Which of the following is commonly cited challenge of organic farming?

• A. Higher yields.
• B. Certification costs.
• C. Lower yields.
• D. Universal premium prices.

Answer: (C)

Organic farming relies on building soil health and using natural inputs rather than synthetic fertilizers and pesticides. Because nutrients become available more slowly and weed and pest pressures can be higher, and because soil fertility is built up over time, yields in organic systems are often lower than in conventional farming, especially during the transition period. This yield gap is a widely cited challenge because it directly affects production scale and profitability. While certification costs and the need to market premium prices are real considerations, they are not as consistently reported across regions as the yield difference, making lower yields the best-supported challenge in many contexts. With effective soil-building practices and rotations, yields can improve, but the perception of a yield gap remains a foundational challenge of organic farming.