Recently we have seen our Hon’ble Prime Minister – Shri Narendra Modi and the Government of India is focusing more on Natural/ Organic farming in the country. The Vibrant Gujarat Summit was supposed to take place during January 2022 (Now got postponed due to Pandemic), also focused on Natural farming theme. Even we look at the past Sikkim is already declared as an Organic state where no Chemical fertilizers or other Agrochemicals are allowed to pour on the land and also some state Governments have declared small districts or Tehsil as Organic districts within the state e.g. The dang district in Gujarat, Dungarpur in Rajasthan, etc. Other state Governments are also thinking of declaring Organic villages or Tehsils in their states in the coming years.

What is the situation of the Organic Produce Market in India?
As we all presently going through the Pandemic era and the majority of people have belief in Herbal products and If Herbal products are made out of Naturally or organically grown methods, our people ready to spend more according to the statistics (Source: www.statista.com). We can also check several organic food options in online portals like Amazon, Flipkart, jiomart, etc. not only on the online portal but good restaurants are going organic or they’re offering options of the organic foods on their menu. The majority of cities’ consumers have seen Organic Milk, Organic eggs, organic meat, organic cotton apparel, and organic oil options. Most new parents have more trust in organic products for their newborns and kids compared to the traditional ones. So we can say there is good awareness in the market and above middle-class people ready to spend more but the only concern about the middle class and below that where a majority of people are there and they are the drivers of the Indian economy.

Case Study: Economic Disaster due to Sri Lanka’s Jump to declare Country as Organic Farming
(Source: www.nytimes.com)
Sri Lanka is the country which has banned Chemical Fertilizers around 18 months back, that too without preparing farmers which has prompted a surge in food prices and worries about food shortages. Vegetables and rice prices surged around five times to three times compared with the prices that has a year back.
Sri Lanka produces many local vegetables, fruits, and Masala crops, along with the cultivation of Tea, Rubber, and Coconut which make up the nation’s major agricultural exports. This banned on chemical fertilizers has led the country to an acute shortage of vegetables and rice which is a staple for the nation because the use of organic fertilizers resulted in a sharp drop in crop yields. Vegetable and grain traders/ vendors are not able to find enough supply of produces which has inflated the food prices exorbitantly in Sri Lanka post this ban.
President Gotabaya Rajapaksa cited health concerns to implement the Organic Policy in the nation and implemented it in a very short duration without preparing farmers, food supply chain, and organic manure supply chain in the nation. He also gave another reason for it: Sri Lanka’s dwindling reserves of money and the GDP reduced by 70%. Tourist Industry is Sri Lanka’s major source of foreign currency. The domestic currency lost around one-fifth of its value during the Covid 19 lockdowns that have limited Sri Lanka’s ability to purchase food and other supplies as prices are rising everywhere around the globe.
Now the Government has aimed to ease the policy by allowing the import of chemical fertilizers for the farmers in the current crop season (September to March). The challenges are not ended here because the Government needs to subsidize the actual urea prices for the use of poor or marginal farmers.

What Government of India is doing for organic farming within the Country?
(Source: www.agriculturepost.com)
Cultivable Land area under organic farming has increased from 11.83 lakh hectares in 2014 to 29.17 lakh hectares in 2020 in India due to the focused efforts of the Government. The government has also launched several promotional activities that led to the development of state-specific organic brands/produce, increased domestic supply, and exports of organic produce from the northeastern region. Awareness programs by state & central Govt., marketing solutions, post-harvest technology, and the premium price for organic produce have led farmers to adopt organic farming and give adequate time to farmers to search the market for their produces.

The Modi Government (Government of India) assists in promoting organic farming/ Natural farming across the country through different schemes (Organic Farming Subsidy for Farmers):
1. Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY)
Cluster formation, training, certification, and marketing are supported under the scheme. The assistance of Rs. 50,000 per ha/ 3 years is provided.

2. Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North Eastern Region (MOVCDNER)
This scheme entitles for the third-party certified organic farming of niche crops of the northeast region through FPOs with a focus on exports. Rs. 25,000 per hectare for three years is given to farmers to procure bio-fertilizers, organic manure, etc. Support for the formation of FPO, capacity building, post-harvest infrastructure up to Rs. 2 Crore.

3. Capital Investment Subsidy Scheme (CISS) under Soil Health Management Scheme
100% assistance is provided to state government, government agencies for setting up mechanized fruit and vegetable market waste, agro waste compost production units up to a maximum limit of Rs. 190 lakh per unit. Similarly, for individuals and private agencies assistance up to 33% of the cost is limited to Rs. 63 Lakh per unit per capita investment is provided.

4. National Mission on Oilseeds and Oil Palm (NMOOP)
Under the mission, financial assistance at 50% for the tune of Rs. 300 per hectare is being provided for the bio-fertilizers, supply of Rhizobium culture, Phosphate solubilizing bacteria (PSB), Zinc Solubilizing Bacteria (ZSB), Azatobacter, Mycorrhiza, and vermicompost.

5. National Food Security Mission (NFSM)
Under NFSM, financial assistance is provided for the promotion of bio-fertilizer (Rhizobium/ PSB) at 50% of the cost limited to Rs. 300 per hectare.

Exhibition in India focused on Organic Farming:
Agri Asia Exhibition and conference along with Dairy Livestock & Poultry Asia is being organized in Gujarat, India since 2011. The 11th edition of the same will take place in September 2022 at Helipad Exhibition Centre, Gandhinagar, Gujarat.
Dates: 9-10-11 September 2022
Organizing committee specifically focusing on Organic as well as traditional Agriculture through this Exhibition platform. From the year 2018, the committee allowed Organic farmers to exhibit & sell their organic products to around 1 lac visitors of both exhibition subjects. Along with this, exhibitors are participating with advanced technologies as well as organic fertilizers, biostimulants, Azatobactor, vermicompost, etc.
Website: www.agriasia.in and www.dlpexpo.com/gujarat/
Conclusion:
The Government of India is absolutely on right track on implementing various schemes for the Organic Future in India and increasing the organic cultivating land area globally to export the produce to earn the foreign currency. This will also give a positive impact on local markets to adopt the organic products in the long run which indirectly gives dual income to farmers. After all Healthy soil, good ROI for farmers increased exports, and an active rural economy only will help the economy to grow.