Policies and Steps to Boost Organic Farming in Agriculture

Policies and Steps to Boost Organic Farming in Agriculture

Question : Organic farming has received a boost in recent times. Discuss.

- Policy of Ministry of Agriculture on organic farming aims at promoting technically sound, economically viable, ecologically non degrading and socially acceptable use of natural resources in favour of organic agriculture

- Policy seeks to actualise area and crop potential for organic farming

- It also sustains soil fertility, conservation of bio resources and strengthening rural economy

- It also promotes value addition for growth of agro-business and fair standard of living for farmers and agricultural workers as well as their families

Various recent schemes to boost organic farming in India have been proposed such as the following:

I. National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture
ii. Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana
iii. Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana
iv. Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture
v. National Mission on Oilseeds and Oil Palm
vi. Network Project on Organic Farming of ICAR
vii. National Programme on Organic Production

- As per the National Mission on Sustainable Agriculture, National Centre for Organic Farming is conducting awareness and extension activities such as exhibitions, radio talks, TV programmes etc to educate Indian farmers about organic farming

- It is also promoting a training programme for farmers called Saansad Adarsh Grams from 2015-2016

Facts and Stats

- Around 528, 171 ha is under organic farming(this includes organic conversion)

- There are a total of 44,926 organic farms in India

- This accounts for 0.3% of the total agricultural farms

- Indian organic farming is mostly export oriented and estimated at USD 78 million

- According to APEDA, 585,970 tonnes of organic products worth INR 301 million are exported from the nation