Tackling the future challenges of Organic Animal Husbandry - vTI

! Agriculture and Forestry Research, Special Issue No 362 (Braunschweig, 2012) ISSN 0376-0723
Download: www.vti.bund.de/en/startseite/vti-publications/landbauforschung-special-issues.html
Abstract
430
Organic for Whom :
the dilemma faced by small livestock producers in developing countries
NITYA S. GHOTGE
Anthra ; F, Lantana Gardens, NDA Road, Bavdhan,Pune 411021, India
nitya.ghotge@anthra.org
Till a few decades ago almost all the livestock produce in remote locations of developing countries
like India was organic or more precisely free of chemicals. Poor outreach of modern veterinary and
agricultural extension services and limited markets ensured that antibiotics, pesticides and other
chemicals were outside the reach of small and marginal producers. However, in the recent past, the
incisive penetration of rural markets by the chemical and pharmaceutical industry as well as efforts
by well meaning but non critical development agencies, has led to the rampant use of antibiotics
and chemicals. In our study on practices of small livestock producers we observe that indiscriminate
use of chemicals in both farming systems and livestock production has led not only to new animal
health problems but also that these livestock products are perhaps no more safe for consumption.
Ironically, quality organic produce has gradually become confined to a few specialized farms
which are able to maintain strict controls. Small producers in an attempt to maximize profits and
keep their production systems alive use a heady mix of chemicals and poor practices. Produce from
these kinds of units while not being rejected are absorbed by an ever growing group of consumers
most of whom are either too poor or not informed about issues of food safety posing enormous environment
and public health concerns.
The challenge before us is to bring back, safe, ecological and organic farming practices to small
farmers. This would require multiple interventions including changes in the current food safety regimes,
laws and policies, introduction of food safety and critical public health concerns at the level
of veterinary colleges and animal science departments, sensitising NGO’s and extension workers
and the large scale training of small farmers.
Key words: organic livestock produce, food safety, small livestock producers
Introduction
The nutritional well being of any society is dependant on the farming practices prevalent from where
the food is sourced. At present, most of the food that Indians eat is still sourced from within the
country including livestock products. However, unlike in the past when it was largely free of chemicals
a lot of livestock products today can no more be termed organic or even safe as they contain
a large number of chemicals, some toxic others not so harmful. This change has largely happened
due to the following reasons i) greater use of pesticides and fertilisers in feed sources, the increased
penetration of the market with pharmaceutical preparations and chemicals which are used directly
in the animal as treatment or to cure a particular condition and finally the addition of chemicals as
preservatives or even adulterants to livestock products prior to sale. If one were to trace the organic
value chain of different products one would notice that small and ordinary farmers are no more producing
safe food. This is the bulk of food consumed by citizens in the country and is likely to get
only worse unless critical safety measures are taken.