Sansad TV Perspective: The 'Organic' Growth

In the series Sansad TV Perspective, we bring you an analysis of the discussion featured on the insightful programme ‘Perspective’ on Sansad TV, on various important topics affecting India and also the world. This analysis will help you immensely for the IAS exam, especially the mains exam, where a well-rounded understanding of topics is a prerequisite for writing answers that fetch good marks.

In this article, we feature the discussion on the topic: The ‘Organic’ Growth. 

Anchor: Teena Jha

Participants:

1. Dr. S Anbalagan, CEO, Sikkim Organic Farming Development Agency, Government of Sikkim
2. Dr. Tarun Bajaj, Director, APEDA
3. Sama Yella Reddy, Founder, Ahaara Yoga Natural Pvt. Ltd, Telangana

Context: 

In a world with the emergence of numerous diseases, food safety is a major concern as well as a necessity. Extensive usage of chemical fertilizers and pesticides stands as an impediment towards the maintenance of a proper health profile of the population. Therefore, the practice of organic farming opens up a sustainable doorway to prevent various health hazards originating from the agro-based products that we consume. In the present times, the practice of organic farming has gathered immense prominence in India as the government introduced several welfare measures and subsidies to promote such practices. This would bring down the usage of pesticides and chemical fertilizers in agriculture. The road to transform the agricultural practices in India to absolutely an organic one, is accompanied by challenges that require expert intervention and a proper discussion.

About Organic Farming:

• The traditional methods of farming that were prevalent in ancient times and ensured a healthy soil profile by using microorganisms as biofertilizers, organic wastes in order to cultivate the land are referred to as organic farming. It is eco friendly and does not contribute to pollution. 
• The FAO defines organic farming as a unique production management system that promotes and enhances agro-ecosystem health, biodiversity, biological cycles and soil biological activity. 

Organic Farming in India: Present Scenario

• India ranked 1st in terms of the number of organic farmers and 5th in terms of certified organic area.
• India ranks 8th in the world’s total organic agricultural land.
• There has been a 51% increase in the production of organic products in 2020-21.
• So far, Sikkim is the only state to be considered fully organic. Besides, the states of Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka and the union territory of Jammu & Kashmir are ahead in the promotion and adoption of organic farming.
• The demand for organic products witnessed a significant rise over a period of time.

Also read: Sikkim: India’s First Organic State: RSTV – In Depth

 Important Government Initiatives:

• Very soon a tribal district in Gujarat called Dang will be declared 100% organic under the State Organic Farming Policy of 2015 owing to the efforts to use traditional farming techniques in the place of hazardous pesticides and fertilizers. The state government of Gujarat has provided a subsidy of ₹10,000 per hectare for adopting organic farming. This would encourage other districts to switch over to organic farming practices.
• The state government of Gujarat has planned a scheme to compensate the farmers who witness a fall in production due to organic methods of farming. If this sort of scheme is replicated across the country the farmers will not be hesitant to practice organic farming.
• About 44.33 lakh farmers are covered under the National Organic Production Programme (NPOP). This programme was implemented by the Ministry of Industries and Commerce with an aim to facilitate a meticulous approach towards the development of organic farming. It focuses on certification programmes for organic agriculture including products like wild harvest, aquaculture and livestock. NPOP operates under APEDA. 
• The Government of Sikkim has played an exemplary role in developing organic farming techniques and presently it is working on the commercialization of the commodities that would establish a value chain. Sikkim is also aiding other states to inculcate sustainable methods of organic farming.
• FSSAI is the regulating authority that has notified terms and conditions for organic products and also mentions the processes involved in considering any product to be organic. This strengthens the customer’s confidence and food safety. 

The avenues for future development:

The practice of organic farming is estimated to become a Rs. 75,000 crore business by 2025 and it is supported by several benefits like sustainability, increasing soil fertility, pollution-free, restoration of abandoned land and many health benefits. Experts construe that the upgrading of technology and empowering research in agriculture will provide an impetus to the development of organic farming. This would assure income generation resulting in the reduced dependence on external products. Therefore, the experts recommend integrating the natural way in the farming system as nature stands out as the best model to be scaled and replicated by active collaboration with the international community and proper government interventions. This would be an enabler in connecting organic farmers with the global supply chain. The experts envisaged a roadmap to exploit the entire domestic market of organic products in a holistic manner.

Read more summaries of Perspective in the link.

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