In 1966, the Green Revolution commenced in India to increase food grain production in the country. Agriculture was converted into an industrial system with the help of modern methods and technology, including the use of pesticides and synthetic fertilizers. 

However, this attempt to increase crop yield came at a cost. The use of pesticides and synthetic fertilisers caused a great deal of environmental damage, such as soil erosion, polluted water, the death of beneficial insects and wildlife etc. 

Soon enough, it became evident that this model of agriculture had become unsustainable and harmful to the environment. That’s why, come the 21st century, many of us shifted our focus back onto sustainable, organic farming. On top of that, people have come to realise that organic produce far outranks over-processed & genetically modified (GMO) food in the health benefits it provides. 

So, what is Organic Farming?

According to a study conducted by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) organic farming is “a system which avoids or largely excludes the use of synthetic inputs (such as fertilizers, pesticides, hormones, feed additives etc) and to the maximum extent feasible rely upon crop rotations, crop residues, animal manures, off-farm organic waste, mineral grade rock additives and biological system of nutrient mobilization and plant protection”.

In other words, organic farming aims to eliminate dependency on synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, and instead switch to plant and animal waste-based compost. 

What are the benefits of switching to Organic Farming?

Organic farming has many benefits, some of which are:

1. Reduced exposure to harmful chemicals – On principle, organic farming discourages the use of harsh chemicals like synthetic fertilizers and pesticides. 

2. Less energy consumption – Reducing the use of synthetic chemicals also reduces the demand for them, which ultimately leads to less production. Because manufacturing synthetic chemicals consumes a significant amount of energy, cutting it out of the agricultural process also helps reduce energy consumption.

3. Facilitates healthy soil formation – Harsh chemicals are also one of the biggest contributing factors to soil erosion, as harmful chemicals wither away the soils natural minerals and nutrients. Organic methods ensure that the soil is healthier and more useful, with its carbon and nitrogen cycle well balanced. Additionally, due to the significant retention of beneficial bacteria, the natural nitrogen fixation in the soil also gets a boost.

4. Provides livelihood to smallholder farmers – The industrial revolution created a lot of jobs; but at the same time, it took away the farmers say in the pricing of their produce. With organic farming coming back in demand, independent smallholder farmers can once again sell their produce without being exploited, and can also make a profit without spending their hard-earned money on synthetic chemicals.

Why Swabhiman33?

At The Purpose Company, we are committed to improving the environmental footprint of food production, and positively affect our customers’ lifestyle by providing them organic, sustainability grown products. 

We also source our products from small scale and tribal farmers across the country, who we consider an integral part of this initiative. We want to motivate them to produce more organic produce through our 33-Promise. 

The 33 promise: We contribute 33% of our profits to the farmers from whom the goods are sourced over and above the fair price given to them for the purchase of the goods.

The Swabhiman33 range consists of Organic Superfoods – Black Rice, Brown Zinc Rice, Khapli Wheat Atta, Buckwheat, Indian Quinoa, Millets & more. Shop all here.