Organic Farming

Organic farming is a technique, which involves cultivation of plants and rearing of animals in natural ways.

Status of Organic farming in India:

• According to the World of Organic Agriculture 2018 report, India accounts for 30 per cent of the total organic producers in the world, but just 2.59 per cent of the total organic cultivation area.
• Market value is estimated at more than Rs. 4000 crore and it is likely to increase to 10,000 to 20,000 crore by 2020.
• According to a study by the ASSOCHAM and Ernst & Young, most organic farmers are struggling due to
  • poor policy measures,
  • rising input costs,
  • limited market.

Challenges:

1. Inflationary Pressure: Less supply – so prices are high.
2. Productivity: According to the ICAR, productivity on an average dips by 6.7 per cent in the first year.
3. High Input Costs: Since it takes more time and energy to produce than its chemical-intensive counterpart.
4. Pest attack: reason cited by the farmers for low productivity.
5. Misc. costs add to the price of end products.
   • Specialized farmer training costs.
   • Higher processing and inventory holding costs.
   • Increased packaging, logistics and distribution costs.
6. Low awareness
   • At the producer level on difference between traditional farming and organic farming.
   • At the consumer level,
     • there is confusion between natural and organic products.
     • limited understanding of the health benefits of organic food products.
     • Faced with a plethora of decisions around brands
       • imported or domestic,
       • product quality,
       • authenticity of claims and certifications.
7. Poor Regulatory practices:
   • For example, certification systems for organic food are cumbersome and time–consuming, but also expensive.

Way forward:

1. Correcting supply-demand mismatch: Location-specific hybrid Organic production strategies.
2. Increase Investments: in supply chain efficiency and cost optimizations and thereby reducing wastages.
3. Building Consumers’ confidence: 
   • maintaining accurate audit stream,
   • preventing cross-contamination  with conventional  goods would  be crucial.
4. Develop Organic Herbicides: With the help of agricultural scientists and international research institutions.
5. Increase awareness among consumers.
6. Should be made accessible to all income groups
7. Participatory Farming should be encouraged. For example, community based farming ( growing their own food )

Conclusion:

India needs is an integrated  system that gives equal importance  to  all sustainability dimensions across the value chain and thus helps establish a healthy and  well-fed society.