Organic farming in India

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Context:

The Union Cooperation Minister highlighted the negative impacts of chemical fertilisers.

Organic farming:

It is a production system that prohibits the use of synthetically produced agro-inputs (fertilisers and pesticides). Instead, it relies on organic material (such as crop residues, animal residues, legumes, bio-pesticides) for “maintaining soil productivity and fertility.

Organic farming in India

• India's rank 2nd in terms of World's Organic Agricultural land and 1st in terms of total number of producers. (Source: FIBL & IFOAM Year Book, 2024).
• The APEDA, Ministry of Commerce & Industries, Government of India is implementing the National Programme for Organic Production (NPOP).
• The Government of India has been promoting organic farming in the country through two dedicated national schemes:

1. Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY) and
2. Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North East Regions (MOVCD-NER) since 2015 through state governments.

• Other schemes: Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY), The Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH), and  The All-India Network Programme on Organic Farming under the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR).

Certification of organic farming is either done through the Participatory Guarantee System (PGS) or third-party certification by the Agriculture Processed Food and Export Development Authority (APEDA) in the Ministry of Commerce.

Goverment Schemes

Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY)

• Centrally sponsored scheme launched in 2015 under the National Mission of Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA).
• It promotes organic farming across India through a cluster approach (500-100 ha).
• It helps farmers obtain Participatory Guarantee System (PGS) certification. Besides, organic inputs and capacity building are provided to registered farmers.

Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North East Regions (MOVCD-NER):

• It is another centrally sponsored scheme launched in 2015.
• It is a sub-mission under the National Mission of Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA) for implementation in Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, Tripura, and Meghalaya.

Organic farming: acreage, geographies, and cultivation details

How much area in India is under organic farming?

• As on 31st March 2024 total area under organic certification process is 7.3 mha (2023-24). This includes 44. 75 lacs ha cultivable area and another 28.5 lacs ha for wild harvest collection.
• Among all the states, Madhya Pradesh has covered largest area under organic certification followed by, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Odisha, Sikkim, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Kerala, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.

Where in India is organic farming prevalent?

• Organic farming is practised across almost all states in India , with Sikkim formally declared a 100 percent organic state in 2016.
• The top three states, accounting for almost half of the area under organic cultivation, are Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Maharashtra.
• As per Centre of Science and Environment reports, the top three states that account for the largest area under organic cultivation—i.e., Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Maharashtra—have only 4.9, 2.0, and 1.6 percent of their net sown area under organic farming, respectively.

Figure. State-wise organic coverage (proportion to the net sown area of the state)

Which are the major crops cultivated under organic farming in India?

• India produced around 3.6 Million MT (2023-24) of certified organic products which includes all varieties of food products.
• The production is not limited to the edible sector but also produces organic cotton fiber, functional food products etc.
• India is the world leader in organic cotton production which contributed 51 percent (37,138 MT) of the global organic cotton production in 2018-19.
• In terms of commodities, Fiber crops are the single largest category followed by Oil Seeds, Sugar crops, Cereals and Millets, Medicinal/ Herbal and Aromatic plants, Spices & Condiments, Fresh Fruit Vegetable, Pulses, Tea & Coffee.
• The total volume of export during 2023-24 was 2,61,029 MT. The organic food export realization was around INR 4007.91 Crore.
• Organic products are exported to USA, European Union, Canada, Great Britain, Sri Lanka, Switzerland, Vietnam, Australia, Thailand, New Zealand, Japan, Korea Republic etc.
• In terms of share of export value of processed organic foods, soya meal takes the lead (45.87 percent); followed by oilseeds (13.25 percent); plantation crop products such as tea and coffee (9.61 percent); cereals and millers (8.19 percent); spices and condiments (5.20 percent); dry fruits (4.98 percent), and medicinal plants (3.84 percent).

Positive and Negative impacts of organic farming

 Way ahead

•  There is a need for studies linking organic farming practices with health outcomes.
• More studies are required to assess the impact on water use efficiency and emissions in India.
• Cost-effective organic manure production.
• Improved and forest effective Agri-implements for organic farming.
• There is a need to make strategies to manage labour intensity.

Conclusion:

The movement for organic farming has reached an important stage and cooperatives have an important role in making India the world’s largest organic food producing country.

Sources:

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/fertilizers-are-source-of-several-diseases-switch-to-organic-farming-says-amit-shah/article68586768.ece

https://www.ceew.in/publications/sustainable-agriculture-india/organic-farming#:~:text=In%202019%2D20%2C%20India%20produced,medicinal%20plants%20(3.84%20percent).