Organic farming

Introduction

Organic farming is a sustainable farming method that aims at eco-friendly production. The system uses natural resources such as organic waste and beneficial microorganisms to increase agricultural production while preserving the environment and ecology. By avoiding synthetic chemicals and adopting biocontrol agents and biofertilizers, it protects crops from pests and diseases, promotes healthy agricultural practices.

There is a need for continuous and sustainable increase in production due to increasing population pressure on agriculture. Traditional farming with expensive chemicals and synthetic inputs faces the challenges of high input costs and declining returns.

Status of Organic Farming

  • Organic farming is practiced in 187 countries in the world and 72.3 million hectares of agricultural land is managed organically by at least 3.1 million farmers. Argentina (35.69 m ha) and Spain (3.63 m ha) are the places with the most organic agricultural land (2.35 m ha) in Australia.
  • In 2019, 3.1 million organic producers were reported. India continues to be the country with the largest producers (13,66,000), followed by Uganda (2,10,000) and Ethiopia (2,04,000). Most small-scale producers are certified in groups based on internal control systems. (FiBL Survey 2021)
  • According to the data of the year 2021, India ranks sixth in terms of the world's organic agricultural land and first in terms of the total number of producers, i.e. 30% of the total organic producers (Source: FIBL & IFOAM Year Book, 2023)
  • The total area under organic certification process (registered under National Programme for Organic Production) as on March 31, 2023 is 10.17 MHA (2022-23). This includes 53,91,793 hectares of cultivable area and another 47,80,130 hectares of wild crop collection.
  • Among all the states, Madhya Pradesh has covered the largest area under organic certification, followed by Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Odisha, Karnataka, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, Chhattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh and Jharkhand.
  • India produced about 2.9 million metric tonnes (2022-23) of certified organic products, including all kinds of food products, such as oil seeds, fibre, sugarcane, cereals and millets, cotton, pulses, aromatic and medicinal plants, tea, coffee, fruits, spices, dry fruits, vegetables, processed foods, etc. The production is not limited to the food sector but also produces organic cotton fibers, functional food products, etc.
  • The total volume of exports during 2022-23 was 3,12,800 MT. Organic food export receipts were about Rs 5525 crore (USD 708.33 million). Organic products are exported to USA, EU, Canada, Great Britain, Switzerland, Turkey, Australia, Ecuador, Republic of Korea, Vietnam, Japan, etc.