Context:

In a world battered by the Coronavirus pandemic, the demand is 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

• Organic farming is where farmers till their land without the use of chemicals – largely relying on organic residues, cow dung, composts, etc.
• The primary aim of organic farming is to help the soil stay in good health through the use of biological wastes, organic wastes, and bio-fertilizers.
• Using organic manures helps in sustainable crop production along with a pollution-free environment.
• The philosophy underlying organic farming of integration of the elements – soil, water, microbes, and ‘waste’ products, forestry, and agriculture is the correct recipe for sustainable use of natural resources.
• This method avoids or excludes the use of synthetic inputs like pesticides, fertilizers, hormones, etc.

‘organic’ is India’s farming

• India ranks first in the 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
• North East India has traditionally been organic and the consumption of chemicals is far less than the rest of the country.
• Similarly, the tribal and island territories are being nurtured to continue their organic story.

Recent government initiatives to promote organic farming

• Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY)
• The Scheme envisages:
  • Promotion of commercial organic production through certified organic farming.
  • The produce will be pesticide residue-free and will contribute to improving the health of consumers.
  • It will raise farmers’ income and create a potential market for traders.
  • It will motivate the farmers for natural resource mobilization for input production.

Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North East Region (MOCVD)

It is a Central Sector Scheme, a sub-mission under the National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA), launched by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare for implementation in the states of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, and Tripura, during the 12th plan period.