Organic Farming in India: PKVY, Certification and the Road to Sustainable Agriculture
Organic farming in India has grown significantly through schemes like PKVY, MOVCDNER, and National Mission on Natural Farming. With about 15 lakh hectares under certification and growing demand for chemical-free, sustainable food, India is emerging as a major organic producer. Yet challenges such as low yields, weak certification systems, and limited market infrastructure persist.
Introduction
Organic farming promotes cultivation methods that rely on natural processes, biological inputs, and ecological balance. It avoids synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, genetically modified organisms (GMOs), growth hormones, and chemical-intensive methods. Instead, it emphasises soil health, biodiversity, natural pest control, ecological harmony, and long-term sustainability. For beginners: conventional farming is like relying on chemical medicines for fast results, while organic farming is like improving long-term health through balanced nutrition and natural care.
Context & Background
Modern agriculture in India has been shaped heavily by the Green Revolution of the 1960s and 70s, which boosted production through chemical fertilizers, pesticides, HYV seeds, and irrigation. While it solved food shortages, decades of chemical-intensive farming led to soil degradation, groundwater contamination, biodiversity loss, farmer health problems, reduced resilience to climate change, and rising costs of inputs. In response, India began promoting organic, traditional, and natural farming to restore environmental balance. Globally, demand for organic products is rising due to greater health awareness, sustainability concerns, and preference for chemical-free food. This global shift is opening new opportunities for Indian farmers.
Key Points
- •What is Organic Farming? Organic farming is an agricultural approach that relies on natural inputs like compost, bio-fertilizers, green manures, cow dung, neem-based pesticides, and crop rotation to maintain soil fertility and control pests. It avoids chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and GMOs. Organic farming increases biodiversity, improves soil structure, and promotes ecological stability.
- •Core Principles: Organic farming is based on four globally recognised principles: Health (building healthy soil and food), Ecology (working with natural cycles), Fairness (ensuring fairness to farmers and consumers), and Care (responsible stewardship of natural resources). Beginners can think of these principles as the 'ethics' of organic farming.
- •Types of Organic Farming: Pure Organic Farming uses only natural inputs like bio-fertilizers, compost, and botanicals. Integrated Organic Farming combines crops, livestock, poultry, fishery, and agroforestry so waste from one system becomes input for another. Natural Farming relies on minimal intervention and natural soil regeneration methods like Jeevamrut and mulching. Biodynamic Farming follows holistic agro-ecological models based on lunar cycles and natural compost preparations.
- •Why Organic Farming is Growing: Consumers prefer safe, chemical-free food. Farmers benefit from lower input costs, healthier soils, and premium prices. Organic farming is also climate-resilient, as soil rich in organic matter retains water and nutrients better.
- •Global Scenario: According to FiBL-IFOAM 2023, the world has about 76 million hectares under organic farming. Australia leads with 35.7 million hectares. The global organic market is worth over USD 135 billion, driven by the US, EU, and East Asian countries. This growing global demand offers a major export opportunity for India.
- •India's Organic Landscape: India has 2.9 million hectares under organic management (including certified and in-transition areas). India ranks 1st globally in the number of organic farmers and 5th in total organic cultivated area. Major organic states include Sikkim, Uttarakhand, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh.
- •Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY): PKVY, launched in 2015, promotes cluster-based organic farming. Farmers are grouped into 20-hectare clusters to adopt organic practices together. This reduces certification costs, ensures uniform standards, and strengthens community-based natural farming systems.
- •Certification Systems: India uses NPOP (National Programme for Organic Production) for export-oriented certification and PGS-India (Participatory Guarantee System) for domestic organic markets. A new model called Large Area Certification (LAC) accelerates certification for regions with historical non-use of chemicals.
- •Benefits of Organic Farming: Organic farming improves soil fertility, increases beneficial microorganisms, reduces environmental pollution, and lowers long-term production costs. Farmers also receive premium prices (15–40% higher) for certified organic produce. Organic systems help mitigate climate change by enhancing carbon sequestration in soils.
- •Impact on Health and Environment: Organic foods contain minimal pesticide residues, reducing health risks. Organic soils have higher organic carbon, better moisture retention, and greater biodiversity. Organic farming also reduces greenhouse gas emissions because synthetic fertilizers (like urea) are energy-intensive.
- •Market Potential: India’s domestic market for organic products is expanding due to rising awareness about healthy and chemical-free food. Organic exports include oilseeds, spices, tea, coffee, cereals, pulses, and cotton—worth around ₹8,000 crore annually.
Types of Certification under Organic Farming
| Certification Type | Description | Best For | Bookmark |
|---|---|---|---|
| NPOP (National Programme for Organic Production) | Third-party certification with strict standards; needed for exports. | Export-oriented farmers and agribusinesses | |
| PGS-India (Participatory Guarantee System) | Farmer-group based, self-certification model with peer review. | Domestic markets and small farmers | |
| Large Area Certification (LAC) | Fast-track certification for naturally chemical-free areas. | Tribal regions, islands, and remote areas |
Key Differences: Organic vs. Conventional Farming
| Parameter | Organic Farming | Conventional Farming | Bookmark |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inputs | Natural fertilizers (compost, cow dung), biopesticides | Synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, GM seeds | |
| Soil Health | Improves soil structure and organic carbon | Degrades soil health over time | |
| Cost of Production | Lower long-term costs | High due to chemical inputs | |
| Environmental Impact | Low pollution, high biodiversity | Water pollution, soil degradation | |
| Market Price | Higher premium | Normal pricing |
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Impact & Significance
- •Environmental Impact: Organic farming enhances soil fertility, reduces erosion, and boosts biodiversity. Organic soils act like a sponge, absorbing more rainfall and reducing water runoff. This makes farms more resilient to droughts and floods. Reduced chemical usage lowers soil and water pollution.
- •Economic Impact: Farmers save money on chemical inputs. Organic produce earns premium pricing (15–40% higher). Cluster-based organic farming under PKVY reduces certification costs, making it financially viable for small farmers. Organic exports strengthen India’s agricultural trade earnings.
- •Health Impact: Organic foods reduce exposure to pesticide residues. Farmers working in fields also face lower risks of skin diseases, respiratory issues, and chemical poisoning common in conventional farming.
- •Climate Impact: Organic systems reduce emissions by avoiding nitrogen-based fertilizers. They also increase carbon sequestration in soil, helping mitigate global warming.
- •Social Impact: Organic farming creates rural employment in inputs, composting units, certification, marketing, and eco-tourism. It also preserves indigenous seeds, local knowledge, and traditional practices.
Challenges & Criticism
- •Low Productivity During Transition: Organic farms typically see a 15–25% yield drop during the initial 2–3 years. Beginners may struggle without technical support.
- •Certification Complexity: Farmers find certification long and cumbersome. Many small farmers cannot afford third-party certification and rely on PGS, which is not recognised for exports.
- •Market Limitations: Organic markets are still limited to urban areas. Many farmers struggle to find buyers, and lack of branding reduces profits.
- •Input Shortages: Organic inputs like compost, bio-fertilizers, and organic seeds are not widely available. Producing compost at scale requires labour and time.
- •Storage & Logistics Issues: Organic products need clean, contamination-free storage and separate transportation channels. India’s cold chain is insufficient.
- •Price Uncertainty: Farmers often struggle to consistently get premium prices due to fluctuating demand and lack of consumer awareness.
- •Weak Extension Services: Most states lack dedicated organic farming experts, training, and field demonstrations.
- •Policy Gaps: Overlaps between PKVY, MOVCDNER, NMNF, and state missions confuse farmers. Coordination between agriculture and commerce ministries is weak.
Future Outlook
- •Unified Organic Farming Policy: India needs a single integrated organic farming policy combining PKVY, NMNF, and MOVCDNER for clarity and efficiency.
- •Digital Traceability: Blockchain-based certification can simplify verification and ensure transparency from farm to consumer.
- •Organic Marketplaces: Dedicated organic mandis, e-NAM integration, and FPO-led branding can improve market access.
- •R&D Support: ICAR and SAUs must develop region-specific crop varieties suitable for organic farming.
- •Government Procurement: Schools, hospitals, anganwadis, and hostels can procure organic food, providing stable demand.
- •Improved Cold Chains: Investment in logistics, storage, and processing can reduce post-harvest losses.
- •Capacity Building: More field training, demonstration farms, and farmer-to-farmer learning networks are needed.
- •Export Infrastructure: Establish certified organic export zones, quality testing labs, and coastal organic clusters.
UPSC Relevance
UPSC
- • GS-3: Agriculture, sustainable farming, organic certification, government schemes.
- • GS-2: Cooperative farming, rural development, environmental governance.
- • Essay: Sustainable agriculture, environment vs. development, food safety.
Sample Questions
Prelims
Consider the following statements about organic farming in India:
1. Participatory Guarantee System (PGS-India) is primarily meant for domestic organic certification.
2. NPOP certification is essential for organic exports from India.
3. Large Area Certification is applicable only to regions with a history of chemical farming.
4. PKVY promotes cluster-based organic farming.
Answer: Option 1, Option 2, Option 4
Explanation: LAC applies to areas with no history of chemical usage. Other statements are correct.
Mains
Organic farming offers a pathway to sustainable agriculture in India but faces significant barriers at the ground level. Discuss how PKVY, certification reforms, and market development can strengthen India’s organic ecosystem.
Introduction: Organic farming is gaining traction globally and nationally as a sustainable alternative to chemical-intensive agriculture. India’s PKVY and certification frameworks aim to mainstream organic farming.
Body:
• Challenges: Low yields during transition, poor market access, limited certification support, and lack of logistics.
• Strengthening PKVY: Cluster-based approach, capacity building, subsidies for inputs, and farmer collectives.
• Certification Reforms: Simplify PGS, expand NPOP testing labs, adopt digital traceability, fast-track LAC.
• Market Development: Organic mandis, branding support, FPO-led marketing, and government procurement.
• Way Forward: Unified organic policy, export zones, stronger R&D, and consumer awareness campaigns.
Conclusion: With proper policy support, certification reforms, and market development, India can become a major global supplier of sustainable, chemical-free food.