What is Organic Cotton Farming?
Organic farming uses no man-made chemicals of any kind; no pesticides, insecticides, fungicides or fertilizers. That part is generally well-known, but what constitutes organic farming? First, the crop has to start with non-GMO (genetically modified) seeds that are completely free of chemicals. Strict crop rotation must be adhered to so the soil doesn’t get used up, this means better soil for the cotton to grow in that requires less water than conventional fields that aren’t rotated. Weeding is done completely by hand. Imagine the work that went into your grandmother’s little vegetable patch, then multiply it to an industrial level. No herbicides may be used, so the only way to control those weeds is to get out there with a hoe and remove them one by one. So what about the bugs? Organic farming utilizes proper cultivation of healthy soil to encourage growth of a pest’s predators, as well as introduces predatory insects such as praying mantises and ladybugs to further control the plant-e
