Lok Sabha Question No. 148 (STARRED), answered on 2018-03-06
Subject: Organic Farming
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: DHARMENDRA YADAV, Shrirang Appa Barne

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

## DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, COOPERATION & FARMERS WELFARE

## LOK  SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 148

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 6 TH  MARCH, 2018

## ORGANIC FARMING

- *148.     SHRI DHARMENDRA YADAV:
- SHRI SHRIRANG APPA BARNE:

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

- (a) whether India has a rich heritage in organic farming and if so, the details thereof along with the details of land in hectares certified as organic;
- (b) whether organic farming is not only a lifeline for small farmers who receive a fair price for their produce but also helps in maintaining a clean environment and if so, the details  thereof  along  with  the  incentives  given  by  the  Government  to  the  farmers, particularly small farmers to promote organic farming;
- (c) whether  the  organic  food  market  in  the  country  is  growing  by  20-22  per  cent annually, reflecting increasing health consciousness and awareness among consumers and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether the Delhi-based Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations  (ICRIER)  has  reported  that  food  products  that  are  labelled  organic  but  not certified cannot be considered safe and if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) whether the Government has undertaken any studies on the aforesaid report of ICRIER,  if  so,  the  details  and  the  outcome  thereof  and  the  action  taken  by  the Government thereon?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

½ãâ¨ããè

कृ ष एवं कसान कयाण

(SHRI RADHA MOHAN SINGH)

## STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (e)  OF  LOK  SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 148   DUE FOR REPLY ON 6 TH  MARCH, 2018.

(a)  to  (c):        Yes  Madam.  Govt.  of  India  has  been  promoting  organic  farming  through  the dedicated schemes of Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY) and Mission Organic Value Chain  Development  for  North  Eastern  Region  (MOVCDNER)  under  National  Mission  for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA). In addition, third party certification of organic farming is also promoted  by  Agriculture  Processed  Food  and  Export  Development  Authority  (APEDA), Ministry of Commerce.  The  state-wise  details of area covered  (certified  and  under conversion) under organic farming under the above said three schemes is at Annexure l.

Organic  farming  is  promising  proposition  for  small  and  marginal  farmers  specially those  belonging  to  hilly  and  dry  region,  provided  fair  price  is  ensured  through  access  to appropriate market avenues.

Under  PKVY  farmers  group/clusters  are  provided  assistance  of  Rs.  50,000  per hectare for organic inputs, certification, grading, packing and marketing for 3 years. So far, 2 lakhs hectare in 10,000 clusters has been covered.  Under MOVCDNER, financial assistance is  provided  for  cluster  development,  input  production,  supply  of  seeds/planting  materials, branding,  labeling,  packing  etc.  Under  this  programme,  82  Farmers  Producer  Companies (FPCs)/  Farmers  Producer  Organization  (FPOs),  2406  Farmers  Interested  Groups  (FIGs) have been formed and 45863 hectares are covered.

As per a study conducted by APEDA through YES bank, the domestic organic market size   is estimated to be between Rs. 500 crores to Rs. 1000 crores/ annum.

(d): Indian  Council  for  Research  on  International  Economic  Relations  (ICRIER)  in  its report   indicated that organic is a food standard and label, logo(certificates)  helps  farmers to get    higher price for their premium produce. It is also a mark of authenticity.

(e): Draft  Food Safety  and Standards (Organic Food) Regulations, 2017 are notified by FSSAI in the Gazette of India for stakeholder's comments. The draft regulations specify that organic food products should be accompanied by certification given by notified bodies.

Annexure-1 The state-wise details of area covered (certified and under conversion) under organic farming (area in ha)

| Sr No .   | Name of State     | National Program of Organic Produce(NPOP)*   | National Program of Organic Produce(NPOP)*   | Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY)   | Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North Eastern Region(MOVCD   | State wise Total area (in ha)   |
|-----------|-------------------|----------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------|
| Sr No .   | Name of State     | Organic area                                 | In Conversion                                | Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY)   | Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North Eastern Region(MOVCD   | State wise Total area (in ha)   |
| 1         | Andhra Pradesh    | 12037.551                                    | 11190.775                                    | 9440                                      | -                                                                        | 32668.326                       |
| 2         | Arunachal Pradesh | 21.490                                       | 3789.769                                     | 380                                       | 5000                                                                     | 9191.259                        |
| 3         | Assam             | 1952.598                                     | 31446.173                                    | 4400                                      | 5000                                                                     | 42798.771                       |
| 4         | Bihar             | 0.000                                        | 1.730                                        | 8540                                      | -                                                                        | 8541.73                         |
| 5         | Chhattisgarh      | 4555.575                                     | 16103.931                                    | 4000                                      | -                                                                        | 24659.506                       |
| 6         | Goa               | 14133.973                                    | 1648.390                                     | 80                                        | -                                                                        | 15862.363                       |
| 7         | Gujarat           | 45868.039                                    | 28513.854                                    | 2000                                      | -                                                                        | 76381.893                       |
| 8         | Haryana           | 7851.308                                     | 664.058                                      | 400                                       | -                                                                        | 8915.366                        |
| 9         | Himachal Pradesh  | 8192.784                                     | 10921.265                                    | 4200                                      | -                                                                        | 23314.049                       |
| 10        | Jammu & Kashmir   | 12570.367                                    | 22010.607                                    | 560                                       | -                                                                        | 35140.974                       |
| 11        | Jharkhand         | 159.660                                      | 46620.466                                    | 5000                                      | -                                                                        | 51780.126                       |
| 12        | Karnataka         | 26539.526                                    | 63490.668                                    | 10900                                     | -                                                                        | 100930.194                      |
| 13        | Kerala            | 13519.398                                    | 10972.633                                    | 12380                                     | -                                                                        | 36872.031                       |
| 14        | Lakshadweep       | 885.075                                      | 0.000                                        |                                           | -                                                                        | 885.075                         |
| 15        | Madhya Pradesh    | 379017.532                                   | 405328.981                                   | 27600                                     | -                                                                        | 811946.513                      |
| 16        | Maharashtra       | 119443.434                                   | 160296.915                                   | 25160                                     | -                                                                        | 304900.349                      |
| 17        | Manipur           | 0.000                                        | 240.100                                      | 600                                       | 5000                                                                     | 5840.1                          |
| 18        | Meghalaya         | 1402.522                                     | 8611.646                                     | 900                                       | 6430                                                                     | 17344.168                       |
| 19        | Mizoram           | 0.000                                        | 50.000                                       | 680                                       | 4053                                                                     | 4783                            |
| 20        | Nagaland          | 1651.110                                     | 3074.964                                     | 480                                       | 6000                                                                     | 11206.074                       |
| 21        | New Delhi         | 17.312                                       | 0.000                                        |                                           | -                                                                        | 17.312                          |
| 22        | Odisha            | 41198.176                                    | 57630.360                                    | 6400                                      | -                                                                        | 105228.536                      |
| 23        | Pondicherry       | 2.835                                        | 0.000                                        | 5000                                      | -                                                                        | 5002.835                        |
| 24        | Punjab            | 779.379                                      | 1046.700                                     |                                           | -                                                                        | 1826.079                        |
| 25        | Rajasthan         | 68203.256                                    | 160729.926                                   | 23000                                     | -                                                                        | 251933.182                      |
| 26        | Sikkim            | 38969.089                                    | 4936.738                                     | 3000                                      | 12380                                                                    | 59285.827                       |
| 27        | Tamil Nadu        | 2119.366                                     | 3181.771                                     | 2240                                      | -                                                                        | 7541.137                        |
| 28        | Telangana         | 4315.956                                     | 6226.090                                     | 13800                                     | -                                                                        | 24342.046                       |
| 29        | Tripura           | 203.560                                      | 0.000                                        | 1000                                      | 2000                                                                     | 3203.56                         |
| 30        | Uttar Pradesh     | 70397.322                                    | 25961.493                                    | 12400                                     | -                                                                        | 108758.815                      |
| 31        | Uttarakhand       | 32061.548                                    | 21029.254                                    | 11700                                     | -                                                                        | 64790.802                       |
| 32        | West Bengal       | 3831.781                                     | 687.900                                      | 2400                                      | -                                                                        | 6919.681                        |
| 33        | Andaman           |                                              |                                              | 1360                                      | -                                                                        | 1360                            |
| Total     | Total             | 911901.522                                   | 1106407.157                                  | 200000                                    | 45863                                                                    | 2264171.679                     |

Grand Total (area covered under NPOP, PKVY & MOVCDNER): 22.64 Lakh Ha

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