“A STUDY ON MASSIVE ONLINE OPEN COURSE (MOOC)

ON ORGANIC FARMING”

Dissertation submitted to

MAHATMA GANDHI UNIVERSITY, KOTTAYAM

In partial fulfilment of the requirement for the

Degree of Bachelor of Business Administration

SUBMITTED BY

NIKITHA ZAIRA MANOJ

(Registration no:210021080024)

Under the supervision of

SHERLY JOSEPH

Assistant Professor, Department of BBA

DEPARTMENT OF BACHELOR OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION

BHARATA MATACOLLEGE, THRIKKAKARA.

KOCHI, KERALA.

2021-2024
 BHARATA MATA COLLEGE

(AFFILIATED TO MAHATMA GANDHI UNIVERSITY, KOTTAYAM)

BONAFIDE CERTIFICATE

This is to certify that the study report entitled “A STUDY ON MASSIVE ONLINE OPEN
COURSE (MOOC) ON ORGANIC FARMING” is a record of original work done by
NIKITHA ZAIRA MANOJ (Registration no:210021080024), in partial fulfilment of the
requirement for the degree of Bachelor of Business Administration under the guidance of
ASSISTANT PROFESSOR, DEPARTMENT OF BACHELOR OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION.
This work has not been submitted for the award of any other degree or title of
recognition earlier.

Dr. SHIBI B. Mrs. SHERLY JOSEPH,

Head of the department ASSISTANT PROFESSOR

ASSISTANT PROFESSOR Faculty guide

Department of BBA Department of BBA

Place:

Date:

(External Examiner)

.
 DECLARATION

This is to declare that this Bonafide record of the project work done by me entitled “A
STUDY ON MASSIVE ONLINE OPEN COURSE (MOOC) ON ORGANIC FARMING” in
partial fulfilment of the BBA Programme of Mahatma Gandhi University under the
guidance of Assistant Professor. Mrs. Sherly Joseph, and that the report has not found
the basis for the award of any Degree/Diploma or other similar titles to any candidate of
any other university.

Place:

Date:

NIKITHA ZAIRA MANOJ

 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

First and foremost, we thank GOD ALMIGHTY who helped us to complete this project
successfully.

We extend our sincere thanks to Prof. DR. JOHNSON K.M, Principal of Bharata Mata
College, and Prof. DR. SHIBI B, Head of the Department, and Assistant Professor, Mrs.
SHERLY JOSEPH, for their guidance, assistance, and moral support in the completion of
our project. And I also thank all the teachers of the Bachelor of Business Administration
department for their valuable suggestions.

Finally, we thank all our dear friends and our parents for their help and cooperation for
the completion of the project.

.
 TABLE OF CONTENTS

CHAPTER CONTENTS PAGE

NO. NO.

1 INTRODUCTION 1

2 MATERIALS AND METHODS 2

3 OBSERVATIONS AND DATA COLLECTION 6

Table 1 Germination / plant stand establishment 6

percent
Table 2 Height of plants in cm. (15 days interval) 6

Table 3 No. of branches (15 days interval) 6

Table 4 Day of first flowering (Days After Sowing/ 7

planting)
Table 5 Day of first fruiting (Days After Sowing/ 7
planting)
Table 6 Harvest days (Days After Sowing/ planting) 7

Table 7 No. And weight of fruits from each harvest 8

Table 8 Cumulative Yield (kg) 8

4 PHOTOS 9

5 COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS 12

6 CONCLUSION 13

7 ABSTRACT 14

.
 CHAPTER – 1

INTRODUCTION

Organic farming is a method of crop and livestock production that involves much more
than choosing not to use pesticides, fertilizers, genetically modified organisms,
antibiotics and growth hormones. Organic production is a holistic system designed to
optimize the productivity and fitness of diverse communities within the agro-
ecosystem, including soil organisms, plants, livestock and people.

The principal goal of organic production is to develop enterprises that are sustainable
and harmonious with the environment .Integrated pest and weed management, and
soil conservation systems are valuable tools on an organic farm.

Mahatma Gandhi University introduced MOOC on organic farming as a project for first
year students. the objective of the project is to make students understand the
importance of organic farming and to produce food by establishing an ecological
balance .

It relies on ecologically balanced agricultural principles like crop rotation , green

manure, organic waste, biological pest control, mineral and rock additives .

Organic farming makes use of fertilizers and pesticides if they are considered natural
and avoids the use of various petrochemical fertilizers and pesticides. Enough evidence
is available to prove that organic crops are a better source of nutrients than their
corresponding conventional forms Organic Farming makes healthy food , healthy soils ,
healthy environments a priority , along with crop productivity.

1
 CHAPTER – 2

MATERIALS & METHODS

• Location of the college and student:

I am Nikitha, residing at Thrikkakara. I am studying bachelor of business administration at

Bharat Mata College, Thrikkakara.

• Location of Student: Thrikkakara.

• Crops selected: Cowpea, Chilly, Eggplant, Spinach, Ginger.

Crop Varieties

1. Cowpea - Cowpea also called black eyes pea or southern pea, annual plant within the pea
family grown for its edible legumes. The crop is mainly known for its seeds, which are high
Protein.

2. Chilly - The most common variety of chilly used apart from red is the green. These are
used with or without the stalks, whole or chopped, with seeds or deseeded. Green chilies
also contain vitamins B and E, and are a good source of iron and potassium.

3. Eggplant– The eggplant is a delicate, tropical perennial plant often cultivated as a tender
or half-hardy annual in temperate climates. Botanically classified as a berry, the fruit
contains numerous small, soft, edible seeds.

4. Spinach – Spinach is a leafy green flowering plant. Its leaves are a common edible
vegetable consumed either fresh, or after storage using preservation techniques by
canning, freezing, or dehydration.

5. Ginger – Ginger is a flowering plant whose rhizome, ginger root or ginger, is widely used
as a spice and a folk medicine. Ginger is loaded with antioxidants, compounds that prevent
stress and damage to your body’s DNA.

2
• Source of seed/seedlings:

Krishibhavan, Neighbours

• Area / no. Of grow bag:

10 & 2 cent of land

• Crop season:

Zaid crop season

• Weather condition prevailed (rainfall, rainy days, atmospheric temperature etc. ):

Average Weather Conditions

• Agricultural implements and equipments used:

Spade, Trovel

• Liming material and quantity:

Nil

• Manures:

Cow Dung, Ashes

• Basal application:

Nil

• Top dressing:

Compost was added eventually

3
• Bio fertilizers:

Nil

• Bio slurries:

Nil

• Bio pesticides:

Neem Oil

• Bio Control agents:

Nil

• Any other inputs used:

Nil

• Crop management:

Apart from basic needs, the compost was added, examined at each growth and the dead
part were cut off from the plants

• Land preparation/ potting mixture preparation:

The seeds were placed in thermocol base and bowls, the seeds sprouted they were
planted in the soil.

• Liming:

The soil used is mixed with fertile soil formed from the decaying of leaves.

4
• Basal manuring:

Nil

• Grow bag filling:

Grow bag was filled with ordinary land soil.

• Seeding/ planting:

The seeds were placed at definite Intervals from each other.

• Top dressing:

After the plant attained 15 cm cow dung was added to the grow bags.

• Pest management:

Neem oil are sprayed into the crops in order to prevent pests.

• Disease management:

In order to prevent fungal diseases organic fertilizers were added.

• Water management:

The plants were watered once or twice a day.

• Harvest:

The yeilds were harvested at their suitable Time

5
 CHAPTER – 3

OBSERVATION AND DATA COLLECTION

Table 1 Germination / plant stand establishment percent

Name of the plant Germination% Plant Stand Establishment %

Cowpea 75 75
Chilly 60 50
Eggplant 50 50
Spinach 90 75
Ginger 70 40

Table 2 Height of plants in cm. (15 days interval)

Plant Height Height Height Height Height Height Height Height

Phase 1 Phase 2 Phase 3 Phase 4 Phase 5 Phase 6 Phase 7 Phase 8
Cowpea 30cm 45 cm 54 cm 65 cm 68 cm 72 cm 75 cm 80 cm
Chilly 5 cm 18cm 24 cm 28cm 32cm 37cm 42cm 50 cm
Eggplant 5 cm 15 cm 22cm 28 cm 30 cm 32 cm 40 cm 46 cm
Spinach 1.5 cm 5 cm 9.5 cm 14.5 cm 18 cm 23cm 27cm 32 cm
Ginger 5 cm 9cm 12 cm 16 cm 21 cm 24 cm 28 cm 30 cm

Table 3 No. of branches (15 days interval)

Plant Phase 1 Phase 2 Phase 3 Phase 4 Phase 5 Phase 6 Phase Phase

Name 7 8
Cowpea 1 1 1 1 2 2 3 6
Chilly 1 1 2 2 4 6 8 10
Eggplant 1 1 2 2 4 5 7 7
Spinach 2 2 4 5 8 8 10 12
Ginger 1 1 2 3 4 6 6 8

6
Table 4 Day of first flowering (Days After Sowing/ planting)

Plant Day of flowering

Cowpea 35th day
Chilly 50th day
Eggplant 42th day
Spinach 45th day
Ginger 52th day

Table 5 Day of first fruiting (Days After Sowing/ planting)

Plant Day of first fruiting

Cowpea 45th day
Chilly 60th day
Eggplant 55th day
Spinach 55th day
Ginger 60th day

Table 6 Harvest days (Days After Sowing/ planting)

Plant Harvesting Day

Cowpea 60th day
Chilly 70th day
Eggplant 80th day
Spinach 75th day
Ginger 90th day

7
Table 7 No. And weight of fruits from each harvest

Plant No. of fruits Weight

Cowpea 24 300g
Chilly 15 280g
Eggplant 8 800g
Spinach 12 400g
Ginger 15 2000g

Table 8 Cumulative Yield (kg)

Plant Cumulative Yield

Cowpea 0.3 kg
Chilly 0.28 kg
Eggplant 0.8 kg
Spinach 0.4 kg
Ginger 2 kg

8
 CHATER – 4

PHOTOS
1. Grow bag preparation and lay out

2. Seeding Stage

9
3. Flowering Stage

4. Fruiting Stage

10
5. Harvesting stage

11
 CHAPTER-5

COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS

Expenditure incurred:

Grow Bags = Rs 300

Seeds = Rs 200
Water Sprayer = Rs 200
Neem oil = Rs 150
Total = Rs 850

Income Obtained :
Organic Vegetables were harvested and were consumed.

12
 CHAPTER-6

CONCLUSION

Organic farming can be profitable and organic vegetables appeals to consumers as both
healthy and ethical choice. Beyond money organic farming results in numerous
environmental benefits.

So, as a living being I am now at the verge of extreme satisfaction, because I had done
something good to the nature.

Among the crops I cultivated, Chilly gave quicker result than the other crops. Through
these months of working on the project I really understood the benefits of organic
farming. Brinjal , pea and Chilly are more suitable for my location.

13
ABSTRACT

Organic farming (OF) is a farming system that uses environmentally friendly methods
of weed, pest, and disease control. It is a modern and a sustainable form of agriculture
that provides consumers fresh natural farm products.

It offers an exclusive amalgamation of environment-friendly practices, which require

low external inputs, thereby contributing to increased food availability. Organic
farming has a very positive influence especially on birds, insects, weeds, wildlife, and
soil flora and fauna.

As the first step towards the project, the seeds and saplings were collected from the
nearby Krishibhavan and from my neighbours. I cultivated on both land and grow bags.
Water was given to the plants at frequent intervals.

Cow dung and ashes were added to the soil and no chemical fertilizers were used.
Neem oil was also added in order to prevent the attack of pests. The plants were
healthy as there was no attack from pests.

This helped to harvest fresh organic vegetables. Engaging in this organic farming was
really a good experience for me.

I was able to build my own vegetable garden. It was really helpful during lockdown
days as there was a lot of free time.

14