Lok Sabha Question No. 4561 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-03-28
Subject: Sustainable Agricultural Practices
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Anumula Revanth Reddy

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4561

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 28 TH  MARCH, 2023

## SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES

## 4561. SHRI ANUMULA REVANTH REDDY:

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

- (a) whether  the  financial  support  for  chemical  free  and  the  sustainable  agricultural practices increased over the period of time and if so, the details of such initiatives/financial assistance to increase organic farming in the country;
- (b) whether  the  Government  is  aware  of  the  recent  Sri  Lanka  crisis  because  India attempts to bring a paradigm shift to chemical-free and sustainable agricultural practices after the chemical fertilizer-based green revolution and if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) whether  the  Government  proposes  to  promote  organic  farming  or  non-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): Government has been promoting organic farming in the country since 201516 through the schemes of Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY) and Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North Eastern Region (MOVCDNER).    Both the schemes provides end to end support to farmers engaged in organic farming i.e. from production to processing,  certification  and  marketing  and  post  harvest  management  support.  PKVY  is being implemented in all the States other-than North Eastern States, across the country. MOVCDNER scheme is implemented exclusively in the NE States.  A total of Rs. 2679.96 crore has been released under PKVY and MOVCDNER from 2015-16 till date in 2022-23 to support chemical free organic farming in the country.

Under  PKVY,  farmers  of  various  states  of  the  country  are  provided  financial assistance of Rs 50000/ha for 3 years out of which, Rs 31000/ ha / 3 years is provided directly  to  farmers  through  DBT  for  on-farm  and  off-farm  organic  inputs.  Financial assistance of Rs 20 lakh/ cluster of 1000 ha for 3 years are provided for value addition and infrastructure creation.

Since 2015-16, under PKVY, 11.85 lakh ha area has been covered under organic farming  by  developing  32384  clusters  involving  16.19  lakh  farmers.  In  addition,  8  states developed  their  own  brands  for  organic  products.  So  far,  Rs  1793.80  Crore  has  been released under the scheme.

Under  MOVCDNER,  an  assistance  of  Rs.  46,575/ha  for  3  years  is  provided  for creation of FPO, support to farmers for organic inputs, quality seeds/ planting material and training, hand holding and certification. Financial assistance @ Rs 32500/ ha for 3 years is provided to farmers for on- farm /off -farm organic inputs under the scheme.

Since  2015-16,  under  MOVCDNER,  1.73  lakh  ha  area  has  been  covered  under organic farming by developing 379 FPO/FPCs involving 1.89 lakh farmers. In addition, 7 NE developed their own brands for organic products. So far, Rs 886.16 Crore has been released under the scheme. Indiscriminate use of Fertilizers and Agro-Chemicals in agriculture sector has led to deterioration  of  health  of  soil,  water  resources  and  bio  diversity.  Hence,  priorities  in agriculture is gradually shifting from production to resource conservation, restoration of soil health and fertility, minimizing the adverse impact on soil and environment. Government is  promoting  organic  agriculture  in  a  phased  manner  with  support  to farmers for transformation and through research for development of package and practices promising comparable productivity.  ICAR-All India Network Project on organic farming has developed  organic  package  of  practices  for  68  cropping  systems  promising  comparable productivity to provide technological backup to farmers.  Through capacity building, training and  hand-holding,  these  packages  are  being  promoted.    So  far,  more  than  59.12  lakh hectare area has been transformed to organic and it has no effect on overall productivity in the country.

******