Organic farming is the need of the hour for sustainability of agriculture amidst growing health consciousness and environmental concerns.

To meet the increasing demand for food, the farming community has been resorting to intensive cultivation practices with the help of fertilizers, pesticides and other external means to enhance food production. Though these have helped to increase farm output to some extent, they are more than responsible for the contamination of soil, water, and the environment in general. In the process, the farming community has been witnessing a slow degradation of healthy soil and this finally led to a decrease in the yield. On the other hand, the increasing awareness of health hazards caused by agrochemicals has brought a major shift in consumer preferences, especially in developed countries. They are increasingly shifting towards organic food, which is considered secure and hazard-free. Moreover, there are environmental concerns like the need to sustain farm production and improve soil fertility. Against this background, organic farming has become an increasingly important segment of the agriculture sector of many countries.

Organic farming is a system that depends on ecosystem management rather than external methods for increasing agricultural production. It protects the environment and the community by excluding synthetic fertilizers and pesticides and Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs). These inputs are replaced with accurate management practices by taking into account regional conditions to boost soil fertility and prevent pests and diseases in the long run. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), "Organic agriculture is a holistic production management system which promotes and enhances the health of the agro-ecosystem, including biodiversity, biological cycles, and soil biological activity. Organic production systems are based on specific and precise standards of production which aim at achieving optimal agro-ecosystems which are socially, ecologically and economically sustainable." Going by these benefits, over 130 countries produce certified organic products in commercial quantities. The share of agricultural land continues to grow not only in the major markets like Europe and North America but also in many other developing countries.

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