Lok Sabha Question No. 3905 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-12-22
Subject: Organic Farming
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: RAJESH VERMA, GOKARAJU GANGA RAJU, SONA RAM CHOUDHARY, MEENAKASHI LEKHI, HARISH CHANDRA MEENA, N.K. PREMACHANDRAN, SHRIKANT EKNATH SHINDE, P. KUMAR, HARISHCHANDRA DEORAM CHAVAN, KINJARAPU RAM MOHAN NAIDU, RODMAL NAGAR, KIRTI (JHA) AZAD, VINAYAK BHAURAO RAUT, DEVJI MANSINGRAM PATEL, SRINIVAS KESINENI

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

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3905

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE  22 ND  DECEMBER, 2015

## ORGANIC FARMING

## 3905.    SHRI RAJESH VERMA:

DR. GOKARAJU GANGA RAJU:

COL. SONARAM CHOUDHARY:

SHRIMATI MEENAKASHI LEKHI:

SHRI HARISH MEENA:

SHRI N.K. PREMACHANDRAN:

DR. SHRIKANT EKNATH SHINDE:

SHRI P. KUMAR:

SHRI HARISHCHANDRA CHAVAN:

SHRI RAM MOHAN NAIDU KINJARAPU:

SHRI NAGAR RODMAL:

SHRI KIRTI AZAD:

SHRI VINAYAK BHAURAO RAUT:

SHRI DEVJI M. PATEL:

SHRI KESINENI NANI:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE ‡ãðŠãäÓã एवं किसान िल्याण ½ãâ¨ããè be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of organic crops being produced and marketing facilities available for organic crops in the country;
- (b) whether the Government proposes to accord priority to organic farming to make agriculture  a  sustainable,  eco-friendly  and  remunerative  profession  for  the  small  and marginal farmers and if so, the details thereof and the steps taken by the Government in this regard;
- (c) whether the Government has taken any steps to educate the farmers/consumers about the benefits of organic crops/foods and harmful effects of chemical fertilizers and pesticides and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether the Government has constituted any Committee to inspect and monitor the promotion of organic farming under the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana and if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) the special  package  given/proposed  to  be  given  by  the  Government  for development of bio-agriculture in the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe dominated areas?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF  STATE IN THE  MINISTRY OF  AGRICULTURE AND  FARMERS  WELFARE

‡ãðŠãäÓã एवं किसान िल्याण ½ãâ¨ããÊã¾ã ½ãñâ Àã·¾ã ½ãâ¨ããè ( SHRI MOHANBHAI KUNDARIA )

(a): As per the data provided by Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA)  total certified organic produce under National Programme on Organic Production (NPOP) during the year 2014-15 is 1095754.14 MT. Crop/ category wise detail is attached at Annexure -I and State-wise production details is  at Annexure  -  II Financial  assistance    is  provided  to  State  Governments  under Paramparagat Krishi  Vikas  Yojna  (PKVY)  to    promote  marketing  facilities  for  organic produce  under  cluster  as  follows:  (i)  procuring  packaging    material,  preparation  of labels, holograms, printing and branding of organic produce @ Rs. 2500/ acre. (ii) For transportation of organic produce to market places, financial assistance to the tune of Rs. 120,000 for one cluster of 50 acre is also provided. (iii) To motivate  and support marketing  facilities  financial  assistance  given  @  Rs.  36330  per  cluster  for  organizing organic fair to meet the expenses of arranging stalls, rent and labour charges, publicity material and management of event.

(b): Government  is  promoting  organic  farming  across  the  country  under  various Central  Sector  Schemes  viz.  National  Mission  of  Sustainable  Agriculture  (NMSA), Paramparagat  Krishi  Vikas  Yojana  (PKVY),  Rashtriya  Krishi  Vikas  Yojana  (RKVY), National  Mission  on  Oil  Seed  and  Oil  Palm  (NMOOP),  Network  Project  on  Organic Farming  of  Indian  Council  of  Agriculture  Research  (ICAR),  National  Programme  on Organic Production (NPOP)  of  Agricultural & Processed  Food  Products  Export Development Authority (APEDA) and Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) etc. for the benefit of all  including small and marginal farmers.   The pattern of financial  assistance  provided  to  State  Governments  through  various  schemes  for promotion of organic farming is given at Annexure-III.

During the year 2015-16 under Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY) funds to the tune of Rs.179 crore has been released to the State Governments for promotion of Organic Farming.

(c): National Centre of Organic Farming, Ghaziabad and its six Regional Centres  are conducting  various  extension  and  publicity  activities  like  exhibitions,  radio  talks,  TV programmes, distribution of literature on organic inputs/organic farming etc. to educate farmers. During 2015-16   (till November, 2015), 186  number of training programmes have  been  organized  under  Saansad  Adarsh  Gram  Yojana  (SAGY),    which  have benefitted 11546 number of farmers across the country.

The  Government  is  popularizing  Integrated  Pest  Management  Approach  to reduce use of pesticides since 1991-92 through 35 Central Integrated Pest Management Centres (CIPMCs) established across the Country. CIPMCs conduct pest surveillance,  monitor  pest  incidence/situation,  mass  produce  biological  agents  for releasing in the fields, conserve natural bio-control agents, promote bio-pesticides as an alternative  to  chemical  pesticides  and  advocate  judicious  and  safe  use  of  chemical pesticides  as  a  last  resort.  These  activities  are  implemented  through  Farmers  Field Schools (FFSs).

(d): The Government has not constituted any Committee to inspect and monitor the promotion of organic farming under Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) so far.

(e): Organic farming shall be promoted in such areas like hilly, tribal and also rain-fed areas where utilization of chemical fertilizers and pesticide is less.

There is a provision of financial assistance in all these  Schemes @ 9% and 17% for Scheduled  Tribes  (ST)  and  Scheduled  Castes  (SC)  farmers  (all  India  average) respectively.

Besides,  ICAR  is  also  promoting  organic  food  production  in  integrated  farming system under Tribal Sub Plan  component through cluster approach in tribal areas of Meghalaya.

## Annexure-I

| CATEGORY WISE PRODUCTION OF ORGANIC CERTIFIED PRODUCTS   | CATEGORY WISE PRODUCTION OF ORGANIC CERTIFIED PRODUCTS   |
|----------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------|
| FOR THE YEAR 2014-15                                     | FOR THE YEAR 2014-15                                     |
| Category                                                 | Organic Production (in MT)                               |
| Cereals                                                  | 159500.16                                                |
| Dry fruits                                               | 7348.39                                                  |
| Fibre crops                                              | 208931.40                                                |
| Fodder Crops                                             | 44.06                                                    |
| Fruits                                                   | 20218.84                                                 |
| Medicinal/Herbal & Aromatic Plants (Crops)               | 32663.25                                                 |
| Oil Seed crops                                           | 228414.22                                                |
| Ornamental Plants & Flowers                              | 2358.41                                                  |
| Plantation crops                                         | 33929.77                                                 |
| Pulses                                                   | 34717.45                                                 |
| Spices & Condiments                                      | 18176.21                                                 |
| Sugar Crops                                              | 338192.74                                                |
| Tuber Crops                                              | 165.92                                                   |
| Vegetables                                               | 10823.93                                                 |
| Miscellaneous (others)                                   | 269.40                                                   |
| Total                                                    | 1095754.14                                               |

Source : APEDA - Data provided by the accredited Certification Bodies under NPOP on tracenet.

## State  wise  Organic  Certified  Production  (excluding  wild  harvest)  under  NPOP during last three years  ( in MT)

|   S. No. | Name of State     |          2014-15 |
|----------|-------------------|------------------|
|        1 | A & N Islands     |      0           |
|        2 | Andhra Pradesh    |   9556.78        |
|        3 | Arunachal Pradesh |      0           |
|        4 | Assam             |   7515.37        |
|        5 | Bihar             |      0           |
|        6 | Chhattisgarh      |   4579.94        |
|        7 | Goa               |   3427.63        |
|        8 | Gujarat           |  60621.4         |
|        9 | Haryana           |   2833.38        |
|       10 | Himachal Pradesh  |    227.26        |
|       11 | Jammu & Kashmir   |  11234.8         |
|       12 | Jharkhand         |      0           |
|       13 | Karnataka         | 254664           |
|       14 | Kerala            |   9122.56        |
|       15 | Lakshadweep       |      0           |
|       16 | Madhya Pradesh    | 321587           |
|       17 | Maharashtra       | 217112           |
|       18 | Meghalaya         |   1738.29        |
|       19 | Mizoram           |      0           |
|       20 | Manipur           |      0           |
|       21 | Nagaland          |    391.67        |
|       22 | New Delhi         |      0           |
|       23 | Orissa            |  28678.7         |
|       24 | Pudducherry       |      3           |
|       25 | Punjab            |    506.77        |
|       26 | Rajasthan         |  59449.8         |
|       27 | Sikkim            |     67.63        |
|       28 | Tamil Nadu        |  17218.4         |
|       29 | Telangana         |    164           |
|       30 | Tripura           |    262.82        |
|       31 | Uttar Pradesh     |  50165.6         |
|       32 | Uttarakhand       |  23695.8         |
|       33 | West Bengal       |  10929.1         |
|       34 | Total             |      1.09575e+06 |

Source:  APEDA - Data provided by the accredited Certification Bodies under NPOP on tracenet.

## Annexure-lII

## Pattern of assistance for promotion of organic farming

| Component                                                                                                                                                   | Pattern of assistance                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             |
|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| NMSA                                                                                                                                                        |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |
| 1. Setting up of mechanized Fruit/Vegetable market waste/ Agro waste compost production unit.                                                               | 100% Assistance to State Govt/Govt. Agencies upto a maximum limit of Rs. 190.00 lakh /unit and 33% of cost limited to Rs.63 lakh/unit for individuals/ private agencies through NABARD as capital investment for 3000 TPA production capacity                                                                                                                                                                                                                     |
| 2.Setting up of State of art liquid/ carrier based Biofertilizer/ Biopesticide units                                                                        | 100% Assistance to State Govt/Govt. Agencies upto a maximum limit of Rs.160.00 lakh /unit and 25% of cost limited to Rs.40 lakh/unit for individuals/ private agencies through NABARD as capital investment of 200 TPA production capacity                                                                                                                                                                                                                        |
| 3. Setting up of Bio-fertilizer and Organic fertilizer testing Quality Control Laboratory (BOQCL) or Strengthening of existing Laboratory under FCO.        | Assistance up to maximum limit of Rs. 85 lakh for new laboratory and up to a maximum limit of Rs. 45 lakh for strengthening of existing infrastructure to State Government Laboratory under Agriculture or Horticulture Department.                                                                                                                                                                                                                               |
| 4. Promotion of Organic Inputs on farmer's field (Manure, Vermi-compost, Bio-Fertilizers Liquid / solid, Waste compost, Herbal extracts etc.)               | 50 % of cost subject to a limit of Rs. 5000/- per ha and Rs. 10,000 per beneficiary. Propose to cover 1 million ha area.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |
| 5. Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana - (PKVY) Adoption of organic farming through cluster approach under Participatory Guarantee System (PGS) Certification. | Under PKVY scheme- Fifty or more farmers will form a cluster and their 50 acres of land will be brought under Organic Farming. In order to facilitate this , the ceiling of subsidy that a farmer is eligible shall be a maximum of one hectare and the total financial assistance eligible for a 50 acre cluster shall be a maximum of Rs. 10 lakh for farmer members and Rs. 4.95 lakh for mobilization and Participatory Guarantee System (PGS) Certification. |
| 6.Support to research for development of organic package of practices specific to state and cropping system                                                 | Against specific proposal                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         |
| 7.Setting up of separate Organic Agriculture Research and Teaching Department                                                                               | Against specific proposal                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         |
| MIDH                                                                                                                                                        |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |
| Vermi compost Units/organic input production                                                                                                                | 50% of cost conforming to the size of the unit of 30'X8'X2.5' dimension of permanent structure to be administered on pro-rata basis. For HDPE Vermibed, 50% of cost conforming to the size of 96 cft (12'X4'X2') and IS 15907:2010 to be administered on pro-rata basis (Rs. 100,000/ unit for permanent structure and Rs. 16,000/unit for HDPE Vermibed).                                                                                                        |

## RKVY

Under RKVY, State Governments have flexibility and autonomy in the process of selection, planning,  approval  and  execution  of  schemes  including  Organic  Farming,  as  per  their priorities.  Accordingly, cost of projects under Organic Farming are approved by respective State Level Sanctioning Committees.

## NPOP:

NPOP  was  notified  under  Foreign  Trade  Development  &  Regulation  Act  (FTDR)  in    year  2001, primarily  for  regulation  and  certification  of  organic  commodities  meant  for  export.    It  provides institutional  mechanism  for  the  implementation  of  National  Standards  for  Organic  Production, through  a  National  Accreditation  Policy  and  Programme.    It  covers  crop  production,  animal husbandry, food processing, labeling, storage and transport.

## NMOOP:

Has launched a scheme for increasing production and productivity of oilseed crops in the country. The expenditure on subsidies is mostly shared on 60: 40 sharing basis between Central and State Government. Financial assistance is being provided for different type of components including biofertilisers,  Supply  of  Rhyzobium  culture/Phosphate  Solubilising  Bacteria  (PSB)/  Zinc  Solubilising Bacteria (ZSB)/ Azatobacter/ Mycorrhiza and vermi compost.

## ICAR:

ICAR  Research  Centres  are  involved  in  developing  Package  of  Practices  for  different  crops  and cropping system under Organic Farming in different agro-eco regions of country.

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