Agriculture is the backbone of the Indian economy, with 55% of the Indian population engaged in the agriculture sector.
With its vast agricultural landscape, India is taking significant strides towards promoting organic farming. The preference for the natural lifestyle involves consuming produce, free from pesticides and chemical fertilizers.
The COVID-19 pandemic has played a major role in accelerating the growth of the organic and natural market, in search of good health and immunity. Organic food is widely acknowledged for its nutritional benefits, lack of carcinogenic substances, and boosting immunity.
According to Research, Organic food is potentially healthier than conventionally harvested food. Organic varieties of certain foods provide significantly greater levels of vitamin C, magnesium, iron, and phosphorus than non-organic varieties.
The government has implemented various initiatives and policies to encourage farmers and farmer-producer organizations to adopt sustainable and eco-friendly farming practices in domestic and export-centric productions.
This article explores the efforts of the Indian government in fostering organic farming through government schemes and its positive impact on the environment, economy, and health.
Government Initiatives for Organic Farming
The Indian government has recognized the need to push the organic market, as a sustainable and eco-friendly agricultural practice.
In recent years, it has implemented various initiatives and policies to encourage farmers to adopt traditional natural and organic farming practices. Agriculture accounts for
14% of India’s GDP, and efforts to make the sector more lucrative and safe for the future are underway.
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As per the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), Ministry of Commerce & Industries, India produced around 2.9 Mn MT (2022-23) of certified organic products, which includes all varieties of food products namely Oil Seeds, fiber, Sugar cane, Cereals & Millets, Cotton, Pulses, Aromatic & Medicinal Plants, Tea, Coffee, Fruits, Spices, Dry Fruits, Vegetables, Processed foods etc.
The below initiatives aim to promote sustainable agriculture, improve rural livelihoods, and enhance food security.
National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture is a Government of India initiative, to enhance agricultural productivity. Especially for rainfed areas, the focus is on integrated farming, water use efficiency, soil health management, and synergizing resource conservation.
Natural lifestyle and Sustainable agriculture depend on the quality and availability of natural resources like soil and water. To sustain agricultural growth, natural resources like soil and water should be conserved and maintained.
Agricultural growth can be sustained by promoting the conservation and sustainable use of these scarce natural resources through appropriate location-specific measures.
NMSA derives its mandate from the Sustainable Agriculture Mission which is one of the eight Missions outlined under the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC). Indian agriculture remains predominantly rainfed covering about 60% of the country’s net sown area and accounts for 40% of the total food production.
Launched in 2015, PKVY is an extended component of Soil Health Management (SHM) under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) National Mission on Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA). PKVY aims at supporting and promoting organic farming, in turn resulting in the improvement of soil health.
The scheme promotes organic farming through the adoption of the organic village by cluster approach (with a minimum of 20 Ha size) and the Participatory Guarantee System (PGS) For India (PGS- India) form of organic certification that involves producers and consumers in the process of agriculture certification.
PGS-India is a locally relevant quality assurance initiative that emphasizes the participation of stakeholders and operates outside the frame of third-party certification.
In PKVY, 32,384 clusters totaling 6.4 Lakh Ha area and 16.1 Lakh farmers have been covered. In addition, 8 States developed their brands for organic products. So far, INR 1854.01 Cr has been released under the scheme up to 2022-23.
The Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North East Region (MOVCDNER) became operational in 2015-16 as a sub-mission under the National Mission on Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA), aims to develop crop commodity-specific organic value chain and address gaps in organic crop production, wild crop harvesting, and organic livestock management and processing.
Since 2015-16, under MOVCDNER, 1.73 Lakh Ha area has been covered under organic farming by developing 379 Farmers Producers Organisation (FPOs)/ Farmers Producers Companies (FPCs) involving 1.89 Lakh farmers.
In addition, 7 NE States developed their brands for organic products. So far, INR 919.42 Cr has been released under the scheme. Under MOVCDNER, financial assistance of INR 10000/Hectare for three years is provided for agriculture training, handholding, and ICS documentation, and farmers have assisted INR 32500/ Ha for 3 years for off-farm/on-farm organic inputs
Production Linked Incentive Scheme for Food Processing Industry (PLISFPI) was approved by the Union Cabinet on March 31, 2021, with a budget of INR 10,900 Cr for implementation from 2021-22 to 2026-27.
The Scheme was launched to support the creation of global food manufacturing champions. The second component of the scheme stipulates that Innovative/ Organic products of SMEs, including Free Range of eggs, Poultry Meat, and Egg Products in these segments, are also covered.
Support to organic and bio-inputs in the country through schemes like Bhartiya Prakritik Kheti Bio-Input Resource Centres, PM Programme for Restoration, Awareness, Nourishment and Amelioration of Mother Earth (PM-PRANAAM), Galvanizing Organic Bio-Agro Resources Dhan (GOBARdhan) scheme, etc are encouraging farmers to use organic fertilizers.
The Clean Plant Programme will provide access to virus-free, high-quality planting material, which is expected to boost crop yields and enhance farmer income opportunities in India.
The program will streamline certification processes and offer infrastructure support, enabling nurseries to propagate clean planting material and promote growth and sustainability effectively.
The initiative will deliver superior produce free from viruses, improving the taste, appearance, and nutritional value of fruits available to consumers. By focusing on higher-quality, disease-free fruits, India aims to strengthen its position as a leading global exporter.
The PM-PRANAM program tackles critical issues of soil health and fertilizer use in India through a strategic approach. It aims to encourage states to take a holistic approach to using fertilizers.
This includes promoting the adoption of biofertilizers and natural alternatives in addition to chemical fertilizers. By implementing this strategy, it helps enhance soil health ultimately boosting long-term agricultural productivity.
Furthermore, the program aims to lessen the government's burden of subsidizing chemical fertilizers by advocating for choices. This shift in resource allocation enables investments in government initiatives aligning with the push for sustainable agriculture practices and reducing dependence, on chemical inputs.
Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) is a government scheme for the holistic growth of the horticulture sector covering fruits, vegetables, root & tuber crops, mushrooms, spices, flowers, aromatic plants, coconut, cashews, cocoa, and bamboo.
Under MIDH, the Government of India (GOI) contributes 60%, of the total outlay for developmental programs in all the states except states in the North East and the Himalayas, 40% share is contributed by State Governments.
Under MIDH, significant progress has been made from 2014-15 to 2023-24, including the expansion of 13.79 lakh hectares of horticultural crops, the establishment of 905 nurseries for quality planting material, the rejuvenation of 1.48 lakh hectares of old and senile orchards, coverage of 52,259 hectares under organic farming, and the development of 3.04 lakh hectares under protected cultivation.
Jaivik Kheti is an organic e-commerce portal of the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, along with MSTC, which directly links farmers with retail as well as bulk buyers.
The portal also acts as a knowledge platform, hosting case studies, videos, best farming practices, etc., and links various stakeholders like regional councils, local groups, individual farmers, buyers, government agencies, and input suppliers for the all-inclusive development and promotion of organic farming.
Conclusion
The Indian government's efforts to promote organic farming are promising and demonstrate the significance of sustainable agriculture and food security.
Through various initiatives, the government has provided incentives, support, and guidance to farmers, encouraging them to adopt organic practices.
While significant progress has been made, there is still room for further development and challenges to overcome. Continued government support, increased awareness, and investment in research and development are essential to ensure the long-term success of organic farming in India.
By embracing organic farming, India can create a more sustainable and resilient agricultural sector, improve food security, and contribute to a healthier planet for future generations.
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