Lok Sabha Question No. 541 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-06-25
Subject: Promotion of Organic Produce
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Nishikant  Dubey

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

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 541

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 25 TH   JUNE, 2019

## PROMOTION OF ORGANIC PRODUCE

541.    DR. NISHIKANT DUBEY:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ ष एवं कसान कयाण मंी be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government proposes to promote organic food items in view of the rising demand in global markets and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) the  present  status  of  the  existing  demand,    supply,    consumption    and  production    of organic  food  items  in  the country; and
- (c) the steps taken by the Government to increase the production of organic food items to meet the demand?

## ANSWER

MINISTER  OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

कृ ष एवं कसान कयाण मंी (SHRI NARENDRA SINGH TOMAR)

- (a): The organic food market has increased from 15 billion USD to 90 billion USD over past two  decades.  Realizing  the  importance  of  organic  farming  for  global  markets  two  dedicated schemes  viz  (i)  Paramparagat  Krishi  Vikash  Yojana  (PKVY)  assists  certification  through Participatory Guarantee System(PGS)  which not only supports  domestic demand for organic produce  but   also prepares farmers  to opt for third party certification, required for exports and (ii)  Mission Development Value Chain Development for  North Eastern Region (MOVCDNER) with  an  aim  to  develop  the  NE  region  as  an  organic  hub  for  exports  of  niche  crop  products through  third party certification. Third party certification of organic farming is promoted  by Agriculture Processed Food and Export Development Authority (APEDA), Ministry of Commerce.

Under  MOVCDNER,  assistance  is  provided  to  the  farmers  in  a  value  chain  mode starting from formation of  Farmers Producer Organisations (FPOs), on/off farm input production, supply of seeds/ planting materials, post harvest infrastructure including collection, sorting, grading facilities, establishment of integrated processing unit, refrigerated transportation, pre-cooling/ cold stores chamber, branding, labelling and packaging, etc.Under MOVCDNER,  Exports have been initiated from Assam, Manipur, Nagaland and Mizoram to Africa, UK & US, Australia and Italy respectively. Market linkage of producer clusters with some major agri-business, phytochemical and online grocery stores have also been established.

Contd…2/-

(b): As  per  a  Yes  Bank study  published  in  2015,  the  estimated  value  of  domestic  organic market is Rs. 500-1000 crores and as per the ASSOCHAM and EY report published in 2018, the domestic organic market was valued at Rs. 2500 crores, which includes Rs. 1000 crores by farmers direct market.

India produced 1.675 million tons of certified organic produce during the year 2017-18, out of which 4.58 lakh ton (27%) was exported. The area and production is continuously on the rise since last three years to keep pace with the growing demand in national and international markets.

(c):    Govt. of India has been promoting organic farming through two dedicated schemes viz Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY) and Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North  Eastern  Region  (MOVCDNER)  under  National  Mission  for  Sustainable  Agriculture (NMSA). It is also supported by other schemes viz Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) and Mission  for  Integrated  Development  of  Horticulture  (MIDH),  Network  Project  on  Organic Farming (NPOF).

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