Organic Rice Farming

Rice is one of the main foods for most Asians. For people who are conscious about their health, then organic rice is the best choice.

Organic rice farming is a part of organic farming that uses natural methods to cultivate rice and other food products.

What is Organic Rice Farming?

Organic rice farming generates rice without using pesticides or chemical fertilizers. Even though, organic paddies produces only less as compare to chemically supervised paddies, it offers great advantages not just to the environment but also to the health. This assures you that the product is safe and healthy. Moreover, the rate of organic rice in the market is quite expensive, so if you have a large land, cultivating organic rice can be great because it can provide a huge profit.

Varieties of Rice

Before you start on your organic rice farming, it is very significant to keep in mind that not all types of rice are suited for this farming. Most new varieties are intended for crop, but that does not have a natural shield against pest and typically require pesticides and chemical fertilizers. Recently, a variety of rice was introduced which is designed for organic farming. One example here is the J-18 variety, which is firstly grown in the Philippines. This is known to generate high class grains and has stalk ideal to extract nutrients. Very ideal for organic rice farming and also has great resistance to numerous rice pests.

Fertilization of Organic Rice

As the production of organic rice paddies is only moderate, fertilization of the right variety of rice is not needed, which is according to Food & Fertilizer Technology Center for Asia Pacific Region. Moreover, the organization also conducted a study and the fertility of the soil has increased dramatically. The only types of fertilizer used are organic waste, agricultural waste and animal manure.

Crop Rotation

In rigorously cultivated organic rice paddies, the only way to assure a healthy and fertile soil for a long period of time is through crops rotation. Most farmers alternate the rice and beans in the same paddy to avoid pest buildup. On the other hand, some experts suggest for a 3 year cycle by using rice, grain crop and soybeans. By doing this, the life cycle of crop weeds can be controlled.

Pest Control

Even though crop rotation is an ideal method to stay away from pests and weeds in a certain rice paddy, there are also some ways to try in terms of controlling specific pests. The infestation of the insects can be reduced by using predatory insect that is safe to the crop. This is very effective in terms of controlling the pests.

Cons

  • Organic rice is generally expensive.
  • Organic rice is only limited.

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