| In this country, the concept of Organic Farming started from the ideas of Lady Eve Balfour in the 1930’s. She believed that the soil was a living system. This concept meant that there was an essential link between the soil, plant, animal and man.
A simple definition often used reads as follows:
‘‘Organic Farming is a productive system which avoids the use of synthetically compounded fertilizers, pesticides, growth regulators and animal feed additives. To the maximum extent possible, organic farming systems rely on crop rotations, crop residues, animal manures, legumes, green manures and biological pest control to maintain soil fertility to supply plant nutrients and to control insect, weeds and other pests. In animal husbandry it encourages the principle that animals should lead lives where, as far as possible, their natural behaviour is allowed to be expressed.’’
|
