Organic Farming

Recently, the Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah highlighted the significance of organic farming for the health of 140 crore Indians.

It was discussed during the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the National Co-operative Organics Ltd. (NCOL) and Uttarakhand Organic Commodity Board (UOCB) in New Delhi.

The union minister urged to transform towards organic farming siting that fertilizers are the source of many ailments such as hypertension, diabetes, thyroid disorders, and even cancer.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between National Co-operative Organics Ltd. (NCOL) and the Uttarakhand Organic Commodity Board (UOCB) to boost organic farming in India.
Additionally in-order to check the quality concerns, NCOL, in collaboration with Amul, will be establishing a network of international-standard laboratories across India to certify organic land and products which will help provide consumers with reliable organic products under the ‘Bharat’ and ‘Amul’ brands.
The NCOL will also ensure that profits from organic products will be directly transferred to farmers’ bank accounts.

It is a method of farming that incorporates the idea that a healthy soil is the foundation for healthy crops.
It avoids the usage of synthetic substances like fertilizers, pesticides and GMO’s (Genetically modified organisms).
It builds on three fundamentals: Building fertile soil, Organic Pest control and Using local resources.
- Building fertile soil: Organic farmers use compost, animal manure, green manures, and crop rotations to maintain healthy soil. They also use clover and legumes to “fix” nitrogen.
- Pest control: Organic farmers use biological, cultural, and genetic controls to minimize pest damage. Biological controls use natural enemies of pests, like predatory insects and parasitoids. Cultural controls, like crop rotation, disrupt pest cycles.
- Using local resources: Organic farming uses locally adapted methods and resources.
Sikkim became the first State in the world to become fully organic in 2016.
Exports: Major organic exports of India include- flax seeds, sesame, soybean, tea, medicinal plants, rice and pulses.

Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North East Region (MOVCD): It is a Central Sector Scheme which was launched by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare in 2015. It is a sub-mission under National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA) for implementation in the states of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim and Tripura.
- It aims to develop certified organic production in a value chain mode to link growers with consumers and to support the development of the entire value chain.
Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY): It launched in 2015. Under PKVY, Organic farming is promoted through adoption of organic villages by cluster approach and Participatory Guarantee System (PGS) certification.
Participatory Guarantee System (PGS): PGS is a process of certifying those organic products, that stays in compliance with the quality standards. PGS Green is given to chemical free produce under transition to ‘organic’ which takes 3 years.
Zero Budget Natural Farming: It is one of the methods of chemical-free agriculture drawing its roots from the traditional Indian practices.
Agri-export Policy 2018: It focuses on Marketing and promotion of “Produce of India” which has positively impacted the organic farming in India.

Harnessing the global demand for organic products can help India position itself as a leading exporter. Meanwhile, it also helps the people reduce their risk of being affected by the harmful synthetic substances that is prevalent in these days’ farming. However, the government should focus on providing necessary policy support and financial incentives for farmers to switch to organic farming.

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