Lok Sabha Question No. 2756 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-19
Subject: Natural Farming
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Rajeshbhai Naranbhai Chudasama, Nama Nageswara Rao

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2756

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 19 TH  DECEMBER, 2023

## NATURAL FARMING

2756. SHRI RAJESHBHAI CHUDASAMA: SHRI NAMA NAGESWARA RAO:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ षि एवं ककसान कल्याण मंत्री be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government is encouraging organic farming/natural farming as the demand for such products are gradually increasing and if so, the details thereof, State-wise;

(b) the details of the funds sanctioned and utilized during the last three years, State/UT-wise;

(c) the  steps  taken  for  the  development  of  natural  farming  in  the  country  and  the  incentives given to farmers engaged in natural farming;

(d) the steps taken by the Government to facilitate marketing for the farmers engaged in natural farming;

(e) whether the Government has formulated any new policy for promoting natural farming; and

(f) the timeline proposed for implementing the said policy and the manner in which it would be beneficial for the farmers?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

कृ षि एवं ककसान कल्याण मंत्री (SHRI ARJUN MUNDA)

(a) to (f): Government  has  been  promoting  organic  farming  in  the  country  since  2015-16 through  the  schemes  of  Paramparagat  Krishi  Vikas  Yojana  (PKVY)  and  Mission  Organic  Value Chain Development for North Eastern Region (MOVCDNER). PKVY is being implemented in all the States other-than North Eastern (NE) States across the country whereas MOVCDNER scheme is being implemented exclusively in the NE States. Both the schemes stress on end-to-end support to farmers engaged in organic farming i.e. from production to processing, certification and marketing and  post-harvest  management.  Training  and  Capacity  Building  are  integral  part  of  the  scheme. Incentives  to  farmers  for  producing  and  using  organic  fertilizers/manure  are  inbuilt  in  these schemes as on-farm and off-farm organic inputs.  Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) is provided to the farmers for using organic inputs including organic fertilizers.

Under PKVY, an assistance of Rs.50,000 per ha for a period of three years is provided to States  for  promotion  of  organic  farming  to  cover  different  components  like  Training  &  Capacity Building, Data Management, PGS Certification, Value Addition, Marketing and Publicity. Out of this, assistance of Rs. 31,000 per ha over a period of three years is provided to farmers through DBT for on- farm /off -farm organic inputs. Whereas 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.  Out of this, assistance @ Rs. 32500/ ha  for  3  years  is  provided  to  farmers  for  off  -farm  /on  -farm  organic  inputs  under  the  scheme including Rs. 15,000 as DBT to the farmers and Rs. 17,500 for the planting material to be given to the farmers by State Lead Agency  (SLA) in kind.

As per the report of the world of Organic Agriculture Statistics and Emerging Trends 2023 published by FiBL & IFOAM the demand for organic products has increased throughout the world from  US  Dollars  21  Billion  in  2001  to  US  Dollars  135.50  Billion  in  2021.  India  is  bestowed  with significant potential to produce all varieties of organic products due to diversity in its agro-climatic conditions. This holds promise for the organic producers to tap the market which is growing steadily in the domestic and export sector. In view of the increasing demand of organic farming products of India in the global market, Government is facilitating value addition, certification and marketing. As per  requirement  of  International  market,  Government  have  initiated  third  party  certification  under National Programme for Organic Production (NPOP) in 2001.

Under PKVY assistance @ Rs 8800/ha for 3 years is provided to facilitate value addition, marketing and publicity to all  the states/UTs.  Assistance  is  provided for certification and training, handholding & capacity building respectively @ Rs 2700/-ha for 3 years and Rs 7500/- ha for 3 years under PKVY for farmers of all the States. Whereas under MOVCDNER scheme assistance is provided @ Rs10,000/ -ha for 3 years for training, capacity building & certification.

The scheme-wise and state-wise details of releases and utilization under organic farming (under PKVY & MOVCDNER) schemes during the last three years are given at Annexure -I.

In  addition,  Government  is  also  promoting  natural  farming  since  2019-2020  through Bharatiya  Prakritik  Krishi  Paddhati  (BPKP)  programme  under  Paramparagat  Krishi  Vikas  Yojana (PKVY).  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. So far 4.09 lakh ha area has been sanctioned and Rs. 70.13 Crore has been released for natural farming in 8 states under BPKP across the country. Under BPKP, natural farming is being promoted in cluster of 500 ha and Rs. 12200.00 is provided per ha for three years, in which Rs. 2000 is provided as incentives to farmers through DBT.

Natural Farming is being promoted since 2019-20 under Bhartiya Prakritik Krishi Paddhati (BPKP), a sub scheme of Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY).  Keeping in view the strength of Natural Farming and the success achieved in some States, BPKP is being up-scaled in Mission Mode as separate scheme as 'National Mission on Natural Farming' (NMNF).

Annexure-I Scheme-wise (PKVY & MOVCDNER) and State-wise details of releases and utilization under organic farming during the last three years.

Rs in lakh

| PKVY     | PKVY                                      | PKVY     | PKVY        |
|----------|-------------------------------------------|----------|-------------|
| S. No.   | Name of the State                         | Releases | Utilization |
| 1        | Andhra Pradesh                            | 10004.83 | 10004.83    |
| 2        | Bihar                                     | 2541.31  | 792.98      |
| 3        | Chhattisgarh                              | 3738.11  | 2393.78     |
| 4        | Gujarat                                   | 10.10    | 0.00        |
| 5        | Goa                                       | 0.00     | 0.00        |
| 6        | Haryana                                   | 5.05     | 0.00        |
| 7        | Jharkhand                                 | 1836.86  | 929.48      |
| 8        | Karnataka                                 | 522.65   | 0.00        |
| 9        | Kerala                                    | 3910.30  | 1773.10     |
| 10       | Madhya Pradesh                            | 828.04   | 0.00        |
| 11       | Maharashtra                               | 469.86   | 20.20       |
| 12       | Odisha                                    | 2257.21  | 1793.75     |
| 13       | Punjab                                    | 1803.79  | 0.00        |
| 14       | Rajasthan                                 | 5856.58  | 3343.21     |
| 15       | Tamil Nadu                                | 439.98   | 421.82      |
| 16       | Telangana                                 | 15.15    | 0.00        |
| 17       | Uttar Pradesh                             | 8487.05  | 3973.78     |
| 18       | West Bengal                               | 555.39   | 215.11      |
| 19       | Himachal Pradesh                          | 1166.24  | 987.03      |
| 20       | Uttarakhand                               | 18007.27 | 14370.99    |
| 21       | All Union Territories (UTs)               | 415.40   | 221.85      |
| 22       | NE (Aspirational & Committed liabilities) | 781.37   | 7.57        |
|          | Total                                     | 63652.54 | 41249.48    |
| MOVCDNER | MOVCDNER                                  | MOVCDNER | MOVCDNER    |
| S. No .  | Name of the State                         | Releases | Utilization |
| 1        | Assam                                     | 2059.15  | 2059.15     |
| 2        | Manipur                                   | 14271.58 | 14271.58    |
| 3        | Meghalaya                                 | 1428.66  | 1428.66     |
| 4        | Nagaland                                  | 5763.69  | 5763.69     |
| 5        | Mizoram                                   | 3202.04  | 3202.04     |
| 6        | Arunachal Pradesh                         | 6372.20  | 6372.20     |
| 7        | Sikkim                                    | 3545.42  | 3545.42     |
| 8        | Tripura                                   | 4243.27  | 4243.27     |
|          | Total                                     | 40886.01 | 40886.01    |

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