Organic Promotion Division has been created by APEDA (Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority) for the promotion of organic exports.
- APEDA is formulating a strategic roadmap to diversify exports and fortify sustainable practices.
What is Organic Farming?
- Organic Farming is an agricultural system that uses fertilizers of organic origin and places emphasis on techniques such as crop rotation and companion planting.
- It is also known as ecological farming or biological farming.
- It uses fertilizers of organic origin such as compost manure, green manure, and bone meal.
- It originated early in the 20th century in reaction to rapidly changing farming practices.
Types of organic farming:
- Pure organic farming
- Integrated organic farming
- Crop rotation
- Green manure
- Compost
- Crop diversity
- Soil management
- Controlling pests biologically
Challenges of Organic Farming:
- Pest and Disease Management: Organic farming relies on natural methods for pest and disease control, which can be less effective than synthetic pesticides.
- This poses a challenge in maintaining optimal crop yields.
- Yield Variability: Yield of organic farming is around 18.4% lower than that of conventional farming.
- Limited Technology Use: Organic farming discourages the use of certain moderntechnologies, which can limit efficiency and productivity.
- Farmers may face challenges in finding suitable alternatives.
- Weed Control: Controlling weeds without synthetic herbicides can be labour-intensive and time-consuming.
- Organic farmers often rely on manual or mechanical methods, which may not be as efficient.
- Economic Viability: Organic farming can be economically challenging, especially during the initial years of transition.
- The higher costs of organic inputs and lower yields may impact the profitability of the farm.
- Market Access and Certification: Accessing organic markets requires certification, which can be a lengthy and costly process.
- Small-scale farmers, in particular, may find it challenging to comply with certification requirements.
Government Initiatives for the Promotion of Organic Farming:
- Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY): It aims at supporting and promoting organic farming, in turn resulting in the improvement of soil health.
- It is an extended component of Soil Health Management (SHM) under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS), National Mission on Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA).
- Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North Eastern Region (MOVCDNER): It is a Central Sector Scheme, that aims to promote organic farming in the North Eastern Region of India and develop end-to-end organic value chains.
- National Programme on Organic Production (NPOP): Launched in 2000, this program provides farm and livestock certification for organic commodities.
- National Mission on Natural Farming (NMNF): Launched in 2023-24, this scheme aims to motivate farmers to adopt chemical-free farming and increase the reach of natural farming.
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