Lok Sabha Question No. 153 (STARRED), answered on 2026-02-10
Subject: Farmers Clusters under Organic Farming
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Shri Y S Avinash Reddy

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE & FARMERS WELFARE

## DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE & FARMERS WELFARE

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 153

TO BE ANSWERED ON 10 TH  FEBRUARY, 2026

## FARMER CLUSTERS UNDER ORGANIC FARMING

- *153.  SHRI Y S AVINASH REDDY:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE be pleased to state:

- (a) the number of farmer clusters formed and the total area brought under organic farming in the State of Andhra Pradesh under the Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana since 2024; (b) the funds sanctioned, released, and utilized by the State during this period; (c) the number of farmers awaiting certification under the Participatory Guarantee System (PGS-India) due to delays or lack of market recognition; (d) whether any steps have been taken by the Government to ensure procurement support, fair price realization and market linkages for certified organic farmers in the State of Andhra Pradesh; and (e) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE क ृ िष एवं िकसान कʞाण मंũी (SHRI SHIVRAJ SINGH CHOUHAN)

(a) to (e): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  to  (e)  OF  LOK  SABHA STARRED  QUESTION  NO.  153  DUE  FOR  ANSWER  ON  10 TH   FEBRUARY,  2026 REGARDING 'FARMER CLUSTERS UNDER ORGANIC FARMING'.

- (a) & (b):   As per the information received from State Government of Andhra Pradesh, 5300 cluster have been formed since inception of Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY) till 31.12.2025.  Since 1 st  April, 2024 in Andhra Pradesh, 91,753 farmers (area of 38097 ha) have been covered till 31.12.2025.  During this period, ₹57.46 cr. has been released to the State. Out of this  ₹ 28.00 cr has been utilized by the State.
- (c):    Participatory  Guarantee  System  (PGS)-India  Organic  Certification  Programme  is through mandated process that involves meeting/training of local group, peer inspection, online  verification  by  Regional  Councils  and  then  certificate  generation.  As  per  the information  received  from  the  State  of  Andhra  Pradesh,  33,300  farmers  who  are  under PKVY are registered under PGS-India Organic Certification. Out of these, 15,433 farmers have been issued PGS Certification.  Additionally, 17,867 organic farmers are at various steps of the certification process.
- (d) & (e):   Procurement for foodgrains is implemented by Department of Food and Public Distribution,  Ministry  of  Consumer  Affairs,  with  objectives  of  ensuring  Minimum  Support Price  (MSP)    to  the  farmers  and  availability  of  food  to  the  weaker  sections.  Also  Price Support Scheme (PSS) under Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay Sanrakshan Abhiyan (PMAASHA)  provides  for  procurement  of  pulses,  oilseeds  and  copra  at  Minimum  Support Scheme (MSP). However, there is no separate procurement programme for organic farming produces.

Under PKVY scheme, assistance of Rs. 31,500 per ha is provided over 3 years for promotion of organic farming. Out of this, assistance of Rs. 15,000 per ha is provided to farmers  through  Direct  Benefit  Transfer  for  on-  farm  /off  -farm  organic  inputs,  financial assistance  of  ₹4,500  per  hectare  for  marketing  and  branding,  ₹3,000  per  hectare  for certification, and ₹9,000 per hectare for training and capacity building. The State of Andhra Pradesh has been taking steps such as strengthening farmer's skills to establish enterprises in  aggregation, value addition, branding and packaging for promoting market linkages of organic produces.  Free space is allocated for Organic Farming farmers in Rythu Bazaars, Government  offices  and  primary  health  center  premises  to  encourage  promotion  and marketing of organic produce.  Trade Fairs, mela and haats (weekly markets) are regularly organized  at  State  and  regional  levels  connecting  the  organic  farming  farmers  with institutional buyers such as National Co-operative organic limited (NCOL), AP MARKFED etc.