India’s organic food growth

• Introduction
• National Program For Organic Production (NPOP)
• Area
• Production
• Exports
• 5 Govt. schemes promoting organic farming in India
  • Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY)
  • Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North Eastern Region (MOVCDNER)
  • Capital Investment Subsidy Scheme (CISS) under Soil Health Management Scheme
  • National Mission on Oilseeds and Oil Palm (NMOOP)
  • National Food Security Mission (NFSM)
• Comparative data in regard to organic cultivation with other countries

Introduction

Organic food growth is now globally spread. Organic products are grown under a system of agriculture without the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides with an environmentally and socially responsible approach. This is a method of farming that works at grass root level preserving the reproductive and regenerative capacity of the soil, good plant nutrition, and sound soil management, produces nutritious food rich in vitality which has resistance to diseases.

Organic products are grown under a system of agriculture without the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides with an environmentally and socially responsible approach. This is a method of farming that works at grass root level preserving the reproductive and regenerative capacity of the soil, good plant nutrition, and sound soil management, produces nutritious food rich in vitality which has resistance to diseases.

India is going through huge success in the field of organic production. With the global rising awareness of organic product, India took action with some schemes.  The detail of few schemes has been described here.

NATIONAL PROGRAMME FOR ORGANIC PRODUCTION (NPOP)

As per the available statistics, India’s rank 9th in terms of World’s Organic Agricultural land and 1st in terms of total number of producers as per 2020 data (Source: FIBL & IFOAM Year Book, 2020).

The APEDA, Ministry of Commerce & Industries, Government of India is implementing the National Programme for Organic Production (NPOP). The programme involves the accreditation of Certification Bodies, standards for organic production, promotion of organic farming and marketing etc. The NPOP standards for production and accreditation system have been recognized by European Commission and Switzerland for unprocessed plant products as equivalent to their country standards. With these recognitions, Indian organic products duly certified by the accredited certification bodies of India are accepted by the importing countries. APEDA is also in the process of negotiation with South Korea, Taiwan, Canada, Japan etc.

AREA

As on 31st March 2021 total area under organic certification process (registered under National Programme for Organic Production) is 4339184.93 ha (2020-21). This includes 2657889.33 ha cultivable area and another 1681295.61 ha for wild harvest collection.

Among all the states, Madhya Pradesh has covered largest area under organic certification followed by Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir and Karnataka.

During 2016, Sikkim has achieved a remarkable distinction of converting its entire cultivable land (more than 75000 ha) under organic certification.

PRODUCTION

India produced around 3496800.34 MT (2020-21) of certified organic products which includes all varieties of food products namely Oil Seeds, fibre, Sugar cane, Cereals & Millets, Cotton, Pulses, Aromatic & Medicinal Plants, Tea, Coffee, Fruits, Spices, Dry Fruits, Vegetables, Processed foods etc. The production is not limited to the edible sector but also produces organic cotton fiber, functional food products etc.

Among different states Madhya Pradesh is the largest producer followed by Maharashtra, Karnataka, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. In terms of commodities Oil seeds are the single largest category followed by Sugar crops, Cereals and Millets, Tea & Coffee, Fiber crops, fodder, Pulses, Medicinal/ Herbal and Aromatic plants and Spices & Condiments.

EXPORTS

The total volume of export during 2020-21 was 888179.68 MT. The organic food export realization was around INR 707849.52 Lakhs (1040.95 million USD). Organic products are exported to USA, European Union, Canada, Great Britain, Korea Republic, Israel, Switzerland, Ecuador, Vietnam, Australia etc. In terms of export value realization Processed foods including soya meal (57%) lead among the products followed by Oilseeds (9%), Cereals and millets (7%), Plantation crop products such as Tea and Coffee (6%), Spices and condiments (5%), Medicinal plants(5%), Dry fruits (3%), Sugar(3%), and others.

5 Govt schemes, promoting organic farming in India

Over the years, the organic promotion activities led to development of state specific organic brands, increased domestic supply and exports of organic produce from north eastern region. Taking cue from the success of the organic initiatives, a target of 20 lakh hectare additional area coverage by 2024 is envisaged in the vision document. Awareness programmes, availability of adequate post- harvest infrastructure, marketing facilities, premium price for the organic produce among others would certainly motivate farmers towards organic farming thereby increasing organic coverage in the country

The Government of India provides assistance for promoting organic farming across the country though different schemes.

• Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY)

Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana promotes cluster based organic farming with PGS (Participatory Guarantee System) certification. Cluster formation, training, certification and marketing are supported under the scheme. Assistance of Rs. 50,000 per ha /3 years is provided out of which 62 percent (Rs. 31,000) is given as incentive to a farmer towards organic inputs.

• Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North Eastern Region (MOVCDNER)

The scheme promotes third party certified organic farming of niche crops of north east region through Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) with focus on exports. Farmers are given assistance of Rs 25,000 per hectare for three years for organic inputs including organic manure and bio-fertilisers among other inputs. Support for formation of FPOs, capacity building, post-harvest infrastructure up to Rs 2 crore are also provided in the scheme.

• Capital Investment Subsidy Scheme (CISS) under Soil Health Management Scheme

Under this scheme, 100 percent assistance is provided to state government, government agencies for setting up of mechanised fruit and vegetable market waste, agro waste compost production unit up to a maximum limit of Rs 190 lakh per unit (3000 Total Per Annum TPA capacity). Similarly, for individuals and private agencies assistance up to 33 percent of cost limit to Rs 63 lakh per unit as capital investment is provided.

• National Mission on Oilseeds and Oil Palm (NMOOP)

Under the Mission, financial assistance at 50 percent subsidy to the tune of Rs. 300 per hectare is being provided for different components including bio-fertilisers, supply of Rhizobium culture, Phosphate Solubilising Bacteria (PSB), Zinc Solubilising Bacteria (ZSB), Azatobacter, Mycorrhiza and vermi compost.

• National Food Security Mission (NFSM)

Under NFSM, financial assistance is provided for promotion of bio-fertiliser (Rhizobium/PSB) at 50 percent of the cost limited to Rs 300 per hectare.

As per international resource data from Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL) and the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM) Statistics 2020, India stands at 9th position in terms of certified agricultural land with 1.94 million hectare (2018-19).

Comparative data in regard to organic cultivation with other countries

Sr. No.	State	Position	Area under organic certification (in million ha.)
1	China	3rd	3.14
2	USA	7th	2.02
3	India	9th	1.94
4	Brazil	12th	1.18

Promotion of natural farming under Bharatiya Prakritik Krishi Padhati (BPKP) of PKVY has been initiated to encourage use of natural on-farm inputs for chemical free farming. Andhra Pradesh and Kerala have taken up one lakh hectare and 0.8 lakh hectare area respectively for promotion of natural farming under BPKP. Similarly, continuous area certification and support for individual farmers for certification have also been initiated during 2020-21 to bring in default organic areas and willing individual farmers under the fold of organic farming

State agencies, Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS), Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs), entrepreneurs among others can avail loans for setting up of post-harvest infrastructure for value addition to organic produce under 1 lakh crore Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF) of Aatmanirbhar Bharat.