Rural Agricultural Efficiency, Climate Sustainability, and Economic Performance: An Examination of Organic and Conventional Farming

Abstract

Organic farming has emerged as a sustainable alternative to conventional farming, providing potential benefits in environmental conservation, crop quality, and market access. This study measures the impact of organic farming on agricultural productivity, resource utilisation, environmental sustainability, and trade competitiveness in Punjab, India. A comparative analysis of organic and conventional farming was conducted, focusing on key metrics such as crop yield per hectare, soil health, biological diversity, carbon footprint, and market access. As indicated by the research results, while conventional farming generated higher crop yield (e.g., the wheat crop: 4.47 vs. 3.82 t/ha, p = 0.034), organic farming improved in terms of resource utilisation, using less water (130.4 vs. 160.2 m3/t, p = 0.03) and energy consumption (225.6 vs. 270.8 kWh/t, p = 0.02). Organic farming was associated with better soil health (organic farming: 3.8% vs. 2.9%, p = 0.005) and superior biological diversity (species richness: 25 vs. 15, p = 0.008). Both findings were considered statistically significant. In terms of the marketplace, 68.2% of organic farming were able to access top marketplaces, whereas only 40.5% of conventional farming were (p = 0.01). By doing this, these individuals were able to negotiate higher costs (₹75.6 vs. ₹63.4/kg, p = 0.02). There is a clear result that organic farming products can be successful globally, as shown by the revealed comparative advantage (1.53).