How does organic farming ensure yields and solve the labor problem?

Author: Guo Huanren (Professor, Department of Agronomy, National Taiwan University, Taiwan, China)

Yield

Although it is a common phenomenon that organic farming yields less than conventional farming, this is not necessarily the case. When converting from conventional farming to organic agriculture, the initial lack of beneficial bacteria and insects, together with soil physical and chemical properties that are still poor, means that low crop yields and severe pest and disease problems can be expected. This is the price that must be paid after humans have used conventional farming for many years.

After 3 or 4 years of conversion to organic farming, soil toxins gradually disappear and beneficial bacteria and insects gradually return, so yields will inevitably rise gradually; this is the shared experience of many organic farmers. Of course, restoring soil health and achieving rich biodiversity also require the implementation of correct organic farming methods. Organic farming is a complex technique and also requires rich experience in order to ensure yields. A 30-year comparative study by the Rodale Institute in the United States found that organic farming yields are indeed poorer in the early stage, but later there is no difference, which proves this.

Implementing correct organic farming can not only produce good yields, but also ensure soft soil and strong water-holding capacity, so that during water shortages it may actually be more productive than conventional farming.

Labor

The advantage of chemical fertilizers and pesticides is that they save labor, but their aftereffects are already widely known, which is why there is a trend toward replacing them with organic farming. At present, organic farming does indeed require relatively more labor, but as long as the position of no longer using pesticides and chemical fertilizers is firmly maintained, various labor-saving methods of operation will begin to appear, and using ducks to help with weeding is a very good example. (Series to be continued)