Enlist some problems faced by farmers during the initial years of organic farming.
Farmers face several problems during the initial years of organic farming. The yields from organic farming are less than modern agricultural farming in the initial years. Therefore, small and marginal farmers may find it difficult to adapt to large-scale production.
Additionally, organic produce may have more blemishes and a shorter shelf life than sprayed produce. Moreover, the choice in production of off-season crops is quite limited in organic farming.
Furthermore, there is inadequate infrastructure and the problem of marketing the products are major concerns. Farmers also require awareness and willingness to adapt to new technology for organic farming.
Explanation
The textbook clearly outlines multiple challenges faced by farmers in the initial years of organic farming. The key problems include: (1) lower yields compared to modern farming, (2) difficulty for small/marginal farmers to scale up, (3) produce quality issues like blemishes and shorter shelf life, (4) limited crop choices for off-season production, (5) infrastructure and marketing challenges, and (6) need for awareness and willingness to adopt new technology. Students should mention at least 4-5 of these points to secure full 3 marks.