BENEFITS OF ORGANIC FARMING AND its IMPORTANCE

Candidate Name: Kelon Scott

Candidate #:
Centre #: 010012
Centre Name: Ottos Comprehensive School (OCS)
Teacher: Mr. Peters
Examination Year: 2015
Territory: Antigua

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
First I would like to thank God for giving me the strength and the knowledge to do this project.
Secondly I would also love to thank my parents for their support during this research and their
help finding me farmers around Antigua. Lastly I would love to thank Mrs. Peter for his help and
his guiding hand, without him or God this project wont have been completed. THANK YOU
ALL.

RESEARCH TITLE
The purpose of this research is to obtain information relating to the benefits of practicing organic
farming and the importance to Antigua.
Topic: the benefits of practicing organic farming and how is it importance to Antigua?
Question: what are the benefits of practicing organic farming and how is it importance to
Antigua?

AIM:
To determine:

If Antigua uses organic farming

The benefits of organic farming
The disadvantages of organic farming

ABSTRACT

A questionnaire was made to investigate the benefits and importance of organic farming in
Antigua. A number of eight (8) locals farmers were used to give more information in depth
about organic farming. Organic farming is said to be organic farming is a form of nonconventional agriculture that excludes, or strictly limits the use of artificial fertilizers, herbicides
and pesticides. All answer were answer to the best of the farmer ability. From my research I
gather that organic farming is not widely used even though it has a positive effect, environment
friendly, and safer for consumer. So I wonder why Antiguan farmers dont use organic farming
then from my research I found some reason such as: it expensive, more labour intensive,
customer has to pay more for organic foods and etc.

METHODOLOGY

During this research, information and data was collected in the form of a questionnaire. I choose
a questionnaire because I believes it gives the opinion of more than one source that practice or
know about organic farming, it also give an insight into practices in organic farming from those
who practice it or know about it. From my information I gather that organic farming is not
widely used in Antigua even though most of them agree it has a positive effect.

LITERATURE REVIEW

What is organic farming? Well according to the HDRA (The organic organization) organic
farming works in harmony with nature instead of against it. This involves using techniques to
achieve good crop yields without harming the natural environment or people who live and work
in it.
Agriculture Science for CSEC Examinations states organic farming is a form of nonconventional agriculture that excludes, or strictly limits the use of artificial fertilizers, herbicides
and pesticides. Biological pest control is used instead to get rid of pest and compost, green
manure and crop rotation are used to maintain soil fertility.
Organic farming is based on holistic, ecologically balanced agricultural principles involving soil
fertility, crop rotation and naturalpest control. It may sound like an elusive concept, but the basis
for organic farming is actually very simple.Allowing nature to do what nature does best; many
everyday products can be produced on organic farms states Maria Trimarchi

SAMPLE OF QUESTIONNIARE

BENEFITS OF PRACTICING
ORGANIC FARMING AND ITS
IMPORTANCE

My name is Kelon Scott from the Ottos Comprehensive School. I am recently doing an
Agriculture S.B.A which requires your knowledge about the benefits of Organic farming and it
importance. The information given is only being used for research purpose only.

Please indicate by using a TICK in space provide below

Gender:
Male

Female

Age:
Under-25

25-35

35-45

45-55

55-65

PLEASE ANSWER ALL QUESTION TO THE BEST OF OUR ABILITY

Indicate by circling the letter

1) Organic farming excludes or limits the use of artificial fertilizers, herbicides and
pesticides. Do you use? ------------------------------------------A) Artificial fertilizers
B) Herbicides
C) Pesticides
D) None of the above
2)
A)
B)
C)

Does organic farming produce better foods than inorganic foods?

Yes
No
I dont know

3)
A)
B)
C)

Is organic farming widely used in Antigua?

Yes
No
I dont know

4)
A)
B)
C)

Do you think organic farming benefits Antigua more than inorganic farming?
Yes
No
I dont really know

5) List three benefits of organic farming

A) ------------------------------------------------B) ------------------------------------------------C) ------------------------------------------------6) Is organic farming finically more expensive?
A) Yes
B) No
C) I really dont know
7) The effect of organic farming is
A) Positive
B) Negative
C) Dont know
8) Do you believe organic farming is the best method for growing crops than inorganic
farming

A) Yes
B) No
C) I dont know
9) Organic farming strictly excludes the use of inorganic substances. How do you get rid of
pest?
A)
B)
C)
D)

Pesticides
Crop rotation
Intercropping
None of the above

10) How much crop do you grow on your farm?

A) 3
B) 4
C) 5
D) 7
E) 8
F) More than 8
11) Name at least four crops you grow on your farm
A) ----------------------------------------------------B) ----------------------------------------------------C) ----------------------------------------------------D) ----------------------------------------------------12) Organic farming is involves using techniques to achieve good crop yields without
harming the natural environment do you believe this
A) No
B) Yes
C) I cant answer

13) What are three disadvantages of organic farming

A) ----------------------------------------------B) -----------------------------------------------

C) ------------------------------------------------

RESULT
All eight of my questionnaire was answer by eight local farmers. Most of the farmers have an
inorganic farm. After reviewing the data collected I compared them, this is a summary of my
findings:
A) Five out of eight farmers agreed that organic farming produce better foods than inorganic
foods, while one farmers doesnt know
B) Seven out of eight farmer believes organic farming is not widely used in Antigua
C) Four out of eight agreed that organic farming benefits Antigua more than inorganic
farming
D) Six out of eight agreed that organic farming is finically more expensive than other
methods
E) All eight farmer agreed that organic farming has a positive effect
F) Seven out of eight farmers believes that organic farming is the best method for growing

DATA ANYLSIS
1.

Organic farming excludes or limits the use of artificial fertilizers, herbicides and
pesticides. Do you use?

3.5
3
2.5
2
1.5
1
0.5
0

Column Graph 1: showing the answers of the question 1

2.

Does organic farming produce better foods than inorganic foods?

6

yes

no

I don't know
C

3.

olumn Chart 2: showing the answer to number 2

Is organic farming widely used in Antigua?

I dont know

no

yes

B
4.

ar Chart 1: showing answer to number 3

Do you think organic farming benefits Antigua more than inorganic farming?
5
4.5
4
3.5
3
2.5
2
1.5
1
0.5
0
yes

no

I dont really know

Scatter Chart 1: Showing answer to number 4

5.

List five benefits of organic farming?

8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0

Line Chart 1: Showing answer to number 5

6.

Is organic farming finically more expensive?

7.

Doughnut Chart 1: Showing answer to number 6

The effect of organic farming is
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0

positive

negative

Column Chart 3: Showing answer to number 7

dont know

8.

Do you believe organic farming is the best method for growing crops than
inorganic farming?

8
7
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
yes

1
0
no

Area Chart1: showing answer to number 8

I dont know

9.

Organic farming strictly excludes the use of inorganic substances. How do you get

non of the above

intercroping

crop rotation

pesticides
0

rid of pest?
Bar Chart 1: Showing answer to number 9

10.

How much crop do you grow on your farm?

4.5
4
3.5
3
2.5
2
1.5
1
0.5
0

11.

Line Chart 2: Showing answer to number 10

Name at least four crops you grow on your farm

4
3.5
3
2.5
2
1.5
1
0.5
0

Scatter Chart 2: showing answer to number 11

12.

Organic farming is involves using techniques to achieve good crop yields without
harming the natural environment do you believe this?

9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
yes

no

Line chart 3: showing answer to number 12

I really dont know

13.

What are three disadvantages of organic farming?

14.
Column chart 3: showing answer to number 13

DISCUSSION
Issues involving organic farming has founded it way to Antigua. Organic farming improves/
protects the environment from the chemical usually used to grow crop, prevent disease, and
produce better / healthier foods improving human health and etc. even though organic farming
has great advantages to it, organic farming is not widely used in Antigua.
As one farmer said that one of the reason organic farming is not widely used because consumer
wouldnt pay higher prices for organic foods
Organic farming is not all good, it has disadvantage such as it time consuming, more labor
intensive, more challenging to market and etc.

Conclusion
I got the opinion from (8) eight local farmers about the benefits and importance of
organic farming. 3 out 8 farmer used Herbicides, while 1 out 8 used artificial fertilizer, 2
out 8 used pesticides and 2 out 8 say none of the above. 5 out of 8 farmers say that
organic farming produce better food than inorganic farming, 2 out 8 say no and one out 8
say I dont know. 7 out 8 farmers say that organic farming is not widely used in Antigua
and the rest say no. 5 out 8 farmers say that organic farming benefits Antigua
more than inorganic farming, five benefits of organic farming is Environmental

friendly, healthier food, less risk to farmers, saves money on input, water shed Six out of
eight agreed that organic farming is finically more expensive than other methods, is less
poisonous, less chemical used, better/safer food for consumers and better quality, All
eight farmer agreed that organic farming has a positive effect, Seven out of eight farmers
believes that organic farming is the best method for growing crops. The disadvantages
listed by the farmers is as follows: its expensive, longer to harvest, more labour
intensive, disease and pest take longer to get rid of, less effective with heavy rain,
consumer unable to pay extra for organic product, time consuming and it has less quality.
All farmers agree that organic farming involves the using techniques to achieve crop
yields without harming the natural environment. The type of crops on their farms are

tomato, cucumber, sweet potato, pumpkin, pepper, eggplant, carrot, butternut, onion,
sweet pepper, string beans, spinach, okra, eddoes, sorrel, plantain/bananas, pigeon peas,
mango, lettuce, cabbage. The amount of crop on your farm was respond: one farmer say
four and five, 2 farmers say 8 and 4 farmers say more than 8. 5 farmers say they use
pesticides to get of pest, while 3 say crop rotation and 3 also say 3 for intercropping and 1
for none of the above. 7 farmers say organic farming is the best method for growing crops
than inorganic farming and the rest say no.
Do you think organic farming benefits Antigua more than inorganic farming? Five say yes and
three say no. five benefits of organic farming according to the farmers are Environment friendly,
healthier food, less risk to farmers, saves money on input, water shed is less poisonous, less
chemical used, better/safer for consumers, better quality. According to the farmers 6 say organic
farming is finically more expensive and 2 say no.
There is barely any organic farmers in Antigua due to the fact that farmer believe inorganic
farming is better option. This leave me wonder if 99% of farmer in Antigua practice organic
farming will there be an increase of production or a decrease? Will organic farming produce
more money? Or if organic farming will provide more crops to be produce, or allow Antiguans to
buy more local than import foods?

RECOMMENDATIONS
I recommend that:
a) The government allow farmers to be more educated about organic farming
b) Make farmers try organic farming for a short period in time

BIBLIOGRAPHY
1. http://www.infonet-biovision.org/res/res/files/488.OrgFarm.pdf
2. http://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/green-science/organic-farming.htm
3. Agriculture Science for CSEC Examinations