Lok Sabha Question No. 27 (STARRED), answered on 2016-04-26
Subject: Organic Farming
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: JYOTI DHURVE, Dr. BHOLA SINGH

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

## LOK  SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 27

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 26 TH  APRIL, 2016

## ORGANIC FARMING

- *27.     SHRIMATI JYOTI DHURVE: DR. BHOLA SINGH:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ षि एवं ककसान कल्याण ½ãâ¨ããè be pleased to state:

- (a) whether organic farming is being promoted in various States including Scheduled Caste/Tribe dominated forest areas of Madhya Pradesh and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether  the  organic  farming  is  more  beneficial  as  compared  to  chemical  based farming and also tides over the problem of agrarian distress and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government has proposed any special package for extensive promotion of  organic  farming  across  the  country  including  Madhya  Pradesh  and  if  so,  the  details thereof;
- (d) whether the Government has also launched a special campaign for propagating the benefits of organic farming amongst the farmers in the country; and
- (e) if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  the  steps  being  taken  by  the  Government  in  this regard?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

कृ षि एवं ककसान कल्याण ½ãâ¨ããè

(SHRI RADHA MOHAN SINGH)

- (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.  27   DUE FOR REPLY ON 26 TH  APRIL, 2016.

(a): 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)  and  Mission  for  Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH), Network Project on Organic Farming Under ICAR etc. for the benefit of all farmers including scheduled caste and scheduled tribe farmers and in all the states including Madhya Pradesh.

Under all the  above  schemes, there  is  a  provision  of  financial  assistance  @  9%  and 17% for Scheduled Tribes (ST) and Scheduled Caste farmers (all India average) respectively, including  in  the  State  of  Madhya  Pradesh.    Under  PKVY,  which  is  the  first  comprehensive scheme to promote organic farming, the implementation is done on a cluster basis.  A cluster of  50  acres  is formed by providing financial assistance upto a maximum of 1 ha per farmer within the cluster to undertake conversion from inorganic to organic practice.  The guidelines on PKVY stipulate that organic farming   should be promoted in such areas like hilly, tribal and also rain-fed, where utilization of chemical fertilizers and pesticide is less.

- (b):       Agro-chemical based farming is more relevant in irrigated area.  The response of crops to  intensive  use  of  agro-chemicals  like  fertilizers  is  positive  when  there  is  enough  water. However, for sustainability, balanced and regulated use of fertilizer is necessary.  In rainfed and hilly areas, dependable source of water is absent or less than needed and hence organic farming is expected to result in a more sustainable farming practice, besides enhancing per unit  yields  when  optimal  management  practices  are  adopted.  The  advantages  of  organic farming under rainfed /hilly farming systems are sustainability of soil fertility, conservation of bio-resources and integrated farming.  Organic products when certified and branded can fetch premium prices.

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(c):        The  Parampragat  Krishi  Vikas  Yojana  (PKVY)  is  the  first  comprehensive  scheme launched by the Central Government as a centrally sponsored programme (CSP), where the Central and state Govts. Share the funding in varying ratio. It is 100% in UT, 90:10 in NorthEastern and Hilly States and 60:40 in case of other States. The scheme also covers the state of Madhya Pradesh. The scheme is implemented by the State Governments. It is implemented on  a  cluster  basis  of  20  hectare  each.  The  farmer  within  the  cluster  is  given  financial assistance upto a maximum of 1 ha and the limit of assistance is Rs.50,000 per ha during the conversion period of 3 years. The target is to promote 10,000 clusters covering 5 lakh acres over the period of 3 years, 2015-16 to 2017-18.

The Annual Action Plans of 29 States and 1 Union Territory have been approved  with total  out  lay  for  Rs.  511.67  crore  to  develop  7186  clusters,  out  which  the  central  share  is Rs.335.05 crore, against this a sum of  Rs.226.18 crore has been released to the States/UT till 30.03.2016.

Realizing the potential of organic farming in the North Eastern Region of the country, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare has launched a Central Sector Scheme entitled ' Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North Eastern Region ' for implementation in the states of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim and Tripura, during 2015-16 to 2017-18.

(d)  &  (e):        The  Department  has  been  focusing  on  creating  awareness  and  educating  the farmers about organic farming practices in the areas where clusters are formed, under PKVY. The scheme guidelines provide a sum of Rs.80,000 per cluster to undertake mobilization of farmers through exposure visits and training. The National Centre of Organic Farming (NCOF),

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Ghaziabad, a unit under the department undertakes various extension and publicity activities like exhibitions, radio talks, TV programmes, distribution of literature on organic inputs/ organic farming  etc.  to  educate  the  farmers.  NCOF  is  also  publishing  biannually  Bio-Fertilizer Newsletter  as  well  as  quarterly  Organic  Farming  Newsletter.  In  addition,  various  books  on production and use of bio-fertilizers have been published in various languages for distribution to the farming community. Radio jingles on organic agriculture are broadcasted on 4 different FM Radio Stations including Delhi, Bangalore, Nagpur and Lucknow.

NCOF organizes 30 days certificate course on organic farming for skill development in organic  agriculture  sector  for  youth.  It  also  conducts  10  days  Refresher  course  for  analysts under  Fertilizer  Control  Order  (FCO);  5  Days  Trainers  Training  &  2  Days  training  for  field functionaries and extension staff of the State Government.

NCOF has  also  been  organizing  Farmers'  Training  and  Field  Demonstration  (FTFD) programmes  on  organic  farming  since  2015-16  in  various  villages  adopted  by  the  Hon'ble Members of Parliament under 'Sansad Aadarsh Gram Yojana' (SAGY), through its Regional Centres of Organic Farming (RCOFs). It has completed 300 no. of FTFD in 2015-16 and has scheduled 297 no. in the year 2016-17.

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