ADOPTION OF ORGANIC FARMING PRACTICES: A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW OF TRENDS, DETERMINANTS, AND CHALLENGES

Md Mahedi1, Shabrin Jahan Shaili1*, Md Nurnobi1, A Rahman Sakil2, Arafatur Rahman Shihab3

Text | Abstract | PDF

ADOPTION OF ORGANIC FARMING PRACTICES: A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW OF TRENDS, DETERMINANTS, AND CHALLENGES

Md Mahedi1, Shabrin Jahan Shaili1*, Md Nurnobi1, A Rahman Sakil2, Arafatur Rahman Shihab3

1 Dept. of Agronomy and Agricultural Extension, University of Rajshahi, Rajshahi-6205, Bangladesh.

2 Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science & Technology University, Dinajpur, Bangladesh.

3 Dept. of Physics, Tejgaon College, Dhaka 1215, Bangladesh.

*Corresponding author: Shabrin Jahan Shaili, Email: s2012066151@ru.ac.bd

A R T I C L E  I N F O

Article Type: Research

Received: 05, Jan. 2025.

Accepted: 23, Feb. 2025.

Published: 20, Mar. 2025.

 

 

 A B S T R A C T

Organic farming is a vital pathway to sustainable agriculture, addressing environmental, economic, and social challenges. This review synthesizes global trends, determinants, and barriers to adoption, analyzing data from international organizations, peer-reviewed studies, and policy frameworks. Despite significant growth—global organic farmland reached 74.9 million hectares (1.6% of total farmland) in 2021, with a market value of $187 billion (projected 12.5% annual growth)—adoption remains uneven. While Europe leads (e.g., EU’s 25% organic farmland target by 2030), developing regions like Bangladesh lag (0.1% adoption) due to economic constraints, weak institutions, and infrastructural gaps. Key drivers include economic incentives (price premiums, long-term profitability), social networks (peer learning), policy support (subsidies, certification), environmental benefits (soil health, biodiversity), and technological innovations (precision tools, blockchain). However, challenges persist: high transition costs, 3-year financial risks for smallholders, fragmented supply chains, certification complexities, and volatile markets. The study highlights the need for equitable policies—simplified certification, targeted subsidies, and investment in grassroots innovations. Future efforts must integrate gender inclusivity, climate resilience, and digital solutions (e.g., mobile apps, blockchain for traceability) to bridge adoption gaps in resource-limited contexts. Collaborative action among governments, NGOs, and the private sector is essential to align organic farming with the UN SDGs, fostering food systems that balance productivity, ecological stewardship, and socio-economic equity. By addressing systemic barriers and prioritizing marginalized voices, organic farming can transition from a niche practice to a global sustainability cornerstone, ensuring resilience in an era of escalating environmental and demographic pressures.
Keywords:

Adoption, Organic Farming, Determinants, Comprehensive, Sustainable Agriculture, Food security.

 

REFERENCES

  1. Ado, A. M., Savadogo, P., Pervez, A. K. M. K., & Mudimu, G. T. (2020). Farmers’ perceptions and adaptation strategies to climate risks and their determinants: Insights from a farming community of Aguie district in Niger. GeoJournal, 85(4), 1075–1095. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10708-019-10011-7
  2. Ashokkumar, V., Flora, G., Venkatkarthick, R., SenthilKannan, K., Kuppam, C., Mary Stephy, G., Kamyab, H., Chen, W.-H., Thomas, J., & Ngamcharussrivichai, C. (2022). Advanced technologies on the sustainable approaches for conversion of organic waste to valuable bioproducts: Emerging circular bioeconomy perspective. Fuel, 324, 124313. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2022.124313
  3. Bocean, C. G. (2025). The Role of Organic Farming in Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Agriculture in the European Union. Agronomy, 15(1), 198. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15010198
  4. Borsellino, V., Schimmenti, E., & El Bilali, H. (2020). Agri-Food Markets towards Sustainable Patterns. Sustainability, 12(6), 2193. https://doi.org/10.3390/su12062193
  5. Costa, C. A., Guiné, R. P. F., Costa, D. V. T. A., Correia, H. E., & Nave, A. (2023). Pest control in organic farming. In Advances in Resting-state Functional MRI (pp. 111–179). Elsevier. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-323-99145-2.00003-3
  6. Dou, T., Zhang, K., Shi, X., Liu, W., Yu, F., & Liu, D. (2025). Crop–Mushroom Rotation: A Comprehensive Review of Its Multifaceted Impacts on Soil Quality, Agricultural Sustainability, and Ecosystem Health. Agronomy, 15(3), 563. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15030563
  7. Fatima, S., Abbas, S., Rebi, A., & Ying, Z. (2024). Sustainable forestry and environmental impacts: Assessing the economic, environmental, and social benefits of adopting sustainable agricultural practices. Ecological Frontiers, 44(6), 1119–1127. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecofro.2024.05.009
  8. Gamage, A., Gangahagedara, R., Gamage, J., Jayasinghe, N., Kodikara, N., Suraweera, P., & Merah, O. (2023a). Role of organic farming for achieving sustainability in agriculture. Farming System, 1(1), 100005. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.farsys.2023.100005
  9. Gamage, A., Gangahagedara, R., Gamage, J., Jayasinghe, N., Kodikara, N., Suraweera, P., & Merah, O. (2023b). Role of organic farming for achieving sustainability in agriculture. Farming System, 1(1), 100005. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.farsys.2023.100005
  10. Gamage, A., Gangahagedara, R., Gamage, J., Jayasinghe, N., Kodikara, N., Suraweera, P., & Merah, O. (2023c). Role of organic farming for achieving sustainability in agriculture. Farming System, 1(1), 100005. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.farsys.2023.100005
  11. Islam, M. R., Rahman, M. M. U., Pervez, A. K. M., & Kamaly, M. H. K. (2013). PERCEPTION OF EXTENSION AGENTS ABOUT SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES IN BANGLADESH. International Journal of Agricultural Extension, 1(1), Article 1. https://www.journals.esciencepress.net/index.php/IJAE/article/view/461
  12. Karunathilake, E. M. B. M., Le, A. T., Heo, S., Chung, Y. S., & Mansoor, S. (2023). The Path to Smart Farming: Innovations and Opportunities in Precision Agriculture. Agriculture, 13(8), 1593. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture13081593
  13. Lessmann, M., Ros, G. H., Young, M. D., & De Vries, W. (2022). Global variation in soil carbon sequestration potential through improved cropland management. Global Change Biology, 28(3), 1162–1177. https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.15954
  14. Ma, S., & Joachim, S. (2006). Review of History and Recent Development of Organic Farming Worldwide. Agricultural Sciences in China, 5(3), 169–178. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1671-2927(06)60035-7
  15. Mahedi, M., Shaili, S. J., & Shihab, A. (2024). Livelihood Diversification as a Reduce to Rural Vulnerability in Bangladesh: A Review.
  16. Md Shahriar Kabir, Md Mahedi, A K M Kanak Pervez, Md Jahangir Alam, & Shabrin Jahan Shaili. (2025). Bibliometric analysis of “precision agriculture” in the Scopus database. World Journal of Advanced Research and Reviews, 25(3), 1087–1098. https://doi.org/10.30574/wjarr.2025.25.3.0733
  17. Meena, R. N., Meena, K., & Choudhary, M. (2023). Organic farming—A key to food security and agricultural sustainability. In Advances in Resting-state Functional MRI (pp. 1–30). Elsevier. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-323-99145-2.00007-0
  18. Mesnage, R., Székács, A., & Zaller, J. G. (2021). Herbicides: Brief history, agricultural use, and potential alternatives for weed control. In Herbicides (pp. 1–20). Elsevier. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-823674-1.00002-X
  19. Miśniakiewicz, M., Łuczak, J., & Maruszewska, N. (2021). Improvement of Organic Farm Assessment Procedures on the Example of Organic Farming in Poland—Recommendations for Organic Farming in Poland. Agronomy, 11(8), 1560. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy11081560
  20. Nicastro, R., Papale, M., Fusco, G. M., Capone, A., Morrone, B., & Carillo, P. (2024). Legal Barriers in Sustainable Agriculture: Valorization of Agri-Food Waste and Pesticide Use Reduction. Sustainability, 16(19), 8677. https://doi.org/10.3390/su16198677
  21. Panday, D., Bhusal, N., Das, S., & Ghalehgolabbehbahani, A. (2024). Rooted in Nature: The Rise, Challenges, and Potential of Organic Farming and Fertilizers in Agroecosystems. Sustainability, 16(4), 1530. https://doi.org/10.3390/su16041530
  22. Pervez, A. K. M. (2018). Microfinance Institutions of Bangladesh: The Effects of Credit Risk Management on Credit Performance. International Journal of Innovation and Sustainable Development, 09, 104–114.
  23. Sapbamrer, R., & Thammachai, A. (2021). A Systematic Review of Factors Influencing Farmers’ Adoption of Organic Farming. Sustainability, 13(7), 3842. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13073842
  24. Sekaran, U., Lai, L., Ussiri, D. A. N., Kumar, S., & Clay, S. (2021). Role of integrated crop-livestock systems in improving agriculture production and addressing food security – A review. Journal of Agriculture and Food Research, 5, 100190. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jafr.2021.100190
  25. Sheikh, M., Riar, T., & Pervez, A. K. M. (2021). Integrated Farming Systems: A Review of Farmers Friendly Approaches. Asian Journal of Agricultural Extension, Economics & Sociology, 88–99. https://doi.org/10.9734/ajaees/2021/v39i430564
  26. Tran-Nam, Q., & Tiet, T. (2022). The role of peer influence and norms in organic farming adoption: Accounting for farmers’ heterogeneity. Journal of Environmental Management, 320, 115909. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2022.115909
  27. Verburg, R. W., Verberne, E., & Negro, S. O. (2022a). Accelerating the transition towards sustainable agriculture: The case of organic dairy farming in the Netherlands. Agricultural Systems, 198, 103368. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agsy.2022.103368
  28. Verburg, R. W., Verberne, E., & Negro, S. O. (2022b). Accelerating the transition towards sustainable agriculture: The case of organic dairy farming in the Netherlands. Agricultural Systems, 198, 103368. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agsy.2022.103368
  29. Vuciterna, R., Ruggeri, G., Mazzocchi, C., Manzella, S., & Corsi, S. (2024). Women’s entrepreneurial journey in developed and developing countries: A bibliometric review. Agricultural and Food Economics, 12(1), 36. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40100-024-00331-9
  30. Wijerathna-Yapa, A., & Pathirana, R. (2022). Sustainable Agro-Food Systems for Addressing Climate Change and Food Security. Agriculture, 12(10), 1554. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture12101554
  31. Wojciechowska-Solis, J., & Barska, A. (2021). Exploring the Preferences of Consumers’ Organic Products in Aspects of Sustainable Consumption: The Case of the Polish Consumer. Agriculture, 11(2), 138. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture11020138