As the world becomes more and more health-conscious, the old debate renews every decade as a motif in our daily lifestyle. Conventional vs Organic Food! Although it has been unequivocally established that organic food is better for your health, it is certainly not cheap. Health blogs have bombarded us with an array of information about how & what to eat for better health, but now after turning every nook and cranny about it, the discussion has come back to the very ‘source’ of the food - going back to the roots. 

What exactly are conventional & organic food?

    Conventional food cultivation is done with chemical fertilizers, pesticides, excessive water & fossil fuels. This type of farming is done to get a high yield in fewer resources. The result is low to average quality crops resulting in an inferior taste and nutritional value, but prices are affordable. It takes only 1000/- to 1500/- rs to grow an acre of conventional farming. 

     On the other hand, organic food is prepared where the soil is fertilized with the use of animal waste which is a rich source of bacteria. It is generally done with significantly fewer amounts of chemical pesticides or zero use of pesticides. Instead, the biological pest control method is availed. The crop cultivated is of high quality, both in taste and nutrition. This practice is labor-intensive, hence it takes almost 25,000/- to 40,000/- to grow an acre with pure organic farming. 

Why is Organic food expensive compared to conventional?

   When it comes to the affordability of food, many aspects come into the picture such as cultivation processes, yield & shelf-life. Conventional foods are cultivated cheaply, their yield is abundant & due to the excessive use of chemical fertilizer and pesticides, the shelf-life for transporting & storage is excellent.

   Organic food farming is seasonal. Also due to the non-use of any chemicals or pesticides, the shelf life of the food is very low. It is meant to be fresh as it packs a great taste and a lot of nutrition. Due to these factors, organic food is expensive.

India’s situation on organic food

    India is the fourth-largest producer of pesticides in the world & eight states consume more than 70% of the pesticides that our country uses. Deaths due to acute poisoning in farmers, wildlife & livestock are a bane of conventional farming practices. New pesticide Management Bill 2020 is a baby step towards the change. Also, it may not be practically possible for our farmers to completely shift to the organic farming practice altogether, the PMB bill will surely keep pesticide use on a leash. According to it, a farmer should weigh the safer alternative rather than using unnecessary pesticides, also a review of every pesticide should be done within 5 years. 

How to identify Organic food

   If the information above has convinced you to go organic, then you need to learn to identify organic food from conventional. Now you can find many organic food products in your nearest departmental store or you can simply order organic products online from a trusted source. Organic foods are not as smooth & shiny as conventional foods. Also, the shelf life is lesser as compared to chemically grown food. A natural, potent smell will be your marker and it should have a taste that definitely packs a punch.