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

	Positive	Negatives
Yields	●Initial Drop: Conversion from conventional to organic farming typically results in reduced yields for the first 2-3 years. ●Long-Term: Once soil biological activity is restored, yields can become comparable to conventional methods.	●Yield outcomes vary based on site-specific and agroecological conditions. ●Long-term studies, like those by ICAR, show mixed results; some crops benefit, while others see yield reductions.
Income	●Premium Prices: Organic products can fetch higher prices. ●Employment Potential: Greater employment opportunities could arise from the labor-intensive nature of organic farming.	●Market access and certification issues may limit benefits. ●The certification process can be expensive and complex, particularly for small farmers. ●Organic farming can be labor-intensive and may involve higher costs for organic inputs, impacting profitability.
Gender empowerment	●It has enhanced the economic stability and agency of rural women in India.	●Women face challenges such as lack of knowledge, additional workload, insufficient investment, and limited access to premium markets.
Soil health	●Soil Health: Improves soil physical, chemical, and biological properties through practices like crop rotation, composting, and the use of biofertilizers. ●Dryland Farming: Particularly beneficial for semi-arid and arid soils, enhancing their water retention and nutrient availability.	None
Water management	●Reduce water runoff, erosion, and improve water infiltration through conservation techniques.	None
Emissions	●Decreases CO2 emissions.	None

 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.

 

Chemical fertilisers Also known as synthetic, inorganic, or artificial fertilizers, are used to improve crop yield by providing essential nutrients to plants. Types: (a) Nitrogenous fertilizers (N), (b) Phosphate fertilizers; (c) Potassic fertilizers. 1. Nitrogenous Fertilizers: (a) Nitrate fertilizers contain nitrogen in nitrate form; Ex: Sodium nitrate (16% N), Calcium nitrate (15.50% N); Potassium nitrate (13% N) are used worldwide. (b) Ammonical fertilizers contain nitrogen in ammonical form; Ex: Ammonium sulphate (20% N), Ammomum chloride (24-26% N), Diammonium phosphate (18% N) are widely used in India. 2. Phosphatic fertilizers : ●It contain phosphate in highly soluble form (H2PO4) in water, and therefore are readily available to the plants e.g., Single superphosphate (SSP: 16-18% phosphate); Double super phosphate (DSP: 32% phosphate); Triple super phosphate (TSP: 42% phosphate). 3. Potassic Fertilizers contain potassium: ●Chief commercial ones are Potassium sulphate (50% K20), and the muriate of potash (60% K2O). ●NPK are designed to supply all the three primary nutrients; where the respective percentage of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P2O5), and potash (K2O) is maintained.e.g., NPK 15-15-15 grade means that the fertiliser contains 15 percent each of N, P2O5 and K2O. Difference between organic and inorganic fertilisers: Disclaimer: No copyright infringement is intended.   Disadvantages of chemical fertilisers: ●The chemicals that enter our body through the use of fertilisers cause many types of diseases. ●It also reduces the quality of the land by reducing fertility. ●They can be costly for small farmers. ●It increases nitrate emissions. ●In many States in India the land has started becoming as hard as cement, due to which the risk of floods has also increased.

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).

 

PRACTICE QUESTION Q. Organic farming  has several advantages. However, crop yield, market access, labour intensive nature of activity, etc hinders the growth of organic farming in India. Critically discuss. ( 250 words)