Govt in Lok Sabha announces organic farming boost with aid, markets

The Indian government is actively promoting organic farming through various schemes, as discussed in the Rajya Sabha on February 7. Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Ramnath Thakur, highlighted key initiatives aimed at supporting farmers in adopting organic practices.

The Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY) covers all states and union territories, except the northeastern region, and provides ₹31,500 per hectare over three years to promote organic farming. Out of this, ₹15,000 is directly transferred to farmers for organic input purchases.

For the northeastern states, the government is implementing the Mission Organic Value Chain Development for the North Eastern Region (MOVCDNER). Under this scheme, ₹46,500 per hectare over three years is provided to farmers, including ₹32,500 for organic inputs and ₹15,000 as direct benefit transfer. The scheme also supports the formation of farmer producer organizations, improving processing, certification, and marketing.

To ensure quality control, two organic certification systems have been developed. The Third-Party Certification (NPOP) is managed by the Ministry of Commerce and focuses on organic exports, while the Participatory Guarantee System (PGS-India) allows farmers to certify their produce for the domestic market under the Ministry of Agriculture.

The total area under organic farming in India, certified under NPOP and PGS-India, is 59.74 lakh hectares, with Madhya Pradesh leading at 11.48 lakh hectares.

To support farmers in selling organic produce, the government has developed Jaivikkheti.in, an online platform connecting farmers directly with consumers. Financial assistance is also provided for marketing, value addition, certification, and training. Various promotional activities, such as trade fairs, buyer-seller meetings, and organic festivals, are being organised to increase market accessibility for organic farmers.

Financial assistance for organic farming