Organic farming is a natural and eco-friendly method of farming that avoids the use of chemical fertilizers, synthetic pesticides, and other artificial inputs. Instead, it relies on natural resources available on the farm, such as crop residues, farmyard manure (FYM), compost, vermicompost, oil cakes, and bio-fertilizers, to maintain soil fertility and provide nutrients to crops.
To protect crops from pests and diseases, organic farming uses environmentally friendly methods like crop rotation, trap crops, neem-based bio-pesticides, biological control agents, mechanical traps, and stale seedbed techniques, rather than chemical pesticides.
Organic farming offers several benefits. It helps produce safe and healthy food, lowers the cost of cultivation by reducing dependence on expensive chemicals, improves soil fertility and biodiversity, and supports environmental sustainability. It also plays an important role in reducing pollution, combating climate change, and lowering greenhouse gas emissions by minimizing the use of chemical fertilizers.
To encourage organic farming across the country, the Government of India has been implementing two major schemes since 2015–16:
- Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY): Promotes organic farming for the domestic market by encouraging farmers to adopt traditional and sustainable farming practices.
- Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North Eastern Region (MOVCDNER): Focuses on developing organic farming and value chains in the North Eastern states, with a strong emphasis on export-oriented production.
Both schemes provide end-to-end support to farmers, covering every stage from organic production and certification to processing, packaging, branding, and marketing. This comprehensive support helps farmers adopt organic farming more easily while improving their income and expanding market opportunities.
Advantages of Organic Farming
Organic farming offers several environmental, economic, and agricultural benefits. Some of its key advantages are:
- Protects the environment: It reduces pollution by minimizing the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, helping to maintain a cleaner and healthier environment.
- Produces safer food: Organic farming lowers the amount of harmful chemical residues in food, making it safer for both humans and animals.
- Supports sustainable agriculture: It helps maintain agricultural productivity over the long term without degrading natural resources.
- Improves soil health and reduces costs: The use of organic manures and natural inputs enhances soil fertility while reducing farmers’ dependence on expensive chemical fertilizers and pesticides.
- Conserves natural resources: Organic farming promotes the efficient use of soil, water, and other natural resources, ensuring they remain available for future generations.
- Saves energy and reduces farming risks: It requires less energy by reducing dependence on chemical inputs and also helps lower the risk of crop failure by improving the overall resilience of the farming system.
- Enhances soil physical properties: Organic matter improves soil structure, increases aeration, promotes healthy root growth, improves water-holding capacity, and reduces soil erosion.
- Improves soil chemical properties: It increases the availability and retention of essential nutrients, reduces nutrient loss into rivers and groundwater, and maintains a balanced soil ecosystem that supports healthy crop growth.
Government Schemes Promoting Organic Farming in India
The Government of India has launched several schemes to encourage organic farming, improve soil health, and promote sustainable agriculture across the country.
1. Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY)
Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY) is a part of the Soil Health Management (SHM) component under the National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA). The scheme encourages cluster-based organic farming, where groups of farmers adopt organic practices together and obtain Participatory Guarantee System (PGS) certification.
Under the scheme, farmers receive support for cluster formation, training, organic certification, and marketing of organic produce.
- Financial assistance of ₹50,000 per hectare for three years is provided.
- Out of this amount, ₹31,000 (about 62%) is given directly to farmers for purchasing organic inputs such as organic manure, bio-fertilizers, and bio-pesticides.
2. Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North Eastern Region (MOVCDNER)
This scheme focuses on promoting certified organic farming in the North Eastern States, especially for high-value and niche crops with export potential.
The scheme encourages farmers to work through Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) and supports the complete organic value chain—from production to export.
Key benefits include:
- Financial assistance of ₹25,000 per hectare for three years for organic inputs, including organic manure and bio-fertilizers.
- Support for the formation and strengthening of FPOs.
- Training and capacity-building programmes for farmers.
- Financial assistance of up to ₹2 crore for creating post-harvest infrastructure, such as processing, storage, grading, and packaging facilities.
3. Capital Investment Subsidy Scheme (CISS)
The Capital Investment Subsidy Scheme (CISS) is implemented under the Soil Health Management Scheme to promote the production of organic compost from agricultural and market waste.
Under this scheme:
- State Governments and Government agencies receive 100% financial assistance to establish mechanized compost production units, with support of up to ₹190 lakh per unit (capacity of 3,000 tonnes per year).
- Private individuals and agencies receive a 33% capital subsidy, subject to a maximum assistance of ₹63 lakh per unit.
The scheme helps convert agricultural and vegetable waste into high-quality compost, reducing waste while improving soil fertility.
4. National Mission on Oilseeds and Oil Palm (NMOOP)
The National Mission on Oilseeds and Oil Palm (NMOOP) encourages the use of bio-fertilizers and organic inputs in oilseed cultivation.
Farmers receive a 50% subsidy, up to ₹300 per hectare, for inputs such as:
- Bio-fertilizers
- Rhizobium culture
- Phosphate Solubilising Bacteria (PSB)
- Zinc Solubilising Bacteria (ZSB)
- Azotobacter
- Mycorrhiza
- Vermicompost
These inputs improve soil fertility and reduce dependence on chemical fertilizers.
5. National Food Security Mission (NFSM)
Under the National Food Security Mission (NFSM), financial support is provided to encourage the use of bio-fertilizers in crop production.
The scheme offers:
- 50% subsidy on the cost of bio-fertilizers, subject to a maximum of ₹300 per hectare.
- Support for bio-fertilizers such as Rhizobium and Phosphate Solubilising Bacteria (PSB), which improve nutrient availability and enhance crop productivity while maintaining soil health.
National Centre of Organic Farming (NCOF)
The National Centre of Organic Farming (NCOF) is the nodal organization responsible for promoting organic farming in India. It functions under the Integrated Nutrient Management (INM) Division of the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Government of India. At present, it works under the Soil Health Management (SHM) component of the National Mission on Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA).
The NCOF was established in 2004 to implement the National Project on Organic Farming (NPOF) and to encourage the adoption of organic farming practices across the country. To extend its activities nationwide, regional centres were set up at Bengaluru, Bhubaneswar, Imphal, Jabalpur, Nagpur, and Panchkula.
The National Project on Organic Farming (NPOF) was launched on 1 October 2004 during the 10th Five-Year Plan as a pilot project with a budget of ₹57.05 crore. Due to its positive impact, the project continued during the 11th Five-Year Plan with an increased allocation of ₹101 crore.
During the 12th Five-Year Plan, the project was merged into the National Mission on Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA) under the Soil Health Management (SHM) component. The mission had a total outlay of ₹293 crore, of which ₹57 crore was earmarked for the continuation of NCOF’s activities related to the promotion and development of organic farming in India.
Functions of the National Centre of Organic Farming (NCOF)
The National Centre of Organic Farming (NCOF) performs several important functions to promote organic farming and sustainable agriculture in India. Its key functions include:
- Promotes organic farming across the country by providing technical guidance, training, and capacity-building programmes for farmers, officials, entrepreneurs, and other stakeholders.
- Encourages the production and use of quality organic inputs, such as bio-fertilizers, bio-pesticides, compost, and other biological products, through technology transfer and awareness programmes.
- Acts as the nodal quality control laboratory for testing the quality of bio-fertilizers and organic fertilizers as per the standards prescribed under the Fertilizer Control Order (FCO), 1985.
- Updates quality standards and testing procedures to match the latest scientific research and technological developments, while bringing more organic inputs under the quality control system.
- Supports research and technology development in organic farming, resource management, and the development of markets for organic products.
- Maintains National and Regional Bio-fertilizer Culture Banks, which preserve and supply high-quality microbial cultures (mother cultures) used for producing effective bio-fertilizers.
- Promotes Participatory Guarantee System (PGS-India), a low-cost certification system that enables small and marginal farmers to certify their organic produce more easily.
- Provides financial support through NABARD under the Capital Investment Subsidy Scheme (CISS) for setting up composting units, bio-fertilizer production units, and bio-pesticide manufacturing units.
- Creates awareness about organic farming through training programmes, workshops, exhibitions, publications, and campaigns using both print and electronic media.
- Encourages sustainable farming practices that improve soil health, reduce dependence on chemical inputs, and promote environmentally friendly agriculture.
Jaivik Kheti Portal
The Jaivik Kheti Portal is an initiative of the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare (DA&FW), in collaboration with MSTC Ltd., to promote organic farming and help organic farmers connect directly with buyers.
The portal serves as a one-stop digital platform where farmers can market and sell their certified organic products while consumers can easily purchase genuine organic produce online.
Key Features of the Jaivik Kheti Portal
- Provides an online marketplace where organic farmers can sell their products directly to consumers and businesses.
- Offers a wide range of organic products, including grains, pulses, fruits, vegetables, spices, oilseeds, and other farm products.
- Enables doorstep delivery of organic products, allowing consumers to buy fresh and certified organic produce at competitive prices.
- Helps farmers receive better prices by reducing the role of middlemen and connecting them directly with buyers.
- Brings together all major stakeholders involved in organic farming, including:
- Organic farmers
- Farmer groups and cooperatives
- Regional councils
- Buyers and consumers
- Government agencies
- Organic input suppliers
- Supports transparent price discovery through different online selling methods such as:
- Forward auctions
- Price–quantity bidding
- Book building
- Reverse auctions
- Promotes awareness of organic farming by providing information about its benefits, certification, and marketing opportunities.
Overall, the Jaivik Kheti Portal strengthens the organic farming ecosystem by making it easier for farmers to market their produce, helping consumers access authentic organic products, and encouraging the growth of sustainable agriculture in India.
Turning the COVID-19 Crisis into an Opportunity
During the COVID-19 pandemic, ensuring the availability of safe and nutritious food became as important as protecting public health. The nationwide lockdown disrupted transportation, supply chains, and access to traditional agricultural markets (mandis), making it difficult for farmers to sell their produce.
To address these challenges, the Government of India advised states to encourage direct marketing, helping reduce crowding in mandis and creating alternative ways for farmers to reach consumers. Many states introduced innovative solutions that turned this difficult situation into an opportunity.
Some notable initiatives included:
- Green Caravan, Kohima (Nagaland): Created a strong market network connecting villages with urban areas, enabling farmers and artisans to sell vegetables, handicrafts, and handloom products directly to customers.
- Maharashtra: Several Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) started selling fruits and vegetables online, allowing consumers to order fresh produce from their homes while ensuring better market access for farmers.
- Punjab: Fresh fruits and vegetables were delivered directly to consumers through specially designed electric vans, ensuring safe and convenient doorstep delivery during lockdown restrictions.
- Manipur: The Manipur Organic Mission Agency (MoMA) coordinated with all 15 Farmer Producer Companies (FPCs) under the Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North Eastern Region (MOVCDNER). The produce was collected from farmers and transported to two organic wholesale centres at Sanjenthong and Chingmeirong in Imphal, from where it was supplied to consumers.
These initiatives demonstrated how innovation, digital marketing, farmer organizations, and better coordination helped maintain the supply of agricultural produce during the pandemic while creating new marketing opportunities for farmers.
Way Forward
Natural farming has been practiced in India for centuries. Long before the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, farmers depended on cow dung, compost, crop residues, and other natural inputs to grow crops. These traditional practices promoted healthy soil and sustainable agriculture while protecting the environment.
The basic principle of organic farming is to maintain a balance between soil, water, plants, microorganisms, livestock, and natural resources. This integrated approach helps conserve natural resources, improves soil fertility, and supports long-term agricultural productivity. As the demand for food continues to rise and natural resources come under increasing pressure, adopting sustainable farming practices has become more important than ever.
Organic farming also supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 2, which aims to end hunger, ensure food security, improve nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture.
India has emerged as a global leader in organic farming. The country has the highest number of organic farmers in the world and ranks ninth globally in terms of the area under organic cultivation. Sikkim became the world’s first fully organic state, and other states such as Tripura and Uttarakhand are also working towards expanding organic farming.
Going forward, increasing farmer awareness, improving training and capacity building, and ensuring compliance with international organic certification standards will help Indian farmers access global markets. With continued government support and growing consumer demand for organic products, India is well-positioned to strengthen its presence in the international organic agriculture sector while promoting sustainable and climate-resilient farming practices.
