The idea of a small-scale farm using traditional farming practices and no man-made fertilizers or pesticides sounds idlyllic and that’s pretty much what it is at this point - an idyll, as opposed to an ideal. Don’t get me wrong - if organic farming methods could feed 8 billion people, there is no doubt that it should be the only way to do farming, but that’s not the world we live in. Of course, if you can afford organic produce, by all means, enjoy your privilege!

But on a practical level, simply eating more vegetables in your diet makes an order of magnitude more difference to your health than the insignificant incremental difference between organic and non-organic produce. Some folks are rightfully concerned about pesticide residues and that is indeed a problem that we need to address (for now, just wash your vegetables well, the dosage involved is quite small) but it’s best not to assume that all organic is somehow more pristine. “Natural” pesticides are still pesticides and you shouldn’t consume them any more than you should man-made ones.

State regulation of organic practices is also quite weak in India, so If you personally know someone whose farming practices you trust and can afford it, consider buying organic for salads and fruits. However, the distinction is largely lost in cooked dishes where spice flavours dominate the proceedings.

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