Organic farming in India is driven by the large export market, with over 85% of organic production being exported. India is a major exporter of organic tea and has export potential for many other products like spices and fruits. The Government of India promotes organic farming through various initiatives like the National Programme for Organic Production, National Project on Organic Farming, and provides subsidies and incentives for organic cultivation. However, organic farming still only receives a small fraction of the total funding for agriculture compared to conventional farming. The report on the National Project on Organic Farming recommends integrating various schemes, increasing subsidies for organic farming, and incentivizing practices like green manuring to help further promote the growth of organic agriculture in India.

1. organic farming in India
Key Statistics & Opportunities

2. Organic Farming in India:
Fast Facts
Organic agricultural export market is one of the major drivers of organic agriculture in India. India exports 31 organic products. It is
estimated that more than 85% of total organic production, excluding wild herbs from Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh, is exported.
India is best known as an exporter of organic tea and also has great export potential for many other products. Other organic products for
which India has a niche market are spices and fruits.
There is also good response for organic rice, vegetable, coffee, cashew, oil seed, wheat and pulses. Among the fruit crops bananas,
mangos and oranges are the most preferred organic products.
Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) research programme conducted under Network project on Organic Farming reveal that
across the locations, net return was 17 % higher (at 20-25 % premium price) under organic production system compared to inorganic
production system
The cost of cultivation was found to be 13 % higher under organic production system mainly due to handing of bulky nature of organic
manures

3. Organic Farming in India:
Govt Initiatives
Presently, organic farming is promoted through the following Ministries:—
Ministry of Commerce
• National Programme for Organic Production (NPOP).
• National standards for organic products and processes &
• accreditation of Certification Agencies.
Ministry of Agriculture
• National Project on Organic Farming (NPOF) (2004).
• National Centre for Organic Farming (NCOF) along with Regional
• Centres of Organic Farming under NPOF.
• Network Project on Organic Farming (NePOF) under ICAR.
The present policies advocate balanced use of nutrients for food production and provides assistance for organic and inorganic input
availability. They promote both Conventional Farming and Organic Farming through its scheme and research programmes to disseminate
benefits and issues that may arise in Conventional Farming and Organic Farming

4. Organic Farming in India:
Govt Initiatives
Under Capital Investment subsidy scheme, (through NABARD) Government is providing financial assistance for setting up of (Organic inputs) Fruit/Vegetable
Market Waste/Agro Waste Compost Units and Bio-fertilisers/Bio-pesticides units
Under National Horticulture Mission (NHM), subsidy is provided for adoption of organic farming @ 50% of the maximum permissible cost limited to Rs.
10,000/ha. fora maximum area of 4 ha. per beneficiary. The programme is linked with organic certification.
Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH), a Centrally Sponsored Scheme has been approved for implementation during XII Plan, w.e.f. 2014-
15, for holistic growth of the horticulture sector covering fruits, vegetables, root and tuber crops, mushrooms, spices, flowers, aromatic plants, coconut,
cashew, cocoa and bamboo
Government is providing financial assistance to farmers through State Government for adoption of organic village for manure management @ Rs. 10
lakhs/village for adoption of integrated manure management, planting of fertilizer trees on bunds and promotion of legume intercropping through groups/ SHGs,
etc.
Under MIDH Government is providing financial assistance for adoption of organic farming @ Rs. 10,000 (maximum) for 4 ha. (50% of total cost) while Rs 300
per ha. upto 4 ha. (limited to 50% of cost) is provided for promotion of use of liquid bio-fertilizers.
Promotion of Organic Inputs on farmer's field (Manure, Vermi-compost, Bio- Fertilizers Liquid / Solid, Waste compost, Herbal extracts, etc.)— 50 % of cost
subject to a limit of Rs. 5000/- per ha. and Rs. 10,000 per beneficiary.

5. Organic Farming in India: Report on NATIONAL
PROJECT ON ORGANIC FARMING (NePOF) 20151-16
— Observations & Recommendations
National Project on Organic Farming be made a part of Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY), launched in 2015-16 with an outlay of
Rs. 300 crores
Need to bring uniformity in the meaning and definition of ‘organic farming/organic farm produce' to avoid any legal hurdle in domestic
consumption and international trade promotion
Implementation through single nodal Ministry
Integration of all Schemes, viz. the National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA), Mission for Integrated Development of
Horticulture (MIDH), National Horticulture Mission (NHM), Rastriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY), Network Project on Organic Farming
(NePOF), National Project on Organic Farming (NPOF) under Ministry of Agriculture and National Programme for Organic Production
(NPOP) under the Ministry of Commerce
Increase allocation of government incentives and subsidies towards organic agriculture (~INR 300 crores as compared to INR 70,000-
100,000 crore for conventional farming)
Incentive be given to those farmers who have supplemented carbon contents in the soil to the expected level

6. Organic Farming in India: Report on NATIONAL
PROJECT ON ORGANIC FARMING (NePOF) 20151-16
— Observations & Recommendations
Incentivise production of green manure of approved standards by the farmers and the entrepreneurs
Adequate investment be made for production of bio-molecules and a regulatory regime for their production, storage/transporation
Need for adequate testing labs to give necessary stimulus to organic farming and nutritional farm products
Government, being the biggest spender of public money, can liberate organic farmers from the present predicament by enabling eligible
consumers under Food Security Scheme to buy organic produce by getting food subsidy through Direct Benefit Transfer
Hospitals, army cantonments, schools under Mid Day Meal Scheme and Railways can be persuaded to procure organic products to
create market demand for the same

7. Distribution of organic wild collection areas by
region 2013
Source: FiBL‐IFOAM Survey 2015
The ten countries with the largest wild
collection areas
Source: FiBL‐IFOAM Survey 2015

8. Organic export values - the ten countries with the highest export values 2013
Source: FiBL‐IFOAM Survey 2015

9. The ten countries with the largest number of organic producers 2013
Source: FiBL‐IFOAM Survey 2015