Organic Farming in India

India ranks 1st in number of organic farmers and 9th in terms of area under organic farming.

Cultivable land area under organic farming has increased from 11.83 lakh hectare in 2014 to

29.17 lakh hectare in 2020 due to the focused efforts of the government. Over the years, the organic promotion

activities led to development of state specific organic brands, increased domestic supply and exports of organic produce

Organic farming is gaining gradual momentum across the world. The growing awareness of health and
environmental issues in the world has increased demand for organic food production. So the increasing demand
for organic products is emerging as an attractive source of rural income generation. Organic agriculture has made
a credible performance during the past few years. In this chapter, we examine the trends of organic farming at the
global level who leading organic producers and the area of agricultural land under organic farming.
the number of countries continuously increased from 77 in 1999 to 181 in 2017 at the world level scenario.

an increasing trend in the world’s total organic agricultural land, increased from 11 million hectares in 1999 to
69.8 million hectares in 2017, a 534.54% growth.

Indian Scenario Regarding Organic Farming

Sikkim became the Wrst State in the world to become fully organic in 2016.

The major organic exports from India have been Cax seeds, sesame, soybean, tea,
medicinal plants, rice and pulses.

There was an increase of nearly 50% in organic exports in 2018-19, touching Rs.
5151 crore.

exports to UK, USA

Main obstacles in organic farming in India

Due to the reduction in profitability from agriculture, the economic condition of the farmer in India has reached a
miserable situation. At present, 90 per cent of the farmers in the country is trapped in financial indebtedness. In
these situations, organic farming can improve the financial condition of farmers, because the benefits of farmers
are increased by reducing the cost of farming. Apart from this, every person in the country can get better quality
foods easily by organic farming. Due to the consumption of organic food improves the health of the person.
Despite the more benefits of organic farming, farmers are facing many obstacles in its expansion. The following
main obstacles are in adopting and continuing organic farming in India.

The low education level of farmers

The level of education of farmers in India is very low. Due to which farmers do not use profitable innovation in
agriculture to increase the productivity of the farm. Due to low education, farmers are producing less in the
traditional manner.

Small land holdings

In the world, India is the second largest country in terms of population, but it is in seventh place in terms of
geographical area. There is excessive pressure of the population on the land, due to which the average per capita
operational size of land holdings in India

Low yield of organic crops

The main purpose of agriculture is fulfilling the food requirements of the people of any economy. Along with
this, it is important to maintain an increase in productivity of crops in the future so that the food needs of the
future population can be fulfilled. Comparative study of the quantity of organic crops production and production
of conventional crops per acre by the farmers has shown that productivity of organic crops is less than
conventional crops. Due to low productivity, farmers are less interested in the production of organic crops.

Low use of organic inputs

At present, the government is constantly trying to promote organic farming, but still very few farmers are using
organic inputs in agriculture. Farmers tend towards chemical cultivation due to low production and unavailability
of inputs in organic farming. Many farmers know about the damage caused by chemical input based farming, but
due to lack of production of organic farming and unavailability of organic inputs in the market, farmers could not
shift from chemical farming to organic farming.

Pest and Weed Control

Green Revolution Program is a package program in which high yield variety seeds, timely irrigation, chemical
fertilizers and pesticides etc. should be used to increase the productivity of the crop. Organic farming uses natural
input and biofertilizer to increase the productivity of the crop. The lack of information about the use of
biofertilizers in farmers and availability of chemical inputs such as chemical fertilizers, pesticides, weed control,
etc. are the main reasons which are hindering the development of organic farming.

High Cost of organic products

The cost of the organic products is high as a comparison the conventional products which only rich and
foreigners can afford. If the government makes available inputs related to organic farming at reasonable prices to
the farmers, then more organic food products can be available at lower prices.

The high cost of the certification process

Organic farmers are not able to afford organic certification. According to government order in 2001, for the trade
of organic products, it is necessary to get certification for the related product. The poor farmers of India are not in
a position to spend money on organic certification, because most farmer's financial position cannot bear the cost
of organic product certification. For this reason, farmers also hesitate to adopt organic farming.

Lack of marketing quality

Due to low levels of education, it is not possible for the farmer to sell organic products at a reasonable price by
adopting new methods of marketing, but by organizing, sales can be increased.

Suggestions to removes obstacles of organic farming

In India, several institutions and movements are making concerted efforts to promote organic agriculture and to
bring changes in the policies favouring ecological agriculture. a strong organizational support structure is
prerequisite to increase the area of organic farming in India and to motivate the farmers. an effective and capable
network to provide proper training in organic farming. It gives proper and adequate technical advice to the
farmers. Through financial support, it can be motivated to farmers for participation organic farming related
seminars, workshops etc and get to help proper skill development training related to organic farming. So the
government needs to spread awareness about organic farming through proper policy making. the government can
encourage the domestic sector to demand organic products in the country. Small farmers can be encouraged by
reducing the cost of certification of organic products and by providing technical support to adopt organic
farming. The country's success in organic farming depends on two aspects: training and certification. Farmers
should be trained on soil building, pest management, inter-crop, and preparation of compost and manure..
The government can be improving the health of consumers through awareness about the health benefits of
organic products. Thus, the benefits of the environment, as well as healthy and non-chemical products through
organic farming, are fulfilling to make for both the farmers and the consumers.

Government Initiatives to Promote Organic Farming

Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North East Region (MOVCD}
Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY)
 Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is the food regulator in the
country and is also responsible for regulating organic food in the domestic market and
imports.Soil Health Card Scheme has led to a decline of 8-10% in fertilizers

The Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI) launched the PM FME scheme as
a part of ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan’.

It aims to bring in new technology, apart from affordable credit to help small
entrepreneurs penetrate new markets.

1 lakh crore Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF) of Aatmanirbhar Bharat.

Zero Budget Natural Farming

Zero budget natural farming is a method of chemical-free agriculture drawing

from traditional Indian practices.

Weekend Farming, Weekend Agriculture Guide

Weekend Farming:
Weekend Farming is nothing but a farm tour went during weekends and holidays. It t is also known as
weekend agriculture, weekend farm tour and so on. The word has come into sound in the present past as many
IT professionals and other employees working for the whole week are looking towards enjoying pleasant
holidays and cool weekends to relax over. Taking this into advantage many farmers, as well as other
farming entrepreneurs, are making arrangements and providing facilities to the farm visitors coming on
weekends for weekend agriculture or weekend farming. In this post, we will let you know all about weekend
farming.

We also know that agriculture is the backbone of Indian economy. But nowadays, due to lakh of natural resources,
farmers are facing huge problems of cultivation. Weekend agriculture helps them to overcome such type of problems and
helps in improving the economic status of the farmers and also conserve natural resources with ease. Weekend farming or
weekend far tours.

It is a form of agritainment( agriculture + entertainment ) which involves the agriculture-based operations

associated with the niche of nature and agriculture entertainment values with additional products. In addition, it
also helps in farm fresh direct marketing between the farmers and the farm tour weekend farming

In addition, it also projects and emphasis rural farmers and rural farming ecosystems. Furthermore, it also
bridges the rural- urban divide people and also enhances the socio-economic status of the rural farmers.

Lunch in the weekend farming:

One can have a pleasant and peaceful lunch on the farm under a tree where one can get close to nature. Having
lunch under a tree between the "elds is wonderful to experience one can have in the weekend farm tours.

Cycling in Weekend farm tours:

One can go for cycling between the "elds at the weekend farms having huge land or more than 20 acres.

Farm huts:

In some of the farms, they are having natural huts built using palm leaves and
coconut leaves with straw and stubbles with walls constructed with clay soil. Having a power nap in such
huts can be a good experience for a visitor at the weekend farm too.

Weekend Farm Marketing:

In addition, there are also various operations done in agriculture are done on the weekend farm tours
which depends on the time of farm tours.

Some of the farmers of weekend farms are marketing their agri produce at their own "elds to the farm tour
visitors where the farmer can fetch good income at the same time, the visitor can get the frame fresh
foods at less price than the stores and outlets in urban areas.
Weekend farm tours to mango and guava orchards and other fruit orchards are in practice since a long time
where we see it as a pilgrimage but went once in a season. But, weekend farm tours to such places have
 become famous nowadays.

Weekend Agriculture in Urban Areas:

Weekend agriculture is becoming among children living in urban areas too. School and other institutions, as
well as business organizations, are sending their students and employees to weekend farm tours which help
children let to
know the agriculture practices and learning various farming methods. In addition, there are farms like active
farm schools in a place called Vikarabad district located nearer to Hyderabad where they used to rear birds and
domestic as well as some forest herbivores. Many schools are sending their students to such type of farm tour
as per their schedule in order to let children know the farming practices like plowing, sowing, weeding up to
the stage of harvesting where these young minds will know about how food is produced. The resort’s
around the cities are also providing agri lands for weekend farming in their resort along with the additional
facilities their itself. Weekend farming may be useful for this generation as well as upcoming generations
too.

Way Forward
Natural farming is not a new concept in India, with farmers having tilled their land without the
use of chemicals - largely relying on organic residues, cow dung, composts, etc. since time
immemorial. This is also in sync with the Sustainable Development Goal 2 targeting ‘end
hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture’.

Hence with greater awareness and capacity building of the producers in compliance
with international standards, Indian organic farmers will soon be reinforcing their rightful
place in organic farming.