Lok Sabha Question No. 3441 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-12-06
Subject: Organic Farming
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: ANTO  ANTONY, SUSHIL KUMAR SINGH, MAUSAM NOOR, VINOD CHAVDA, DIPSINH SHANKARSINH RATHOD, MAHEISH GIRRI, HARIOM SINGH RATHORE

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, COOPERATION AND FARMERS WELFARE

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3441

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE  6 TH  DECEMBER, 2016

## ORGANIC FARMING

3441.  SHRI ANTO ANTONY:

SHRI SUSHIL KUMAR SINGH:

SHRIMATI MAUSAM NOOR:

SHRI VINOD LAKHAMASHI CHAVDA:

SHRI D.S. RATHOD:

SHRI MAHEISH GIRRI:

SHRI HARIOM SINGH RATHORE:

Will  the  Minister  of  AGRICULTURE  AND  FARMERS  WELFARE      ‡ãðŠãäÓã एवं  कसान कयाण ½ãâ¨ããè be pleased to state:

- (a) the current status of organic farming in the country, State/UT-wise;
- (b) whether  the  organic/natural  farming  is  emerging  as  a  strong  substitute  for chemical farming despite being a more expensive farm practice and if so, the details thereof and the measures taken by the Government to make this conventional farming system cheaper/profitable in the country;
- (c) whether  the  Government  is  organizing  training  and  awareness  compaigns/ workshops about organic farming techniques and the benefits of organic farming in the country  and  if  so,  the  details  thereof  along  with  the  number  of  farmers  who  have attended such workshops during the last three years and the current year, State-wise;
- (d) whether  the  Government  proposes  to  provide  subsidies  and  soft  loans  to  the farmers  engaged  in  organic  farming  as  a  fraction  of  total  component  of  loans  and subsides provided by the States and the Centre and if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) whether  the  Government  has  conducted  research  on  vertical  farming  and permaculture in the country and if so, the details and the outcome thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF  STATE IN THE  MINISTRY OF  AGRICULTURE AND  FARMERS  WELFARE

‡ãðŠãäÓã एवं  कसान  कयाण ½ãâ¨ããÊã¾ã  ½ãñâ  Àã·¾ã  ½ãâ¨ããè (  SHRI PARSHOTTAM RUPALA)

- (a): State wise certified area (cultivable and wild) under  National Programme on  Organic Production (NPOP) during 2015-16 is given at Annexure-I. Besides, Government of India has launched Participatory Guarantee System (PGS India) programme to promote low cost PGS organic certification under this programme. Till date (as on 30 November 2016) a total of 2962 groups and 73519.40 hactare area are certified under PGS.

(b) & (c): Organic farming is not expensive as compared to  conventional farming. Government  of  India  is  promoting  organic  farming  in  country  through  the  dedicated schemes  of  National  Mission  for  Sustainable  Agriculture  (NMSA)  viz  Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY) and Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North Eastern  Region  (MOVCDNER).  Other  schemes  of  Govt.  of  India  are  also  supporting organic  farming  viz.,  National  Mission  on  Oilseeds  and  Oilpalm  (NMOOP),  National Food  Security  Mission  (NFSM),  Mission  for  Integrated  Development  of  Horticulture (MIDH) and Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR) Network Project on Organic Farming. The pattern of assistance is given at Annexure ll.

The Government is organizing training and awareness campaign/workshop creating awareness  and  educating  the  farmers  about  organic  farming  practices  in  the  areas where clusters are formed.

(a)    Rs. 80,000 per cluster is provided as financial assistance   under PKVY scheme for the mobilization of farmers through different training & exposure visits.

(b)      Similarly,  under  MOVDNER  scheme  the  financial  assistance  of  Rs  8  crore  is allocated  for  North  Eastern  Region  to  create  awareness  and  publicity  through  lead agencies.

The  National  Centre  of  Organic  Farming  (NCOF),  Ghaziabad,  a  unit  under  the department undertakes various extension and publicity activities like exhibitions, radio talks, TV programmes, distribution of literature on organic inputs/ organic farming etc. to educate the farmers. NCOF is also publishing biannual Newsletter 'Biofertilizers' as well as quarterly Newsletter called Organic Farming. In addition, various  books on production  and  use  of  bio-fertilizers  have  been  published  in  various  languages  for distribution to the farming community. Radio jingles on organic agriculture are broadcast on  4  different  FM  Radio  Stations  including  Delhi,  Bangalore,  Nagpur  and  Lucknow. NCOF organizes 30 days certificate course on organic farming for skill development in organic  agriculture  sector  for  youth.  It  also  conducts  10  days  Refresher  course  for analysts  under  Fertilizer  Control  Order  (FCO);  5  Days  Trainers  Training  &  2  Days training for field functionaries and extension staff of the State Government. NCOF has also been organizing Farmers' Training and Field Demonstration (FTFD) programmes on organic farming since 2015-16 in various villages adopted by the Hon'ble Members of  Parliament  under  'Sansad  Aadarsh  Gram  Yojana'  (SAGY),  through  its  Regional Centres of Organic Farming (RCOFs). It has completed 300 no. of FTFD in 2015-16 in which a total of 18051 farmers have been benefitted and has targeted 298 no. in the year 2016-17.

(d):  Financial assistance is provided for setting up of mechanized Fruit/vegetables/Agro waste  compost  production  units  and  biofertilizers/Bio-pesticides  units.  The  pattern  of assistance are giveat Annexure-Il and State wise no. of units and subsidy under CISS for fruit/vegetable compost unit  and State wise no. of units and subsidy under CISS for biofertilizer/biopesticides  during  last  three  years  (According  to  NABARD)  is  given  at Annexure lll and IIlA.

(e): ICAR  has  informed  that  Preliminary,  research  he  shown  good  prospects  for vertical  farming  in  horticulture  to  promote  horticultural  crops  production  from  limited space in the country. There is no specific research as such on permaculture farming in India.

Annexure l State wise certified area (cultivable and wild)  under National programme on Organic

## Production (NPOP) during 2015-16

| S No.   | State Name        |   Farm Area (includes in conversion) |   Wild Area (Ha) |       Total area |
|---------|-------------------|--------------------------------------|------------------|------------------|
| 1       | Madhya Pradesh    |                     461775           |      1.81379e+06 |      2.27557e+06 |
| 2       | Himachal Pradesh  |                      12759.1         |      1.34569e+06 |      1.35845e+06 |
| 3       | Rajasthan         |                     155020           | 398427           | 553448           |
| 4       | Maharashtra       |                     198352           |  67946.9         | 266299           |
| 5       | Chhattisgarh      |                      10584.9         | 170340           | 180925           |
| 6       | Karnataka         |                      93963.3         |  39683.9         | 133647           |
| 7       | Odisha            |                      95897           |  13327.1         | 109224           |
| 8       | Uttar Pradesh     |                      61081.8         |  45210.6         | 106292           |
| 9       | Uttarakhand       |                      37221.4         |  62679           |  99900.4         |
| 10      | Andhra Pradesh    |                      18251.6         |  75099.1         |  93350.7         |
| 11      | Gujarat           |                      76813.1         |   3608.34        |  80421.4         |
| 12      | Jharkhand         |                      30363.7         |  46685           |  77048.7         |
| 13      | Sikkim            |                      75851.2         |      0           |  75851.2         |
| 14      | Arunachal Pradesh |                       4185.26        |  68300           |  72485.3         |
| 15      | Jammu & Kashmir   |                      25515           |  29000           |  54515           |
| 16      | Kerala            |                      25899.4         |  18889.1         |  44788.5         |
| 17      | Assam             |                      28433.2         |     60           |  28493.2         |
| 18      | Tamil Nadu        |                      14456.5         |   5073.29        |  19529.8         |
| 19      | West Bengal       |                      17890.4         |      0           |  17890.4         |
| 20      | Punjab            |                        961.203       |  16616           |  17577.2         |
| 21      | Goa               |                      16957.6         |      0           |  16957.6         |
| 22      | Telangana         |                      10355.6         |      0           |  10355.6         |
| 23      | Nagaland          |                       6186.93        |      0           |   6186.93        |
| 24      | Haryana           |                       4869.05        |     20.16        |   4889.21        |
| 25      | Meghalaya         |                       4609.42        |      0           |   4609.42        |
| 26      | Lakshadweep       |                        895.521       |      0           |    895.521       |
| 27      | Manipur           |                        251.4         |      0           |    251.4         |
| 28      | Mizoram           |                        213.8         |      0           |    213.8         |
| 29      | Tripura           |                        203.56        |      0           |    203.56        |
| 30      | Bihar             |                         91.7         |      0           |     91.7         |
| 31      | New Delhi         |                         23.03        |      0           |     23.03        |
| 32      | Pondicherry       |                          2.835       |      0           |      2.835       |
| Total   | Total             |                          1.48994e+06 |      4.22045e+06 |      5.71038e+06 |

Source: Information provided by the accredited certification Bodies under NPOP

## Annexure Il

## A.  National Mission of Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA)-Organic & INM Component of Soil Health Management (SHM):

- i) Setting  up  of  State  of  art  liquid/carrier  based  Bio-fertilizer/Bio-pesticide  units, 100%  Assistance  to  State  Govt/Govt.  Agencies  upto  a    maximum  limit  of Rs.160.00 lakh/unit and 25% of total financial outlay or limited to Rs.40 lakh/unit whichever  is  less  for  individuals/private  agencies  through  NABARD  as  back ended  capital  investment  subsidy  scheme  of  200  Total  Per  Annum  (TPA) production capacity.
2. ii) Setting up of Bio-fertilizer and Organic fertilizer testing Quality Control laboratory (BOQCL) or Strengthening of existing Laboratory under FCO, assistance up to maximum limit of Rs.85 lakh for new laboratory and up to a maximum limit of Rs. 45 lakh for strengthening of existing infrastructure to State  Government Laboratory under Agriculture or Horticulture Department.
3. iii)  Promotion  of  Organic  Inputs  on  farmer's  field  (Manure,  Vermi-compost,    BioFertilizers Liquid/solid, Waste compost, Herbal extracts etc.), 50% of cost subject to a limit of Rs.5000/-per ha and Rs.10,000 per beneficiary.
4. iv)  Setting  up  of  mechanized  Fruit/  Vegetable  market  waste/  Agro  waste  compost production  unit  100%  financial  assistance  to  State  Government/  Government Agencies upto a maximum limit of Rs.190.00 lakh per unit and 33% of project cost or maximum  limited to Rs.63 lakh per unit whichever is less for individuals/private agencies through NABARD as capital investment for establishment  of  agro/vegetable  waste  compost  production  units  of  3000  Total Per Annum (TPA) production.
- v)  Paramparagat  Krishi  Vikas  Yojana  (PKVY):  The  scheme  is  implemented  by the State Governments on a cluster basis of 20 hectare each. The farmer within the cluster is given following financial assistance for Integrated  Manure Management.
- a)  Liquid Bio-fertilizer consortia (Nitrogen fixing/ Phosphate Solubilizing/ potassium mobilizing bio-fertilizer) @ Rs.500/acre x 50 of Rs.25000 per cluster in first year.
- b)  Liquid Biopesticides (Trichoderma viridae, Pseudomonas, fluorescens, Matarhizium, Beaviourie bassiana, Pacelomyces, verticillium) @ Rs.500/ acre x 50 of Rs.25000 per cluster in second year.
- c) Phosphate Rich Organic Manure (PROM) as per specification given in FCO,1985 @ Rs1000/acre X 50  of Rs   50000  in first year for procuring and application of PROM.
- d)  Farmer can take up any pest control mechanism easily available in their local area @Rs 500/acreX50 of Rs.25000 in second year.
- e) Vermi-compost ( size 7'x3'x1) @ Rs. 5000/unit X50 of Rs 250000 will be assisted for procurement of earthworms, preparation of pits, etc for construction of vermi composting pits.

The detail guidelines are uploaded in web site www.agricoop.gov.in.

- (vi) MOVCDNER  Central  Sector  Scheme:  the  assistance  is  provided  for  cluster development, on/off farm input production, supply of seeds/ planting materials, setting up of  functional  infrastructure,  establishment  of  integrated  processing  unit,  refrigerated transportation, pre-cooling /cold stores chamber, branding labeling and packaging, hiring of space, hand  holdings, organic certification through third party, mobilization of farmers/processors etc. Under this scheme, an area of 0.50 lakh ha will be covered under organic farming in North Eastern Region of the country during next three years. The detail guidelines are uploaded in web site www.agricoop.gov.in.

## B  Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH)

1.  Adoption  of  Organic  Farming.  -50%  of  cost  limited  to  Rs.  10000/ha  for  a maximum area of 4 ha. per beneficiary, spread over a period of 3 years involving assistance of Rs.4000/- in first year and Rs.3000/- each in second & third year. The programme to be linked with certification.

2.  Organic Certification - Rs. 5 lakh for a cluster of 50 ha which will include Rs. 1.50 lakh in first year, Rs. 1.50 lakh in second year and Rs. 2.00 lakh in third year.
3.    Vermi compost Units/organic input production - 50% of cost conforming to the size of the  unit  of  30'X8'X2.5'  dimension  of  permanent  structure  to  be administered on pro-rata basis. For HDPE Vermibed, 50% of cost conforming to the size of  96  cft  (12'X4'X2')  and  IS  15907:2010 to be administered on pro-rata basis (Rs. 100,000/ unit for permanent structure and Rs. 16,000/unit for HDPE Vermibed).
3. C .National Mission on Oilseeds and Oil Palm (NMOOP): Financial assistance is being provided for different type of components including bio-fertilisers, Supply of Rhizobium culture/Phosphate Solubilising Bacteria (PSB)/ Zinc Solubilising Bacteria (ZSB)/ Azatobacter/ Mycorrhiza and vermi compost.
- D.  National  Food  Security  Mission  (NFSM):  Under  NFSM,  financial  assistance  is provided  for  promotion  of  Bio-Fertilizer  (Rhizobium/PSB)  @50%  of  the  cost  limited  to Rs.300 per ha.
- E.  Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY): Organic Farming projects are considered by respective State Level Sanctioning committee.
6. Indian  Council  of  Agricultural  Research  (ICAR):  The  Indian  Council  of  Agriculture Research  (ICAR),  Pusa  under  Network  project  on  Soil  Biodiversity-Biofertiliser  has developed improved and efficient strains of biofertiliser specific to different crops and soil types.  Liquid  Bio-fertiliser  technology  with  higher  shelf  life  has  also  been  developed. Besides,  the  Council  has  developed  technology  to  prepare  various  types  of  organic

manures  such  as  phosphocompost,  vermicompost,  bio-enriched  compost,  municipal solid waste compost, etc. from various organic wastes.

The ICAR also imparts training, organizes Front Line Demonstrations (FLDs) to educate farmers on all these aspect.

Annexure-Ill State wise no of units and subsidy under CISS for fruit/vegetable compost unit

## (According to NABARD communication)

|      |                | 2013-14   | 2013-14            | 2014-15   | 2014-15           | 2015-16   | 2015-16            |
|------|----------------|-----------|--------------------|-----------|-------------------|-----------|--------------------|
| S.N. | State          | Unit      | Subsidy (Rs..Lakh) | Unit      | Subsidy (Rs.Lakh) | Unit      | Subsidy (Rs. Lakh) |
| 1.   | Assam          | 01        | 15.098             | -         | -                 | -         | -                  |
| 2.   | Haryana        | -         | -                  | -         | -                 | 01        | 30.0               |
| 3.   | Karnataka      | 03        | 84.268             | -         | -                 |           |                    |
| 4.   | Madhya Pradesh |           | -                  | -         | -                 | 01        | 19.191             |
| 5.   | Tamil Nadu     | -         | -                  | -         | -                 | 01        | 29.97              |
|      | Total          | 04        | 99.366             | 0         | 0                 | 03        | 79.161             |

Note : information compiled by NCOF

Annexure lll A

State wise no of units and subsidy under CISS for biofertilizer/biopesticides during last three years (According to NABARD)

|      |                  | 2013-14   | 2013-14    | 2014-15   | 2014-15    | 2015-16   | 2015-16    |
|------|------------------|-----------|------------|-----------|------------|-----------|------------|
| S.N. | State            | Unit      | (Rs. Lakh) | Unit      | (Rs. Lakh) | Unit      | (Rs. Lakh) |
| 1    | Andhra Pradesh   | 02        | 13.735     | -         | -          | -         | -          |
| 2    | Assam            | 01        | 20.0       | -         | -          | 01        | 1.667      |
| 3    | Gujarat          | 01        | 40.0       | 02        | 36.85      |           | -          |
| 4    | Haryana          | 01        | 8.538      | -         | -          | -         | -          |
| 5    | Himachal Pradesh | -         | -          | 01        | 12.768     | 01        | 12.767     |
| 6.   | Karnataka        | 01        | 40.0       | 02        | 40.572     | 05        | 173.0      |
| 7.   | Maharashtra      | 01        | 11.217     | -         | -          | 02        | 23.975     |
| 8.   | Punjab           | 02        | 10.218     | 02        | 10.121     | 03        | 22.99      |
| 9.   | Rajasthan        | -         |            | -         | -          | 01        | 5.294      |
| 10.  | Tamil Nadu       | 03        | 98.34      | 02        | 32.222     | 01        | 31.35      |
| 11   | Uttar Pradesh    | -         |            | 01        | 20.0       | 02        | 30.0       |
| 12   | Uttarakhand      | -         |            | -         | -          | 01        | 12.75      |
|      | Total            | 12        | 242.048    | 10        | 152.533    | 17        | 313.793    |

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