How to Start Organic Farming: Step-by-Step Guide for Beginners

Introduction:

Organic farming is constantly gaining popularity due to its chemical-free and nutritious nature. Organic agriculture focuses on working in harmony with nature to maintain soil fertility and the survival of the organisms that help us grow crops naturally. Organic farming is both environmentally beneficial and more cost-effective than conventional crops.

If you’re considering starting organic farming, in this blog, I’ll explain all the steps you need to keep in mind as a beginner.

1. Understand the Basics of Organic Farming

Before we begin, we should understand what organic farming really means.

Organic farming is farming done in harmony with natural sources such as compost, green manure, organic pest control, and friendly insects. It avoids:

✔ Chemical fertilizers
✔ Synthetic pesticides
✔ GMOs
✔ Growth hormones

Instead, it focuses on:

Soil health
Biodiversity
Natural ecosystem balance
Long-term sustainability

2. Choose the Right Land for Organic Farming

Land selection is a crucial part of organic farming. When selecting land, the soil should be tested for the following components and the following factors should also be considered:

✔ Soil Quality

Check soil pH (ideal: 6.0–7.5)
Test organic carbon levels
Ensure good drainage

✔ Water Availability

Organic crops need clean and regular supply of water make sure it not contaminated water from factory chemicals or from any other reason:

✔ Sunlight & Climate

Choose land that receives adequate sunlight and suits the climatic needs of your crops, as sunlight acts as an anti-bacterial agent, protecting our soil and crops from many harmful bacteria and fungi.

Tip: Avoid land heavily treated with chemicals; you may need a longer conversion period.

3. Test and Improve the Soil Naturally

Healthy soil will produce healthy crops. The main focus of organic farming is on improving soil health. The following are the ways to do this:

Add compost or farmyard manure (FYM)
Use vermicompost for better microbial activity
Grow green manure crops like dhaincha or sunn hemp
Practice mulching to preserve moisture
Avoid deep tilling to protect soil microorganisms

4. Select Suitable Crops for Organic Cultivation

Beginners should choose crops that are:
✔ Low maintenance
✔ Disease-resistant
✔ Well suited to the local climate

Best crops for beginners:

Vegetables: Tomato, brinjal, spinach
Cereals: Maize, millet
Pulses: Green gram, black gram
Herbs: Basil, mint, coriander
Spices: Turmeric, ginger

5. Use Organic Seeds and Planting Material

Use Organic Seeds and Planting Material

Certified organic seeds
Non-GMO seeds
Untreated planting material

Where to source?

Government seed banks
Organic farms
Agricultural universities
Online organic seed suppliers

6. Apply Natural Fertilizers to Nourish Your Soil

In organic farming, only natural fertilizers should be used so that the number of microorganism in the soil increases, which increases the strength of the soil and makes it fertile.

Common organic fertilizers:

Compost – increases organic matter
Vermicompost – rich in beneficial microbes
Cow dung manure – traditional soil booster
Neem cake – prevents pests naturally
Bone meal & fish meal – excellent for flowering crops
Green manure – enriches nitrogen

Fertilizer schedule example:

Before planting: Compost + FYM
Growth stage: Vermicompost + Jeevamrut
Flowering stage: Liquid organic sprays

7. Adopt Natural Pest and Disease Management

In organic farming, chemically prepared pesticides are not used, they kill the micro organisms present in the soil and the use of chemicals also contaminates our fruits.

Effective organic pest control:

Neem oil spray (every 7–10 days)
Chilli-garlic-ginger extract
Soap solution for soft-bodied insects
Biopesticides like Trichoderma, Beauveria
Sticky traps & pheromone traps
Companion planting (e.g., marigold near tomato)

8. Manage Water Efficiently

Water conservation is an important part of natural farming. It should be practiced efficiently and with minimal waste. We should also conserve rainwater so that we can use it for our crops.

Best irrigation methods

Drip irrigation saves 50–70% water
Sprinklers for uniform watering
Rainwater harvesting structures
Mulching to reduce evaporation

Tip:
Take care not to let excess water accumulate in the field, as this can cause fungus to develop in the crop.

9. Maintain Weed Control Organically

In organic farming, we cannot use chemical fertilizers, so we have to protect our crops from weeds naturally.

Organic weed management:

Mulching
Crop rotation
Intercropping
Manual weeding
Cover crops

10. Understand the Organic Certification Process

If you plan to sell your product as “organic,” certification is required.

Basic steps:

Apply for certification
Farm inspection
Follow organic standards for 1–3 years
Maintain records of all inputs
Receive certification.

In India, farmers can get PGS Organic certification at very low cost.

If you are not selling commercially, certification is optional but helpful.

How to Start Organic Farming – Complete Beginner’s Guide