5 Govt schemes, promoting organic farming in India

Cultivable area under organic farming has risen from 11.83 lakh hectares in 2014 to 29.17 lakh hectares in 2020 in the country.

Cultivable area under organic farming has grown from 11.83 lakh hectares in 2014 to 29.17 lakh hectares in 2020 due to the government’s concentrated efforts. Over the years, organic promotional strategies have led to the growth of state-specific organic brands, rising domestic supply, and exports of organic goods from the North-eastern region. Taking note of the progress of the organic efforts, the vision document envisaged a target of 20 lakh hectares of additional area coverage by 2024. Awareness activities, the availability of sufficient post-harvest infrastructure, marketing facilities, the premium value of the organic product, and others, will definitely encourage farmers to organic agriculture, thus raising the organic coverage in the region.

The Indian government offers help for the promotion of organic farming around the country through a variety of schemes.

1. Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY)

Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana encourages organic farming based clusters with PGS (Participatory Guarantee System) certification. Cluster formation, mentoring, certification, and marketing are facilitated under the scheme. Guidance of Rs. 50,000 per ha/3 years is given, out of which 62% (Rs. 31,000) is provided as a reward for a farmer to get organic inputs.

2. Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North Eastern Region (MOVCDNER)

The scheme motivates certified organic farming by third party companies of niche crops of North East region by Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) with an emphasis on exports. Farmers receive the assistance of Rs 25.000 per hectare for three years for organic inputs, which includes organic manure and bio-fertilizers, among many other inputs. Assistance for the formation of FPOs, building capacity, post-harvest infrastructure up to Rs 2 crore is also given in the scheme.

3.Capital Investment Subsidy Scheme (CISS) under Soil Health Management Scheme

Under this scheme, 100% support is given to the state government, government entities for the establishment of mechanized fruit and vegetable market wastes, agro-waste composting unit up to a total limit of Rs 190 lakh each unit (3000 Total Per Annum TPA capacity). Likewise, up to 33% of the cost limit for the person and private entities is Rs 63 lakh per unit as capital investment is given.

4. National Mission on Oilseeds and Oil Palm (NMOOP)

Under this Mission, financial support at 50% subsidy to the rate of Rs. 300 per hectare for various components, such as bio-fertilizers, Rhizobium culture supplies, Phosphate Solubilising Bacteria (PSB), Zinc Solubilising Bacteria (ZSB), Azatobacter, Mycorrhiza, and vermi compost.

5. National Food Security Mission (NFSM)

Under the NFSM, financial support is given for the promotion of bio-fertilizers (Rhizobium/PSB) at a cost of 50% limited to Rs 300 each hectare.

According to global resource data from the Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL) and the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM) Statistics 2020, India ranks 9th in terms of certified farm land with an area of 1.94 million hectares (2018-19).

Comparative data in regard to organic cultivation with other countries

Natural farming promotion under Bharatiya Prakritik Krishi Padhati (BPKP) of PKVY has been launched to motivate the natural farm usage inputs for free chemical agriculture. Andhra Pradesh and Kerala have undertaken one lakh hectare and 0.8 lakh hectare simultaneously for the natural agriculture promotion under the BPKP. Likewise, consistent area certification and assistance for individual farmers for certification have also been launched throughout 2020-21, with the aim of bringing default organic areas and individual farmers ready to engage in organic farming.

State agencies, Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS), Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs), businessmen, and others, can leverage loans to set up a post-harvest infrastructure for additional value to organic production under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat 1 Lakh Crore Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF).

(The story is based on the information provided by the Minister of Agriculture and Welfare of the Union, Narendra Singh Tomar, in Rajya Sabha.