Organic Farming in India
Introduction
Organic farming is a system that avoids the use of pesticides, fertilizers, and growth regulators. This type of system depends upon crop rotations, animal manures, use of crop residues, legumes, bio fertilizers, and green manures. The modern methods of farming are not sustainable anymore due to the damages it has caused to the environment, health hazards, chemical contamination, and so on. Thus, the requirement to have an alternate farming method that is Eco-system friendly. Organic farming products have been certified and recognized as the best-known alternative to conventional farming produce.
The Roots of Organic Farming in India
With a rich history of organic farming and an increasing domestic market of organic food, India can offer the required push to the organic movement. Organic farming has various benefits over conventional farming apart from safeguarding both the environment and human health. Improved water quality, enhanced soil fertility, creation of rural employment, prevention of soil erosion are a few of them.
Status of Organic Farming in India: Popularity, Production, and Economic Growth
Organic food and farming continue to grow globally. However, in India, organic farming is picking up pace only in recent times. Some of the factors that contribute to the slow development of organic farming are:
• Lack of awareness: Many farmers in the country do not have a good idea about organic farming and its benefits as opposed to conventional farming methods. Use of bio pesticides and bio-fertilizers requires willingness and awareness on the part of the farming community.
• Lack of good marketing policies: The most important limitation felt in the development of organic farming is the inability of a government policy to take a firm decision to promote organic agriculture.
• Output Marketing Problems: Before the beginning of farming of organic crops, their marketability with a premium over the inorganic produce has to be assured. Inability to obtain premium price is a setback.
• Inadequate Supporting Infrastructure: In spite of the adoption of the NPOP during 2000, the state governments are yet to formulate policies with a credible mechanism to implement them.
Though slow, the movement towards organic farming is picking up pace and the Government of India has implemented a number of schemes and programs under the Zero Budget Natural Farming (ZBNF) policy.
ZBNF is a method of farming where the cost of harvesting and growing plants is zero. It reduces costs by removing external inputs and utilizing local resources to revitalize soils and reinstate the eco-system health through diverse, multi-layered cropping systems. The major states that are involved in organic agriculture in India are Kerala, Gujarat, Uttarakhand, Karnataka, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Sikkim, Himachal Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Madhya Pradesh.
To add to the development of organic farming, organic food online initiatives have also been taken, which helps customers purchase organic food items just with a few clicks. Various food options, such as honey and spreads, ghee and oils, spices, flours, and so on are available based on customer preferences. There are various platforms available for customers to access organic supplies directly from farmers. SIRA is an example of a platform that is India’s first marketplace for consumers directly from the farmers.
Conclusion
Various new technologies have been developed in the field of organic farming in India,such as integration of mycorrhizal fungi and nano-biostimulants (to improve the agricultural production in an environmentally friendly way), mapping cultivation areas consciously using sensor technology and spatial geodata, 3D printers, and so on. India is scaling up and is turning out to be one of the world’s largest organic producers. Organic farming can bring about the necessary change and developments required to make India a developed nation.