Organic Horticulture: The Retrospect and Prospects

Organic farming is a comprehensive management approach that improves the health of agricultural ecosystems, specifically biodiversity and soil biological activity. Organic approaches have the ability to completely transform horticulture’s path towards resilience, longevity, and harmony with the environment by actively reducing the impacts of climate change, slowing soil deterioration, and providing a remedy for chemical contamination. India’s top export markets for organic goods are the United States, the European Union, Canada, Switzerland, Southeast Asian nations, South Africa, and Australia. In India, nine states have implemented organic farming–related policies and initiatives. Non-chemical weeding, strip farming, and the production, collection, and distribution of organic supplements are some of the most popular organic practices, yet they all require a significant amount of labour. Organic horticulture is regarded as a vital and sustainable approach to the issues facing the environment and contemporary horticulture because of its many benefits. The long-term viability of organic farming relies on addressing yield issues, socio-economic obstacles and a lack of effective pest and weed management methods, particularly for horticultural crops. Since 2005, organic horticulture has grown quickly as a sustainable farming method that benefits growers, increases food security in underdeveloped nations, and offers essential ecosystem services. This chapter covers the sustainability of organic horticulture in the present Indian as well as global scenario, evaluating its applicability under the current horticultural conditions and its promise as a sustainable remedy for the economic and environmental challenges.