Lok Sabha Question No. 4219 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-03-29
Subject: Benefits of Organic Farming
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: K. Muraleedharan

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.4219

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 29 th  MARCH, 2022

## BENEFITS OF ORGANIC FARMING

4219: SHRI K. MURALEEDHARAN:

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

- (a) whether it is true that as compared with conventional agriculture, organic farming uses fewer pesticides , reduces soil erosion, decreases nitrate leaching into ground water and surface water  and recycles animal waste back into the farm;
- (b) if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) whether the Government has any plan to promote organic farming in the country and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ ष एवं कसान कयाण मंी (SHRI NARENDRA SINGH TOMAR)

(a)  to  (c):          Organic  Farming  is  a  process  of  production  system  where  in  synthetics  are avoided or largely excluded to preserve the ecosystem and to maintain biodiversity within the farm.  The  modern  concepts  of  organic  farming  combines  Tradition  (mixed  farming  and indigenous  technical  knowledge),  Innovation  (hybrids,  bio-fertilizers,  farm  yard  manure, enriched composts, oilcakes, micro irrigation,  improved  agronomic practices including crop rotation, intercropping & mulching in possible areas/ crops  and cultural & biological control of pests  and  diseases  including  ecological  engineering)  and  Science  (supplying  required nutrients and management of pests and diseases without synthetics).Promotion of organic farming  results  in  concurrent  improvement  of  soil  health  there  by  reducing  soil  erosion, recycling  of  wastes,  reduced  use  of  synthetics  especially  mineral  fertilizers  and  pesticides leading decreased nitrate leaching in to ground and surface water.

Government is promoting organic farming through dedicated schemes namely Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY) and Mission Organic Value Chain Development in North East Region (MOVCDNER).  Both the schemes provide end to end support to organic farmers  from  organic  production  to  certification  and  marketing  including  post  harvest management support like processing, packaging, storage etc.Farmers are provided financial assistance  of  Rs  31000/  ha  /  3  years  under  PKVY  and  Rs  32500/  ha/  3years  under MOVCDNER for organic inputs such as seeds, bio-fertilisers, bio-pesticides, organic manure, compost/vermi-compost, botanical extracts etc. In addition under MOVCDNER scheme need based financial assistance is provided as subsidy to FPOs and Private entrepreneurs for post harvest& value addition infrastructure.

Government is promoting Natural Farming through Bhartiya Prakritik Krishi Padhati (BPKP), introduced during 2020-21 as a sub scheme of Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY) for the  promotion  of  traditional  indigenous  practices  including  Natural  Farming.  The  scheme mainly  emphasizes  on  exclusion  of  all  synthetic  chemical  inputs  and  promotes  on-farm biomass recycling with major stress on biomass  mulching, use of cow  dung-urine formulations  and  other  plant-based  preparations.  Under  BPKP,  financial  assistance  of  Rs 12200/ha  for  3  years  is  provided  for  cluster  formation,  capacity  building  and  continuous handholding by trained personnel, certification and residue analysis. Until now, under natural farming an area of 4.09 lakh ha area has been covered and a total fund of Rs. 4980.99 lakh has been released to 8 States across the country.

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