Topics Covered: Major crops cropping patterns in various parts of the country.
Organic farming in India:
Context:
In a world battered by the COVID pandemic, the demand for healthy and safe food is already showing an upward trend and hence this is an opportune moment to be captured for a win-win situation for our farmers, consumers and the environment.
Organic farming in India:
- India ranks first in number of organic farmers and ninth in terms of area under organic farming.
- Sikkim became the first State in the world to become fully organic and other States including Tripura and Uttarakhand have set similar targets.
- North East India has traditionally been organic and the consumption of chemicals is far less than rest of the country.
- Similarly the tribal and island territories are being nurtured to continue their organic story.
- The major organic exports from India have been flax seeds, sesame, soybean, tea, medicinal plants, rice and pulses.
Government initiatives to support organic farming:
Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North East Region (MOVCD) and Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY) launched in 2015 to encourage chemical free farming.
- Both these schemes are promoting certification under Participatory Guarantee System (PGS) and National Program for Organic Production (NPOP) respectively targeting domestic and exports markets.
What is organic farming?
- It is an agricultural process that uses biological fertilizers and pest control acquired from animal or plant waste.
- It is a unique production management system which promotes and enhances agro-ecosystem health, including biodiversity, biological cycles and soil biological activity.
InstaLinks:
Prelims Link:
- What is organic farming?
- Types
- What is Zero Budget Natural Farming (ZBNF).
- Differences between ZBNF vs organic farming.
Mains Link:
Discuss the significance and features of Organic Farming.
Sources: pib.
