Source: TH
Context:
Bamanwas Kankar panchayat in Rajasthan has become the first panchayat in the State to be officially certified as fully organic, marking a significant grassroots milestone in sustainable agriculture.
Location:
- Bamanwas Kankar Panchayat, Kotputli–Behror district, Rajasthan
- Comprises seven hamlets
What makes it ‘Fully Organic’?
- Complete ban on chemical pesticides and synthetic fertilisers
- Organic livestock management, aligned with ecological and health standards
- Integrated approach covering agriculture, animal husbandry, soil health, and water conservation
Why was the shift made?
- Declining soil fertility
- Falling groundwater levels
- Rising input costs of chemical farming
- Health concerns due to prolonged exposure to agrochemicals
Implementation Process:
- Transition initiated through collective village discussions over the past year
- Farmers shifted focus from short-term yields to long-term sustainability
- Supported by Cofarmin Federation of Organic Societies and Producer Companies (COFED)
Certification & Expansion Plans:
- COFED is issuing crop and livestock certification for the first cycle
- Target to convert 300 panchayats into fully organic village bodies by year-end across:
- Bikaner
- Alwar
- Kotputli–Behror
- Bhilwara
