Lok Sabha Question No. 3087 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-08-08
Subject: Status of Organic Farming
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Krupal Balaji Tumane

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3087

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 8 TH  AUGUST, 2023

## STATUS OF ORGANIC FARMING

3087. SHRI KRUPAL BALAJI TUMANE:

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

- (a) the status of the natural farming in different States of the country and the names of the State in which the said farming is being largely practised;
- (b) whether any scientific study has been conducted to modernize the natural farming and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether  there  is  any  provision  for  providing  training  for  advanced  agriculture  to  farmers  in foreign countries and if so, the number of farmers who have been trained during the last three years, the location-wise details thereof and if not, whether the Government is likely to consider for the said training;
- (d) whether the Government has any policy to promote horticulture and if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) the number of farmers benefited under the said policy during the last five years especially in Maharashtra?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

कृ ͪष एवं ͩकसान कãयाण मंğी (SHRI NARENDRA SINGH TOMAR)

- (a): Government  is  promoting  natural  farming  since  2019-2020  through  a  sub-scheme  namely Bharatiya Prakritik Krishi Paddhati (BPKP) under Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY). Natural farming is chemical free farming based on the integrated agriculture and animal husbandry approach using  livestock  and  local  resources  and  relies  on  on-farm  biomass  recycling  with  major  stress  on biomass mulching, use of on-farm cow dung-urine formulations from local livestock's. So far 4.09 lakh ha  area  has  been  brought  under  natural  farming  in  8  states  viz.  Andhra  Pradesh,  Chhattisgarh,

Kerala, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh and Tamil Nadu under BPKP. The State-wise details of area under BPKP is as under .

| Sl. No.   | States           |   Area in Ha |
|-----------|------------------|--------------|
| 1.        | Andhra Pradesh   |       100000 |
| 2.        | Chhattisgarh     |        85000 |
| 3.        | Kerala           |        84000 |
| 4.        | Himachal Pradesh |        12000 |
| 5         | Jharkhand        |         3400 |
| 6.        | Odisha           |        24000 |
| 7.        | Madhya Pradesh   |        99000 |
| 8.        | Tamil Nadu       |         2000 |
| Total     | Total            |       409400 |

- (b): ICAR  has  implemented  a  research  scheme  of  All  India  Network  Programme  on  Organic Farming  (AINP-OF)  involving  11  State  Agricultural  Universities,  8  ICAR  institutes/centres  and  1 special  heritage  university.  Under  the  scheme,  study  on  'Evaluation  and  Validation  of  Natural Farming Practices in Different Agro-Ecologies' have been initiated in 16 states in which multi-location testing  of  8  major  cropping  systems  under  natural  farming  has  been  made.  Need  based  capacity building  programmes for State Extension  agencies  have also  been  organized  to create awareness among the farmers.
- (c) to (e): Mission  for  Integrated  Development  of  Horticulture  (MIDH),  a  Centrally  Sponsored Scheme is being implemented during XII Plan w.e.f. 2014-15, for holistic growth of the horticulture sector covering fruits, vegetables, root and tuber crops, mushrooms, spices, flowers, aromatic plants, coconut, cashew, cocoa and bamboo. All states and UTs are covered under MIDH.

Under the Human Resource Development (HRD) component of MIDH, assistance is provided for  exposure  visit  of  farmers  outside  India  and  for  training  /  study  tour  of  technical  staff/  field functionaries outside India. Details including cost norms and pattern of assistance are given below:

|   S. No. | Item                                                                          | Cost Norms                | Pattern of Assistance                                                                          |
|----------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|        1 | Exposure visit of farmers - Outside India                                     | Rs. 4.00 lakh participant | Project Based. 100% of air/rail travel. Course fee cost to be funded under Mission Management. |
|        2 | Training / study tour of technical staff/ field functionaries - Outside India | Rs. 6.00 lakh participant | Project Based. 100% of air/rail travel. Course fee cost to be funded under Mission Management. |

MIDH  scheme  is  being  implemented  through  States.  Therefore,  the  details  of  the  farmers along-with the location visited is maintained at State level only. However, during the last five years i.e. from 2018-19 to 2022-23 a total of 78,805 farmers have been benefitted in Maharashtra under MIDH scheme.

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