the reliance , relevance and the effect of
organic farming on management of balancing . This project aimed on
relying on local and easily available resources , economic efficiency and
economic aims , long term security to yield biodiversity , ecological aims ,
functioning of ecosystems , stability , social aims , self – provided workforce
, fulfilling local needs or at least that members of the family . The need for
vegetable garden in our own home is really high . I believe that may project
would encourage others also to cultivate vegetables for themselves.

******
 TOPIC:
Organic
Farming

BCOM COMPUTER APPLICATION

1504

NAME: ANSU MERIN ABRAHAM

INDEX
Serial Topic Page No.
no
1 Introduction 3-4
2 Materials and 5-9
Methods
3 Observations 10-13
and Data
Collection
4 Photos 14-20
5 Cost benefit 21
analysis
6 Conclusion 21-22
7 Abstract 22
Introduction

Organic Farming is an agricultural system

that uses fertilizers of organic origin such
as compost manure, green manure, and
bone manure and places emphasis on
techniques such as crop rotation and
companion planting. It originated early in
20th century in reaction to rapidly changing
farming practices.
Advantages of organic farming

1. No more genetically modified

organisms
2. Soil protection
3. Better nutrition
4. Healthy working environment
around farms
5. Resistance to pests and diseases
6. Fertilizers are made naturally and on
site
7. Opportunity to grow variety of
crops
8. Climate friendly
9. For the future
MATERIALS AND METHODS

CROPS SELECTED
1. Spinach
2. Peas
3. Brinjal
4. Green chilli
5. Lady’s finger

SOURCES OF SEEDS/SEEDLING
Seeds/seedlings used for planting were
collected from home. I collected the seeds
of spinach, green chilli, peas, lady’s finger
and brinjal from our front yard
AREA AND NO. OF GROWBAGS
USED
All of the five growbags were planted in
the front yard of my house, where it was
possible to receive six to eight hours of
sunlight. All were planted in grow bags. In
total, 7 grow bags were used.

CROP SEASON
1. Spinach: Spinach is sown
throughout the year.
2. Peas: Sowing time for pea seeds are
dependent on the area of cultivation.
3. Brinjal: Brinjal can be grown in any
season . In rainy season- June and July.
4. Green chilli: It is a tropical and
sub-tropical plant that requires a blend
of warm, humid or dry .
5. Lady’s finger: It is an important
vegetable crop of India.

WEATHER CONDITION
1. Spinach: It grows well during sunny
and spring season at an average
temperature of 10°C to 20 °C.
2. Peas: They grow best when
temperature stays below 70°C.
3. Brinjal: Daily mean temperature of
13°C to 21°C is most favorable for its
successful production.
4. Green chilli: Temperature between
20°C to 25°C is perfect for the growth
of chilli.
5. Lady’s finger: Temperature range
of 22°C to 35°C for its growth.
SOURCE OF MANURE
Vegetables compost was mostly used as it
is the best for organic farming. I could
obtain it at home. Cow dung was used and
laid on for the growth of plants. Ash
remains were also used when the leaves
were damaged due to worms.

PROCESS
• Land preparation
Firstly, sand was ploughed into the grow
bag. A mix of cow dung was applied to the
ploughed soil. Proper spacing was done to
ensure the healthy growth of the crops.
 • Seeding
Peas were soaked in the water and then
sowed directly into the prepared soil.
Spinach, green chilli, brinjal and lady’s
finger were all directly sowed to the soil.

• Water management
All require water on its daily basis.

• Harvest
The plants I sowed were harvested
frequently.
OBSERVATION AND DATA
COLLECTION

1. HEIGHT OF PLANT
Name of crop No.
Spinach 2¾ f
Peas -
Brinjal 1½ f
Green chilli 2½ f
Lady’s Finger 1¾ f

2. NO. OF BRANCHES
Name of crop No.
Spinach 8
Peas -
Brinjal 3
Green chilli 3
Lady’s Finger -
3. SEEDS
Name of crop No.
Spinach 5( out of 10 )
Peas 5( out of 10 )
Brinjal 2(out of 5)
Green chilli 3( out of 7 )
Lady’s Finger 4

4. DAY OF FIRST FLOWERING

Name of crop Date
Spinach -
Peas 1 June
Brinjal 29 July
Green chilli 10 August
Lady’s Finger 5 August
5. DAY OF FIRST FRUITING
Name of crop Date
Spinach -
Peas 15 June
Brinjal 5 August
Green chilli 24 August
Lady’s Finger 15 August

6. HARVEST DAYS
Name of crop Date
Spinach 20 May
Peas 20 June
Brinjal 30 August
Green chilli 30 August
Lady’s Finger 30 August
7. WEIGHT OF FRUITS
Name of crop Weight No.
Spinach - -
Peas 1 kg 4 Bundle
Brinjal 2 kg 1 bundle
Green chilli 1 kg 3 bundle
Lady’s Finger - -
PHOTOS
Spinach

Peas
Brinjal
Green Chilli
Lady’s Finger
HARVEST
COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS
There weren’t much expenses that incurred as
most of the items used were available at our
home . The crops I cultivated were beneficial
for my house . Though I encountered minor
issues , due to the heavy rain , we were able to
yield better than expected . During this
pandemic , we could consume these
vegetables , without any chemical usage , with
very limited expenses .

CONCLUSION
Organic farming is a productive activity which
produce fresh and healthier vegetables. It
yields more nutritious and safe produce .
From this project , I could study and
understand so many aspects of farming
through organic farming .The current
generation should indulge in organic farming
as it is more sustainable and environmental
friendly for us and our future .

ABSTRACT
Through Organic Farming , the Massive
Open Online Classes ( MOOC) aims for a
healthy environment and to inform students
about the value of growing plants .
The objective of this task is to investigate and
know more about the malfunctioned
maintenance of our soil and crop production .
MAHATMA GANDHI UNIVERSITY
MOOC on
ORGANIC FARMING

JELIN ANN REJI

B.COM COMPUTER APPLICATION
1507

1
 INDEX

S.NO. TOPICS PAGE NO.

1. Chapter 1:- Introduction 3

2. Chapter 2:- Materials and Methods 5

3. Chapter 3:- Observations and Data Collection 12

4. Chapter 4:- Photos 16

5. Chapter 5:- Cost Benefit Analysis 24

6. Chapter 6:- Conclusion 26

7. Abstract 28

2
 CHAPTER – 1
INTRODUCTION

3
 INTRODUCTION
Organic farming has engrossed much attention in current decades as a
way to maintain farming production. At the same time, it has played an
important role in dealing with the environmental harms rooted in
traditional agricultural techniques. Organic farming not only produces
fine and healthy food products but also improves the fertility and quality
of soil.

Organic farming is a production scheme, which mainly prohibits or

avoids the utilization of artificial pesticides, fertilizers, livestock feed
additives, and growth regulators. Organic farming is environmental
friendly ecosystem management in which use of all kinds of synthetic
input is eliminated.
Organic farming is a production system that sustains the health of
soils, ecosystems and people. It relies on ecological processes,
biodiversity and cycles adapted to local conditions, rather than the use of
inputs with adverse effects. Organic farming combines tradition,
innovation and science to benefit the shared environment and promote
fair relationships and a good quality of life for all involved in the
environment.

4
 CHAPTER – 2
MATERIALS AND METHODS

5
 MATERIALS AND METHODS
1) Location of college and student:
College: Assumption College, Changanassery.
Student: Elanthoor, Valiyavettom, Pathanamthitta.
2) Crops selected:
2.1) Varieties:

 Vegetables: Green Chilly, Brinjal, Lady’s Finger

 Aromatic: Ginger
 Potato: Taro Root
2.2 ) Source of seedlings:
Krishi Bhavan, Omalloor, Pathanamthitta
3) No. of grow bags:
9 grow bags were used.

4) Crop season:
 Green Chilly:
Chillies can be grown both as Kharif and Rabi crop. In
addition they are also planted at other times. Sowing months
are May to June for Kharif crop, September to October for
Rabi crops. If they are grown as summer crops then January-
February months are chosen.
 Brinjal:
The brinjal can be grown around the year, the main sowing
being done during July to August.

6
  Lady’s Finger:
It is grown in kharif (June-August) and Zaid (January-March)
season. It is grown in tropical and sub-tropical region.

 Ginger:
The crop duration is generally around 8-10 months.

 Taro Root:
Taro root can be grown throughout the year in frost-free
weather conditions. Taro crop thrives well in warm, moist
conditions.

5) Weather condition:
 Green Chilly:
Chillies grow best in warm and humid conditions. The ideal
temperature for growing green chilly is somewhere between
22-25°C.
 Brinjal:
Brinjal is a warm season crop and requires a long warm
growing season. A daily mean temperature of 13-21oC is
most favourable for its successful production.
 Lady’s Finger:
Lady’s finger requires warm climate throughout its growing
period because it cannot bear cold climatic conditions. It
requires temperature range of 22-35°C for its best growth.
Rainy season is essential for its successful growth. Seeds are
unable to germinate when the temperature is below 20°C.

7
  Ginger:
Ginger requires warm climate, a moderate rainfall showers
during the growing period, and dry weather with a
temperature of 28°C to 30°C.
 Taro Root:
Taro crop thrives well in warm, moist conditions. Evenly
distributed rainfall is ideal for its proper growth and
cultivation. In drought or dry, low-rainfall areas, one should
provide supplemental irrigation. Best growth can be expected
at 25°C to 35°C.
6) Equipments used:
Basket, pitchfork, rake, trowel, spray bottle, etc.
7) Liming material and quantity:
A small quantity of ashes, salt, neem cake and bone manure were
used.
8) Manures:
 Basal application:
A mix of sheep manure, neem cake, dry leaves compost, cow
dung, bone manure, 8*8 manure, egg shells, porridge water
and ashes was added to the ploughed soil.
 Top dressing:
Dry leaves compost, bone manure, neem cake, ashes and egg
shells was applied.
 Bio-fertilizers:
Fresh sheep manure, cow dung and egg shells was applied.
 Bio slurries:
Kitchen wastes, sheep manure and cow dung was applied.

8
9) Bio pesticides:
Mix of porridge water, papaya leaves and neem leaves was
sprayed to brinjal, chilly and lady’s finger plants.
10)Any other inputs used:
Mixture of porridge water, neem leaves and papaya leaves liquid was
sprayed on leaves to control insects and ants.
11) Crop management:
 Land preparation:
 Firstly, ploughed the field very well.
 Bushes, roots and weeds were removed.
 Small stones and rocks were removed.
 Cow dung cakes, neem cakes, ash powder and bone
manure were applied and mixed well with the soil.
 Liming:
A small quantity of ashes, salt and bone manure were
used.
 Basal manuring:
A mix of sheep manure, neem cake, dry leaves compost,
water and ashes was added to the ploughed soil.
 Grow bag filling:
Mixed loose soil with cow dung cakes, neem cakes, coconut
husk, ash powder, bone manure and dry leaves. This will be
the base mixture in the bag. Keep the mixture under sunlight
for an hour before filling it in the bag. To this mix, add bone
manure and neem cake powder to increase the quality of
fertilizer.

9
 Seeding/ planting:
 Seeds of transplanted crops like lady’s finger, brinjal
and green chilly were soaked in water for 6 hours and
was sown in paper cups. After these seeds sprouted
then I planted it into grow bags with soil well mixed
with cow dung cakes, neem cakes, coconut husk, ash
powder, bone manure and dry leaves.
 Ginger and taro root: A small piece of ginger and a
piece of taro root was directly planted into the well
ploughed soil.
 Top dressing:
Dry leaves compost, bone manure, neem cake, ashes and egg
shells was applied on top of the soil.
 Pest management:
Mix of porridge water, papaya leaves and neem leaves was
sprayed to brinjal, chilly and lady’s finger plants and
removing of weeds.
 Disease management:
Mix of porridge water, papaya leaves and neem leaves was
sprayed to brinjal , chilly and lady’s finger plants.
 Water management: Well water was used for all purposes.
 Green chilly, brinjal and lady’s finger requires watering
on daily basis.
 Ginger and taro root requires gentle amount of water.
Excess water leads to decaying of ginger and taro root.
 Harvest:
Brinjal, green chilly and lady’s finger can be harvested
frequently.
Ginger and taro root can be harvested within 8 to 10 months.

10
11
 CHAPTER – 3
OBSERVATIONS AND DATA COLLECTION

12
 OBSERVATIONS AND DATA COLLECTION
Table.1. Germination / plant stand establishment percent.
CROP NAME NO.
Green Chilly 6(out of 10)
Brinjal 5(out of 10)
Lady’s Finger 4(out of 6)
Ginger 23(out of 25)

Taro Root 7(out of 12)

Table.2. Height of plants in cm. (15 days interval)

CROP 5/5/21 20/5/21 4/6/21 19/6/21 4/7/21 19/7/21 3/8/21 18/8/21
NAME

Green - 1 5 9 12 18 23 29
chilly

Brinjal - 5 15 26 35 47 58 70
Lady’s - 2 7 12 16 20 25 30
Finger

Ginger - 4 7 15 18 22 27 30
Taro - 3 7 13 20 27 38 46
Root

13
Table.3. No. of branches (15 days interval)
CROP 5/5/21 20/5/21 4/6/21 19/6/21 4/7/21 19/7/21 3/8/21 18/8/21
NAME
Green - 1 3 6 8 9 10 15
Chilly
Brinjal - 2 7 12 13 16 20 24
Lady’s - 2 4 4 5 6 7 9
Finger
Ginger - 1 2 2 3 4 5 6
Taro - 1 2 2 3 3 4 4
Root

Table.4.Day of first flowering (Days After Sowing/ planting)

CROP NAME DATE
Green Chilly 26/8/21
Brinjal 29/7/21
Lady’s Finger 6/8/21
Ginger -
Taro Root -

Table.5. Day of first fruiting (Days After Sowing/ planting)

CROP NAME DATE
Green Chilly 2/9/21
Brinjal 3/8/21
Lady’s Finger 10/8/21
Ginger -
Taro Root -

14
Table.6. Harvest days (Days After Sowing/ planting)
CROP NAME DATE
Green Chilly -
Brinjal 17/8/21
Lady’s Finger 14/8/21
Ginger -
Taro Root -

Table.7. No. and weight of fruits from each harvest

CROP NAME NUMBER WEIGHT
Green Chilly - -
Brinjal 10 500gm
Lady’s Finger 7 200gm
Ginger - -
Taro Root - -

Table.8. Cumulative Yield (kg)

CROP NAME KG

Brinjal 500gm

Lady’s Finger 200gm

15
CHAPTER – 4
PHOTOS

16
PHOTOS
GREEN CHILLY

17
18
BRINJAL

19
20
LADY’S FINGER

21
GINGER

22
TARO ROOT

23
 CHAPTER – 5
COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS

24
 COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS
Growing our own food is a healthy way to save money and enjoy fresh
and pesticide-free products at home. However, it takes time and patience
for the plants to grow and be fruitful. So that now we cannot predict the
cost benefits of the vegetables, but it has been used for our home
purposes. A small outlay of money was spend to buy seeds, fertilizers,
tools, grow bags and other equipments that was required for the organic
farming. The cost occurred for the farming was almost ₹900 (including
transportation expenses).

25
CHAPTER – 6
CONCLUSION

26
 CONCLUSION
Organic farming yields more nutritious and safe food. The popularity of
organic farming is growing as consumer seeks the organic foods that are
thought to be healthier and safer in this pandemic. Thus, organic farming
perhaps ensures food safety. The organic farming process is more eco-
friendly than conventional farming. Organic farming keeps soil healthy
and maintains environment integrity thereby, promoting the health of
consumers. The primary goal of organic farming is to optimize the
health and productivity of interdependent communities of soil life,
plants, animals and people.
By doing organic farming we get fresh and healthy vegetables. We also
get vegetables for our own self-sufficiency. It makes us healthier and
was like an exercise for our body. It also helps us to refresh our mind
and be calm. It is the best way of kitchen waste management and
composting the kitchen waste reduces the need for water as kitchen
waste has enough moisture. It also helps in water management.
I can say that organic farming is a very good and productive habit. Also,
it helped me to establish a connection with the greenery and love
towards nature. An organic farming is a great opportunity for growing
organic vegetables.

27
 ABSTRACT
Growing our own food is a healthy way and enjoy fresh and pesticide-
free products at home. However, it takes time and patience for the plants
to grow. A small outlay of money was spend to buy seeds, fertilizers,
tools and other equipments that were required for the organic farming.

As a part of MOOC project I have started my organic farming on 5th

MAY, 2021. For farming I took green chilly, brinjal, lady’s finger,
ginger and taro root. In the beginning bushes, roots and weeds were
removed. Then ploughed the field very well. Small stones and rocks
were removed. Cow dung cakes, neem cakes, ash powder and bone
manure were applied and mixed well with the soil. Seeds of transplanted
crops like lady’s finger, brinjal and green chilly were soaked in water for
6 hours and was sown in paper cups. After these seeds sprouted then I
planted it into grow bags with soil well mixed with cow dung cakes,
neem cakes, coconut husk, ash powder, bone manure and dry leaves.
Ginger and taro root were directly sown into the soil and covered with
top soil and dry leaves. A small quantity of ashes, salt and bone manure
were used.
Green chilly, brinjal and lady’s finger requires watering on daily basis.
Ginger and taro root requires gentle amount of water. Excess water leads
to decaying of ginger and taro root. Brinjal, green chilly and lady’s
finger can be harvested frequently. The first harvesting of brinjal was on
17/8/21 and lady’s finger harvesting was on 14/8/21, but green chilly
had just started to bud on 26/8/21 so harvesting was not yet been done.
Ginger and taro root can be harvested within 8 to 10 months. About 5-6
hours plants were kept under sunlight. Some of the plants that I planted
was damaged and lost some flowers due to heavy rain and wind. And
also some fruits were also destroyed by insects.

28
By being a part of MOOC project I am really happy to say that this
project has helped me to gain more knowledge about organic farming. I
had a good experience and also enjoyed doing this project. It also helped
me to refresh my mind and be calm by staying and sparing some time in
nature. I can say that organic farming is a very good and productive
habit. Also, it helped me to establish a connection with the greenery and
show my love towards nature. An organic farming is a great opportunity
for growing organic vegetables and also have a good connection with
nature.

29
 ORGANIC FARMING

By

Name of Student: Ann Susan Jacob

Name of the Programme: BCom
Computer Application
Roll Number: 1490
Department: Commerce
 ABSTRACT

It is a matter of fact that modern agriculture is based on the use of high yielding varieties of

seeds, chemical fertilizer, irrigation water, pesticides etc. to satisfy the ever-growing demand

for food grains not only to fulfil the problem of food security but also to earn foreign exchange

at the cost of environmental quality which cannot be sustainable in future because of the

adverse changes being caused to the environment and ecosystem. Thus, widespread

environmental degradation, severe poverty around the globe and the burning concerns about

achieving and maintaining a good quality of life were the principal factors for taking interest

in intergenerational equity, about access to natural resources. As best agricultural land has

already been farmed and the region has exceeded the safe limit, primarily in Asia, the natural

resources available for further farming expansion is practically exhausted. So, the necessity of

having an alternative agriculture method that can be functioned in a friendly Ecosystem while

sustaining and increasing productivity is talk of the day among not only agricultural scientists

but also even common men - Organic farming is recognized as the best-known alternative. It

is economically feasible to practice when the farmers can get a premium price for their product.

The cost of cultivation will be reduced by not depending upon the purchased off-farm inputs.

The low productivity in the transition stage needs research activities at the national and

international levels. Organic farming is not the only revival to the farming community, it also

revival to the consumers to lead a “Healthy and Happy life”. So, a paradigm shift to Organic

farming is the need of the day to enhance the quality of life.

 CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTION

Food quality and safety are two vital factors that have attained constant attention in common

people. Growing environmental awareness and several food hazards (e.g., dioxins, bovine

spongiform encephalopathy, and bacterial contamination) have substantially decreased the

consumer’s trust towards food quality in the last decades. Intensive conventional farming can

add contamination to the food chain. For these reasons, consumers are quested for safer and

better foods that are produced more ecologically and authentically by local systems.

Organically grown food and food products are believed to meet these demands

(Rembialkowska, 2007).

In recent years, organic farming as a cultivation process is gaining increasing popularity.

Organically grown foods have become one of the best choices for both consumers and farmers.

Organically grown foods are part of a go green lifestyle. But the question is that what is meant

by organic farming? (Chopra et al., 2013).

The term ‘organic’ was first coined by Northbourne, in 1940, in his book entitled ‘Look to the

Land’.

Northbourne stated that ‘the farm itself should have biological completeness; it must be a

living entity; it must be a unit which has within itself a balanced organic life’ (Northbourne,

2003). Northbourne also defined organic farming as ‘an ecological production management

system that promotes and enhances biodiversity, biological cycles and soil biological activity.
 According to Winter and Davis (2006), ‘it is based on minimal use of off-farm inputs and

on management practices that restore, maintain and enhance ecological harmony.

They mentioned that organic produce is not grown with synthetic pesticides, antibiotics, growth

hormones, application of genetic modification techniques (such as genetically modified crops),

sewage sludge, or chemical fertilizers.

Whereas, conventional farming is the cultivation process where synthetic pesticides and

chemical fertilizers are applied to gain higher crop yield and profit. In conventional farming,

synthetic pesticides and chemicals can eliminate insects, weeds, and pests and growth factors

such as synthetic hormones and fertilizers increase the growth rate (Worthington, 2001).

As synthetically produced pesticides and chemical fertilizers are utilized in conventional

farming, consumption of conventionally grown foods is discouraged, and for these reasons, the

popularity of organic farming is increasing gradually.

In this project, we are using the organic farming method of cultivation to observe the rate of

growing and yield produced compared to conventional farming and then we analyse the total

expenditure and profit that we got from organic farming.

 CHAPTER II

MATERIALS AND METHOD

2.1 Location of College and Student

Both college and the house of the student are located in Kottayam district of Kerala. The

land is mostly covered with red soil.

2.2 Crops Selected

The seedlings of 5 varieties of crops collected from VFPCK Plant Nursery. The crops selected

for this project were:

1. Tomatoes

2. Snake Beans

3. Red Amaranth

4. Brinjal

5. Chillies

2.3 Area Cultivated or Number of Grow Bags

All the crops except tomatoes planted in a total of 25 grow bags and tomatoes potted in 15

hanging pots
2.4 Crop Season

The crops planted during the beginning of summer around the first week of April which is the

ideal season for growing the selected crops. Then around the first week of June, the monsoon

season started. So, the planting season wearied from one to another. They thrived throughout

the seasons

2.5 Weather Conditions Prevailed

The weather was quite unstable. The temperature ranged from 24℃ to 30℃. It started with hot

summer then due to the cyclone, heavy rain started. The wind speed reached up to 60km/hr.

now due to the monsoon, a light sprinkle of rain is observed

2.6 Agricultural Implements and Equipment’s Used

The equipment’s and implements used for gardening are:

i. Handheld trowel

ii. Poly grow bag

iii. Pruning Shear

iv. Hose and Watering can

v. Spade

vi. Hand weeder

vii. Hoe

Hand Trowel: A trowel is a small hand tool used for digging, applying, smoothing, or moving

small amounts of viscous or particulate material.

Poly Growbag: It is a large plastic bag filled with a growing medium and used for growing

plants, usually salad crops. Various nutrients are added, sufficient for one season's growth, so

frequently only planting and watering are required of the end-user.

Pruning Shears: also called hand pruners, or secateurs, are a type of scissors for use on plants.

They are strong enough to prune hard branches of trees and shrubs, sometimes up to two

centimetres thick

Hose and Watering Cans: Watering cans are good for containers, especially on balconies and

roofs with no hose spigot. Hand watering with a gentle spray from a hose is good for small

areas and gives you a chance to pay close attention to your plants.

Spade: It is a tool primarily for digging, comprising a blade. It's typically stunted and less

curved than that of a shovel with and a long handle

Hand Weeder: It is used for removing weeds in vegetable gardens, basins of orchard trees and

Vineyard plantations. It is also used for breaking the soil crust and creation soil mulch.

Hoe: It is used for shaping the soil includes piling soil around the base of plants (hilling),

digging narrow furrows (drills) and shallow trenches for planting seeds or bulbs.
2.7 Liming material and Quantity

The liming material used is Dolomitic limestone. It is garden grade calcium and magnesium

carbonates. it raises the pH level of acidic soil by which helps plants to absorb the basic

nutrients that are locked up in the soil.

The soil is tested using a home test kit. Most garden plants prefer a pH range of 6.0-6.5. Add

2kg of dolomites to a 100 sq. ft. of garden space for every 1 point that is needed to raise the pH

of the soil.

2.8 Manures Used

i. Basal Application: leaf moulds, Coco peat, Vermicompost and Cow dung are used for

basal application

ii. Top Dressing: Compost is used as a top dressing

iii. Bio-fertilizers Used: Bone meal, Neem Cake is used as biofertilizers

iv. Bio Slurries: Groundnut cake is mixed with water to make a slurry and fermented rice

water is used as bio-slurry

v. Bio Pesticides: Neem oil, baking soda and Beauveria bassiana are used as bio-pesticides

vi. Biocontrol Agent: Verticillium lacanii and Pseudomonas fluorescens are used as

biocontrol agents

vii. Waste Decomposer (WDC): It contains beneficial microorganisms from Desi Cow

Dung for Soil Health Reviver. It can control all types of soil-borne, foliar diseases,

insects and pests as a plant protection agent. Its application can eliminate up to 90% of

uses of all types of pesticides, fungicides, and insecticides since it controls both root
 diseases and shoots diseases. It can also be used as foliar spray Made by using the

technology developed by the National Centre of Organic Farming, NCOF, Govt. Of

India. It is used by mixing 1 bottle of WDC to 200 litres of water 2kg of jaggery. Then

the solution is kept for a week and is mixed properly 2-3 times a day. After a week we

can use the solution to spray or even water the crops by mixing it with water in a 1:3

ratio.

2.9 Crop Management

Liming:

Two weeks before setting out seedlings, the weeds and other debris are removed then the

dolomite is spread evenly over the soil in the proportion of 2kg/sq. ft. Using a spade worked

the dolomite into the top 7 inches of soil and watered thoroughly so that the dolomite begins to

leach into the surrounding soil. The soil is then allowed to dry under the sun for 2 weeks before

it is mixed with the potting mixture and transferred to a poly grow bag

Potting Mixture Preparations:

As part of soil prep, after liming the soil and letting it dry for 2 weeks under the sunlight, the

potting mixture was prepared by mixing equal parts of good quality river sand, red earth soil

and cocopeat.

Basal Manuring:

The prepared potting mixture is then mixed with Vermicompost, Bone meal, Neem cake and

Cow dung
Grow Bag Filling:

The grow bag is opened and checked for holes at the base, if not a hole is made using a pointed

object or soldering iron. The base of the grow Bag is first covered with leaf moulds and weeds

then the prepared potting mixture is added up to ¾ of the grow bag.

Planting the Seedling:

Since the seedling was leggy a hole deeper than normal holes for planting a seedling were taken

with a hand trowel to compensate for the extra length. During the transplantation of the seedling

from the potting tray, the roots are dipped in the pseudomonas solution to prevent root rot.

Top Dressing:

The compost is used as a top dressing. It is added to the soil once two weeks and the top layer

of the soil is loosened so that the compost easily goes down into the soil after watering

Pest Management:

i. there were no pests observed in red amaranth since it got destroyed in the storm

ii. Mites, Aphids and Leaf folders were observed in Snake Beans. Neem oil emulsion was

sprayed every part of the plant to aphides and leaf folder. For mites, the affected parts

were removed and Beauveria fungus solution was sprayed

iii. Stalk borers were observed in tomato plants. The destroyed stalks were removed and

Neem oil emulsion was sprayed on every part of the plant

iv. Leaf miners were observed in brinjal. As pesticide Neem oil emulsion were used
Disease Management:

i. Halo blights were observed in Snake Beans. Pruned stake plant parts with a disinfected

pruning shear

ii. Stunted growth disease observed in chilli. To revive the plant fermented rice water is

used and sprinkled some ashes

Water Management:

the watering was done by both hose and water can. The watering was done either in the morning

or evening. In summer, the plants were watered twice a day. In monsoon, the plants were

watered once a day. On storm days, only plants that were kept under the shades were watered.

Harvest:

i. The red amaranth got destroyed before harvesting

ii. The snake beans haven't reached the harvesting stage yet

iii. The chillies were harvested for 1 time

iv. The tomatoes haven't reached the harvesting stage yet

v. The brinjals were harvested 2 times

Despite planting all the crops at the same time, its seen that the harvesting time differs for

different crops
 CHAPTER III

OBSERVATION AND DATA COLLECTION

3.1 GERMINATION AND PLANT STAND ESTABLISHMENT

Since the crop was bought as a seedling the rate of germination per unit area can’t be calculated.

All the crops that were planted in grow bags survived except Red Amaranth

3.2 HEIGHT OF PLANT IN CENTIMETER

HEIGHT OF PLANT AFTER TRANSPLANTING THE SEEDLING

(15 days interval)
CROPS (Cm)

15 DAYS 45 DAYS 60 DAYS 75 DAYS 90 DAYS

Tomato 35 cm 58 cm 76 cm 93 cm 121 cm

Brinjal 37 cm 49 cm 63 cm 78 cm 91 cm

Chilli 20 cm 29 cm 32 cm 48 cm 56 cm

Snake Beans 45 cm Since the plant was a climber and it spread all over the fence, couldn’t

record the height of the plant

Red Amaranth 20 cm Couldn’t record the height of the plant as it got destroyed in the storm
3.3 NUMBER OF BRANCHES

NUMBER OF BRANCHES (15 DAYS INTERVAL)

CROPS
15 DAYS 45 DAYS 60 DAYS 75 DAYS 90 DAYS

2 2 3 5 5
Tomato Branches Branches Branches Branches Branches

0 1 3 3 5
Brinjal Branches Branches Branches Branches Branches

0 1 1 3 3
Chilli Branches Branches Branches Branches Branches

Since it’s a climber and was spread all around the fence, couldn’t count the number
Snake Beans of branches

0 Since the plant got destroyed in the storm, couldn’t count the
Red Amaranth number of branches
Branches

3.4 DAY OF FIRST FLOWERING

DAY OF FIRST FLOWERING AFTER

CROPS
TRANSPLANTING THE SEEDLING

60 Days
Tomato

55 Days
Brinjal

70 Days
Chilli

85 days
Snake Beans

_
Red Amaranth
3.5 DAYS OF FIRST FRUITING

DAY OF FIRST FRUITING AFTER

CROPS
TRANSPLANTING THE SEEDLING

62nd Day
Tomato

58th Day
Brinjal

71st Day
Chilli

86th Day
Snake Beans

_
Red Amaranth

3.6 HARVEST DAYS

HARVEST DAYS AFTER

CROPS
TRANSPLANTING

Haven’t reached the harvesting stage

Tomato

65th Day And 82nd Day

Brinjal

88Th Day
Chilli

Haven’t reached the harvesting stage

Snake Beans

_
Red Amaranth
3.7 NUMBER AND WEIGHT OF FRUITS FROM EACH HARVEST

NUMBER AND WEIGHT OF FRUITS

CROPS
FROM EACH HARVEST

Haven’t reached the harvesting stage

Tomato

2 Nos. (200 gm) and 4 Nos (350 gm)

Brinjal

33 Nos (100 gm)

Chilli

Haven’t reached the harvesting stage

Snake Beans

_
Red Amaranth

3.8 CUMILATIVE YIELD

CUMILATIVE YIELD
CROPS
(Kg)

Haven’t reached the harvesting stage

Tomato

0.75 Kg
Brinjal

0.1 Kg
Chilli

Haven’t reached the harvesting stage

Snake Beans

_
Red Amaranth
 CHAPTER IV

PHOTOS

4.1 Grow Bag Preparation and Layout

4.2 Flowering Stage
4.3 Fruiting Stage
4.4 Harvest
 CHAPTER V
COST-BENEFIT ANALYSIS

The total expenditure of this project is Rs. 1850/-. Till now we cultivated 750 gm brinjal and
100 gm chillies, which in the market is for Rs. 90 /- in total. We used the cultivated
vegetables for household purposes. As the crops are not fully cultivated, we cannot say if it’s
a profitable way of cultivation or not. But it is a beneficial way of cultivation for both our
physical and mental health.
 CONCLUSION

Since the harvesting is not completely done, the project is incomplete. So, we cannot conclude
but organic farming yields more nutritious and safe food. The popularity of organic food is
growing dramatically as consumer seeks the organic foods that are thought to be healthier and
safer. Thus, organic food perhaps ensures food safety from farm to plate. The organic farming
process is more eco-friendly than conventional farming. Organic farming keeps soil healthy
and maintains environmental integrity thereby, promoting the health of consumers. Moreover,
the organic produce market is now the fastest-growing market all over the world including
India. Organic agriculture promotes the health of consumers of a nation, the ecological health
of a nation, and the economic growth of a nation by income generation holistically. India, at
present, is the world’s largest organic producer and with this vision, we can conclude that
encouraging organic farming in India can build a nutritionally, ecologically, and economically
healthy nation someday.