Volume 4, Number 3, July – September’ 2015

ISSN (Print):2279-0934, (Online):2279-0942

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PROSPECTS OF ORGANIC FARMING IN INDIA

Shikha Yadav22 Dr. Ramesh Kumar Yadav23

ABSTRACT

Organic farming is a type of farming, which promotes environmentally, socially & economically sound production of food &

fibre, without use of artificial external inputs such as chemical fertilizers & pesticides. With increasing awareness among

people towards health, the demand for organically grown food is increasing day by day. Organic farming is helpful in

production of quality foods with no chemical residues and help in maintaining the soil health and hence it promotes

sustainable agricultural development. The diverse agro climatic conditions of India favours organic farming but the lack of

proper agro infrastructure including post-harvest marketing infrastructure hampers the growth of organic farming in India.

KEYWORDS

Organic Farming, Fertilizers, Pesticides, Production etc.

INTRODUCTION

The concept of food quality has changed dramatically in recent years. It now refers not only to the characteristic of the final

product, but also the way in which it is produced, processed and transported. Retailers and importers in the developed country

markets are applying their own quality standards, which are often more stringent than the national quality regulations. Consumers

in the developed countries and a few developing countries have become more health conscious and they have started to spend

more on greener, healthy and natural food stuffs. They are willing to spend more on organically produced and labeled products.

As a result, farmers in these countries are encouraged to convert their inorganic farms into organic farms.

Global awareness of health and environmental issues is spreading fast in the recent years, especially in the developed countries.

Sustainability in production has overcome the prime concern in agriculture development. Organic method of farming is the best

means to ensure air, water and soil unpolluted, this leaving the environment safe for the present and future generations.

The use of chemicals and off farm inputs in intensive agriculture is fast increasing and this has resulted in deterioration of soil

health and increased environmental pollution. The people all over the world are expressing great concern over the indiscriminate

use of chemicals. Therefore, emphasis is now focused on the use of organic and other by-products of agriculture and industries.

Organic farming is the need in the present –day context of serious threat to our ecology and environment. Great harm is being

caused due to large-scale pollution of our soil, water and air, which have resulted in degradation, and loss of our soils. Chemical

agriculture with more dependence on fertilizers and pesticides is affecting the quality and safety of produce and health and well-

being of humanity. For a safe future, organic farming offers a dynamic interaction between soils, plants, humans, ecosystem and

environment. India with its diverse agro climatic conditions can be major producer of a variety of organic foods, which can be

exported with substantial commercial advantage. Market for such products already exists in Europe and the Middle East and the

demand is growing rapidly. A few high value added organic products such as tea, coffee, spices, fruits, cotton and other

commodities are already being exported by agencies that have been promoting organic farming in India.

The local farmers are also carrying out organic farming sporadically in many parts of the country but value addition has been

nominal in these products fetching only marginally higher prices than the conventional farm products. Besides, the products have

not been able to find their way into competitive markets abroad. One of the major reasons has been the absence of national

standards for organic products and approved system of certification for these products, as accepted internationally.

Certification through international agencies located abroad is too expensive to be practicable as these farms are small and widely

scattered. Monitoring is required at every stage of farming, harvesting and handling of the produce. It is therefore imperative that

India develops its own national organic standards and organic certification system and harmonize them with approved

international standards. Accredited certifying agencies can then monitor the organic farms and their farming practice at various

stages and certify the products as conforming to the required standards at acceptable costs.

Organic agriculture is gaining momentum in India due to the individual as well as group efforts to conserve environment and

avoid contamination of farm produce from the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides. The important tenet of organic farming is

that it promotes ecological soundness and sustainable use of natural resources as maintenance of crop diversity.

22Assistant Professor, Aditi Mahavidyalaya, Delhi University, Delhi, India, shikhayadav356@gmail.com 23IES - Assistant Director, International Cooperation Division, Government of India, Delhi, India, rameshy17@gmail.com

Volume 4, Number 3, July – September’ 2015

ISSN (Print):2279-0934, (Online):2279-0942

PEZZOTTAITE JOURNALS SJIF (2012): 3.735, SJIF (2013): 5.020, SJIF (2014): 5.996

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CONCEPT OF ORGANIC FARMING

The concept of organic farming is a holistic approach where the group is perceived to be more than individual element. In this

context, farming system is dynamic interaction among soil, humus, plant, animal, eco-system and environment. Hence organic

farming differs from industrial agriculture as in the latter, biological systems are replaced by technical production systems using

chemicals liberally.

Organic agriculture consists of farm design and management to create an eco-system, which can achieve sustainable productivity

without the use of artificial external inputs such as chemical fertilizers and pesticides. The major aims of organic agriculture are of

quality outputs which contain no chemical residues, the development of environment friendly production methods and the

application of production techniques that restore and maintain soil fertility.

These are achieved by suitable crop selection and rotation, recycling of plant and animal residues, proper tillage and water

management. Management of weeds is attained by encouraging biological control through a balanced host-predator relationship,

augmentation of beneficial insect population and by mechanical removal of weeds, pests and affected plant parts.

Organic agriculture as defined by International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM) includes all agricultural

systems that promote environmentally, socially and economically sound production of food and fibre. These systems take soil

fertility as key to successful production. By respecting the natural capacity of plants, animals and the landscape, it aims to

optimise quality in all aspects of agriculture and environment.

Organic agriculture dramatically reduces the use of chemosynthetic fertilizers and pesticides. Instead it allows the laws of nature

to increase agricultural yields. Organic agriculture adheres to globally accepted principle, which is implemented within the local,

socio-economic, climatic and cultural settings.

WHAT IS ORGANIC FOOD?

Organic foods are those, which are grown in concomitant with the nature.(biological and ecological process.).The process

involves holistic viewpoint of cultivation of foods, which is the sum of following individuals, like man, animals‘ insects and

microorganisms and environmental parameters along with socioeconomic aspects of agricultural production. Further, it is

concerned with the interaction and interrelationship of living organism. Organically grown foods are produced on humus rich soil,

whose fertility has been maintained with organic materials and natural mineral fertilizers. No pesticides, artificial fertilizers, or

synthetic additives are used in the production of organic foods (Patrick 1997).

Organic farm is mainly based on the principles of science of ecology. The encompassed concepts are:

Crop rotation (intercrop, green manure crops),

Animal husbandry,

Use of organic manures (FYM, compost, vermicompost, biofertilizers.),

Management of pests and diseases and weeds by biocontrol methods,

Soil and water conservation measures (to control erosion and runoff).

WHY ORGANIC FARMING?

Every year 5.33 million tons of soil erodes in India and with 53.3 lakh tones of NPK flows away. In this direction organic farming

will be helpful in conserving soil fertility with minimal or no use of chemical fertilizers (NPK). Organic agriculture movement

respects natural ecological balances. The basis for natural ecological balances is a harmonious relation between crop production

and animal husbandry, which is achieved by establishing self-sufficiency of manure and animal feed on the farm unit through

specifying maximum stocking rates.

ORGANIC PRODUCTION

Not much data is available on the total acreage under organic cultivation in India. However, the total organic production in the

year 2002 was estimated as 1,40,000 Mts with rice, tea fruit, vegetable, wheat and cotton accounting for 80 percent of it. Due to

the increased thrust on organic farming as a potential foreign exchange earner, the scenario might change. More and more

organizations, both in the government and private, are stepping in to the field. The formulation of NSOP and the appointment of

Accreditation agencies by the GOI have added impetus to the growth of this sector.

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Table-1: Major Products Produced in India by Organic Farming

Sources: Association for promotion of Organic Farming

MARKET FOR ORGANICALLY GROWN FOOD

Consumers concern over high levels of saturated fats, sugarcane, salt in foods as well as the risks from additives and pesticide

residues, has stimulated the demand for health foods particularly organic foods. Furthermore, there is an increasing awareness of

the environmental damage associated with the use of modern agricultural techniques, especially agrochemicals. At the same time,

food surpluses especially in Europe have resulted in encouraging organic farming where in the yield levels are low resulting in

reducing the supply. Even though the above factors have contributed to the growth of market for organic food, it is interesting to

note that there have been no major promotion campaigns in catering organic food. There has been neither any rapid and

innovative product development nor any development within the system to entice consumer to buy these products in favors of

others. Thus, the recent market for organically produced food has largely been consumerised, and the face of indifference from the

industry too. However, the media has been relatively sympathetic to organic farming, which has compensated largely for the lack

of product promotion through commercial advertising channels. In this context, marketing concepts needs to be prominent but

cannot dominate totally. Thus, close attention to marketing is an integral part of successful organic farming.

MAJOR PROBLEMS IN MARKETING INDIAN ORGANIC PRODUCTS

Price expectations are too high in relation to quality.

Low consistency of quality.

Slow shipment, restrictions for importing Indian organic products.

Time consuming and complicated paper work while dealing with export authorities.

The poor customer service from the Indian traders after sales is the major problem in export marketing.

Lack of proper marketing network a marketing implementation.

Less effort to develop domestic markets.

SCOPE AND MODES TO PROMOTE ORGANIC FARMING

As the demand for organic products is increasing over years with people becoming more conscious about the quality of the food

stuffs and awareness about the environmental effects due to overuse of chemicals in agriculture. They also opined that if the

organic products have a well-defined marketing channel and ensured premium price the likeliness to increases the area under

organic farming is wider. When asked for the modes in which organic farming could be promoted the following measures were

recommended:

Improve the marketing channels.

Ensure premium price for the organic products.

Ensure regular supply of organic manure.

Establish organizations to promote organic farming.

Educate people about the benefits of organic farming.

Branding of organic products.

CONCLUSIONS

Organic farming is the system of farming that promotes environmentally, socially and economically sound products of food and

fibers. As the awareness about the harmful effect of chemicals on health, soil, environment etc., is increasing; the chemical /

Type Products

Commodity Tea, coffee, rice, wheat

Spices Cardamom, black pepper, white pepper, ginger, turmeric, vanilla,

mustard, tamarind, clove, cinnamon, nutmeg, mace, chili

Pulses Red gram, black gram

Fruits Mango, banana, pineapple, passion fruit, sugarcane, orange, cashew

Nut Walnut

Vegetables Okra, brinjal, garlic, onion, tomato, potato

Oil seeds Sesame, castor, sunflower

Others Cotton, herbal extracts

Volume 4, Number 3, July – September’ 2015

ISSN (Print):2279-0934, (Online):2279-0942

PEZZOTTAITE JOURNALS SJIF (2012): 3.735, SJIF (2013): 5.020, SJIF (2014): 5.996

International Journal of Retailing & Rural Business Perspectives © Pezzottaite Journals. 1765 |P a g e

inorganic farming is shifting its way towards organic farming. India with diverse agro climatic conditions has great potential for

organic farming and many products are produced organically in India. High price for organic products and lack of proper

marketing functions within domestic markets are the major constraints in organic farming in India.

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