This document discusses strategies for enhancing organic farming in India. It begins with background on the principles and practices of organic farming. It then discusses certification requirements and challenges of organic farming. Key strategies proposed include ensuring seed sovereignty, implementing organic farming policies phased over time, using compact area group approaches, strengthening soil and water conservation, and promoting mixed farming for livelihood security. Other strategies focus on agro-biodiversity conservation, capacity building, research, and developing organic value chains and markets.

1. 1

2. STRATEGIES FOR
ENHANCEMENT OF ORGANIC
FARMING
RESHMA.J.MURUGAN
BAM - 15 - 56 2

3. CONTENTS
1. Introduction
2. Scenerio of organic farming at global and national
level
3. Conversion & certification
4. General prospects
5. Challenges
6. Strategies for enhancement of organic farming
7. Conclusion 3

4. 4

5. 5

6. 6

7. Harmful effects of chemical fertilizers
 Water pollution
 Soil acidification
 Contribute to the release of greenhouse gases
• Asthma
• Birth defects
• Cancer
• Hormone disruption
• Endometriosis
• Precocious puberty in girls
• Depression
7

8. ORGANIC FARMING : DEFINITION
• Codex Alimentarius Commission defines “organic farming” as
holistic production management system , which promotes
and enhances agro-ecosystem health, including biodiversity,
biological cycles and soil biological activity.
• It emphasizes the use of management practices in
preference to the use of off farm inputs, taking into account
that regional conditions require locally adapted systems.
• This is accomplished by using, where possible , agronomic,
biological and mechanical methods, as opposed to using
synthetic materials, to fulfil any specific function within the
system.
8

9. Sir Albert Howard : Father of modern organic agriculture.
Published in 1940
LordNorthbournecoinedtheterm“organicfarming”.
Published “Look to the land ” in 1940
9

10. Principles of organic farming
10

11. The four basic principles of organic agriculture
Endorsed by IFOAM, September 2005
Healthy soil
Healthy crops
Healthy livestock
Healthy people
Agro-ecology
Diversity
Recycling
Ecological and
social justice
Fari Trade?
Precaution
11

12. ORGANIC FARMING TOOLS AND
PRACTICES
 Planned crop rotation
 Cover crops
 Manuring
 Organic manures
 Multiple cropping
 Poly culture
 Tillage
 Mulching
 Composting
 Sanitation
12

13.  Supplemental fertilization
 Fire
 Organic fertilizers
 Bio fertilizers
 Bio rational pesticides
 Botanicals
 Microbial pesticides
 Minerals and synthetics
 Biological control
13

14. 14

15. 15

16. 16

17. Down To Earth
17

18. 18

19. 19

20. Need Certification ?
• When organic farmers and traders are
operating in an anonymous market,
certification is developed to show and
guarantee to consumers that a product has
been produced in consistency with organic
standards.
• A WRITTEN ASSURANCE GIVEN
• THAT AN IDENTIFIED PRODUCTION/ PROCESSING
• SYSTEM IS METHODICALLY ASSESSED AND
• CONFIRMS TO SPECIFIC REQUIREMENT.
20

21. Certification
21

22. 22

23. NPOP
Organic
Standards
Animal
Husbandry
Crop
Production
Storage
&
Transport
General
Labelling
Food
Processing
/Handling
23

24. 1. Conversion period
( Start of organic management to certification of crops)
2. Buffer zone
3. Land Scape
( Should facilitate bio diversity and nature conservation)
4. Selection of crop & Variety
( Adaptable to land and climate, resistant to pests and
diseases)
5. Seed and planting materials shall be certified organic. 24

25. 6. Diversity in crop production
( Versatile crop rotation with legumes, Growing
diverse crop species )
7. Fertilisation Policy
( To enhance or maintain fertility and biological
activity)
8. Soil and Water Conservation
9. Control of Weeds, Pests & Diseases
10. Contamination control
25

26.  INDIVIDUAL
 GROUP
 CORPORATE BODIES
26

27. 27

28. 28

29. 29

30.  At least Annually Once
- size
- crop grown
- contamination
- Parallel Production
- Part Conversion
VERIFICATION OF FACILITIES
Organic banana cultivation 30

31. INSPECTION…..
• FIELD
•RECORDS
•SAMPLING
Scope certificate
 Name and address of the Operator,
 Name and address of the Certification Programme and Accreditation number.
 Reference to the applicable standards
 Products or product categories
 Date of issue
 Validity period
31

32.  Name & Description of the seller
 Name & Description of the buyer
 The date of delivery of the product
 The date of issue of certificate
 Clear indication of the product, its quantity, quality and season.
 Lot numbers and other identification (marks) of the products.
 Reference to invoice or bill of lading.
 An indication of the Certification Programme and applicable standard.
 A statement from the certifier that the product is produced according
to the applicable standards.
32

33. General prospects of
organic farming
Premium price and reduced production costs.
Natural resource conservation.
Biodiversity conservation.
Reduced contamination.
Social impacts : generation of rural employment, sustainable
health, lower urban migration, food security, safety and quality.
Reduced dependence on external inputs.
33

34. Challenges
• Lack of proper knowledge about organic tools and practices.
• Difficulties for ensuring continuous market for organic products.
• During the conversion period (2-3 years) yield will be poor and
there will not be any premium price for the products.
• High cost and difficulties for certification and inspection (especially
for export).
• Poor infrastructure facilities, roads, cold storage facilities,
processing facilities.
• Fragmented and unorganised management of entire value chain of
organic products. 34

35. • Requirement for more more labour input than conventional farms
• Low consistency in quality of produce.
• Lack of quality standards for bio manures and other inputs.
• Problems regarding the availability of organic , bio fertilizersand bio
pesticides.
• Lack of financial support from government for certification, research
& development etc.
• Practicability of feeding ever increasing population and its economic
viability.
Challenges …..
35

36. Strategies for enhancement of organic farming
1. Ensure seed sovereignty of the farmers and the State
2. Implementation of organic farming policy in a phased manner
3. Compact Area Group approach in organic farming
4. Strengthen soil and ensure water conservation measures
5. Promote a mixed farming approach for livelihood security
6. Conserve and improve agro-biodiversity and undomesticated biodiversity
7. Launch a state-wide intensive campaign on organic farming
9. Ensure availability of quality organic manure to the farmers
10. Ensure farm inputs for organic farming
11. Capacity Building for farmers, implementing officers, agencies.
12. Develop Model Sustainable Organic Farms in the State
36

37. 12. Ensure and improve the health and well being of the tribal
13. Establish Producer Companies promoted by organic farmers
14. Establish storage and transportation facilities
15. Promote farm level processing, value addition
16. Develop diverse channels for marketing of organic produce
17. Develop a simple certification process in the State for all organic farmers
18. Provide financial incentives for promoting organic farming
19. Encourage the use of renewable energy sources
20. Introduce organic farming in education institutions
21. Reorient Research, Education and Extension
22. Phase out Chemical Pesticides and Fertilizers from the farming sector
23. Integrate the programmes and activities of various departments
24. Organisational set-up for promotion of organic
37

38. Strategy 1
Ensure seed sovereignty of the farmers and the State
38

39. Action
 Establish seed villages exclusively for organic farming
• Begin programmes for the production of seeds, seedlings, planting
materials and traditional animal breeds at the Panchayat level.
• Begin at the farmers' group levels, seed banks and seed
cooperatives to produce, store, share and supply good quality
seeds. S
E
E
D
B
A
N
K
39

40. • Promote farmers who can produce organically, good quality
seeds and develop participatory seed production programmes.
• Develop storage facilities/protection measures using traditional
methods.
40

41.  Ensure maintenence of traceability chain mandatory at the Local Self
Government Institution level by the Biodiversity Management
Committee (BMC) .
 Declare and ensure Genetically Modified (GM) free villages/
Panchayat and State.
 Establish a mechanism to regulate the prices of seeds .
 Ensure supply of locally suitable seeds in each agro-climatic zone .
41

42. Strategy 2
 Implementation of organic farming policy in a phased manner
• Action
 Conduct an initial assessment of the status of organic farming and
farmers in the State.
Develop an action plan with an objective of converting annual crops
to organic within five years and the perennial crops with in 10 years.
 Develop a clear plan of action with budgets for incorporation into
the planning process of the Local Self Government Institution.
Special thrust should be initially given to complex, diverse and risk
prone areas and tribal districts.
Agricultural practices to be launched in the tribal belts should
compulsory be organic.
42

43. Strategy 3
 Compact Area Group approach in organic farming
Action
Encourage the formation of Organic farmers groups.
 Each group should be of a minimum five members .
Models such as Vegetable and Fruit Promotion Council of Kerala
(VFPCK), Maarappanmoola Cooperative Society. 43

44. Strategy 4
 Strengthen soil and ensure water conservation measures
Action
 Declare the existing sacred groves, ponds and mangroves as protected
areas and ensure their conservation.
 Ensure organic farming approach in all the watershed development
areas.
 Integrate the various institutions presently involved in watershed
management and introduce organic farming as a key component.
 Adopt appropriate agronomic practices suitable to the agro-ecological
conditions as well as the topographical conditions at the micro
watershed level .
44

45. Formulate legislative measures to rejuvenate and protect
traditional water resources. Including fresh water lakes, surangan
and ensure rain water conservation.
Establish testing facilities for soil, water, micronutrients and
microorganisms at least at the block and introduce the system of
providing Soil Heath Cards.
Promote bio-fencing.
Conduct training programmes for resource persons at the Local
Self Government Institution level on soil and water
conservation measures.
Avoid use of plastic in agricultural practices. Coir and other
natural fibers should be encouraged to prepare shade for
nurseries and flower farming.
45

46. Strategy 5
 Promote a mixed farming approach for livelihood security
and ecological sustainability
Action
 Make a crop-livestock integrated farming as part of organic
farming, with women centered ownership and management in the
farmer households and groups.
46

47. Emphasis may be given to Kerala's traditional farming approach of
integrated farming of dominantly coconut with cattle and poultry.
47

48.  Develop bee-keeping, duckeries and similar enterprises as part of
the mixed farming programme.
•
 Promote decentralized production of livestock feed from locally
available resources, but excluding spurious ingredients such as
growth promoters and hormones.
48

49. Document and popularize traditional knowledge related to animal
health care.
 Develop linkage between organic farmers and livestock growing
farmers for exchange of manure for fodder.
Encourage mixed cropping of indigenous trees and medicinal
plants through organic farming.
Promote proven and successful practices developed by farmers.
Tax relaxation shall be given to the land holding with maximum
forest and wild trees.
49

50. Strategy 6
 Conserve and improve agro-biodiversity and undomesticated
biodiversity
Action
 Document agro-biodiversity and related traditional knowledge and practice,
both cultivated and un-cultivated, in each Panchayat.
 Encouragement in the form of financial support may be given for the
establishment of model agro-biodiversity conservation farms.
 Develop programmes for farmers to collect, purify and multiply traditional
seeds.
 Encourage protection of traditional agricultural system such as Kaipad, Pokkali
and Kole and Kuttanad as "agricultural heritage of Kerala“.
 Promote integenous rice varieties such as navara, jeerakasala and
gandhakasala and also other traditional indigenous varieties of crops.
50

51. 51

52. Strategy 7
 Launch a state-wide intensive campaign on organic farming in the
form of a popular movement : "Jaiva Keralam"
Action
 Organise Organic Mela's in all districts of the state.
 Organise workshops, seminars, and exchange programmes for the
consumer, teachers, traders, farmers, government and semi-government
official in the areas.
 Ensure the strict enforcement of the provisions of the Food Adulteration
Act, 1954, and rules 1955.
52

53.  Begin state wise awareness programmes.
 Produce handouts, publications of case-studies and best practices, video
films, posters and other awareness materials to reach out to all sections,
especially women.
 Encourage setting up of organic kitchen gardens, organic orchards in urban
and rural households.
53

54. Strategy 8
 Ensure availability of quality organic manure to the farmers
Action
 Encourage, with adequate support, the availability of biomass in the organic
farm itself, through programmes such as crop rotation, tree crops, cover
crops, leguminous crops, green manure and green leaf manure.
 Provide support for cow, Buffalo, duck, fish, poultry, and goat, preferably
traditional breeds to organic farmers /group to ensure integrated farming and
the availability of farmyard manure and urine.
 Required changes in the existing Cattle Breeding Policy may be made to ensure
availability of indigenous varieties of cows and buffalow to the organic farmers
.
54

55. 55

56.  Encourage the production of various types of compost in the farm itself,
including vermi-composting and boigas slurry.
 Formulate special programmes for increasing the biomass and organic
manures, especially in rain-fed cultivation areas where soil depletion is high,
so as to drought proof the farm.
 Encourage indigenous species of earthworms and effective microorganisms in
composting.
 Establish a decentralized system to produce organic manure from
biodegradable organic waste segregation at source.
 Ensure the quality of the manure and establish a centralized testing laboratory
to monitor the same.
 Discourage burning of all organic material in the field which could be utilized
as manure. 56

57.  Under the leadership of the 'Padasekhara Samithi' and other farmers
groups draw the benefits of the provisions of the National Rural
Employment Guarantee Programme to ensure production of green
leaves and extraction of silt from the rural ponds, tanks, reservoirs,
streams and rivulets for augmenting the fertility of the farm lands.
57

58. Strategy 9
Ensure farm inputs for organic farming
Action
 Implement program for the production of seeds, seedlings and other
planting materials ,manure, plant protection material at the farm.
 Encourage Farmers Association /Clubs /Cooperative /Company of farmers
She's/Youth groups.
 Link organic municipal solid waste segregation. Organic waste treatment
plant should be made compulsory for the flats.
 Conduct training programmes for local resource person .
58

59.  Formulate legislative measures to empower the local self government
institutions, reputed NGO's for ensuring quality of inputs, including
necessary rules, guidelines, standards, monitoring.
 Establish special financial assistance scheme and /or link existing support
schemes.
 Develop local linkage for low cost input material to farmers.
 Steps may be taken to formulate the organic farming packages developed
by the Agricultural University in collaboration with organic farmers.
 Prepare a database on the organic content of the soil in different zones .
 Ensure the quality of fruits and vegetables coming from other states.
59

60. Strategy 10
 Capacity Building for farmers, implementing officers, agencies
and local self-government members .
Action
 Conduct orientation training and exposing visit programs.
 Group of 10-20 unemployed youth in each Panchayat
(50% women) in the model of Kudumbasree would be designed as
'Karshaka Sevakar', trained in all faces of organic farm
management.
60

61. •
Develop the existing Agro-clinics of the Department of
Agriculture into Organic Farming Resources Center and the
staff should be given training on organic farming.
Create awareness on organic farming practice among the
agriculture officers.
61

62. Strategy 11
 Develop Model Sustainable Organic Farms in the State
Action
Every Local Self Government Institution would develop model
organic farms in selected farmers field
Research Station in each agro-ecological zones under the KAU and
other agricultural institutions should be converted to organic
management systems.
Such farming areas could be made as part of the responsible
tourism programme.
62

63. Strategy 12
 Ensure and improve the health and well being of the tribal
through special tribal agriculture programmes.
Action
Ensure adequate nutritional food availability for tribal.
Develop specific programmes for the rejuvenation of their
traditional agriculture and knowledge protection.
Integrated watershed Programme, NREG etc in the rejuvenation of
tribal agriculture .
63

64. Ensure sustainable collection of minor forest produce and facilitate
the fair marketing of these produce through organic outlets .
Formulate specific scheme to provide tribal children with their
traditional food at least once in a day.
Develop village (ooru) level seed banks of their traditional crops and
medicinal plants .
64

65. Strategy 13
 Establish Producers Companies promoted by organic farmers
Action
Facilitate establishment of Organic Farmers Producer Companies or
similar concerns as an organic farming promoted enterprise.
65

66. Strategy 14
 Establish storage and transportation facilities
Action
Establish sepreate and decentralized storage facilities for organic
farm produce to ensure its organic integrity and help farmers in
certification process.
Provide separate local transportation facilities for organic produce
to nearby domestic markets. 66

67. Strategy 15
Promote farm level processing, value addition and encourage the
use of organic farm produce in food industry .
Action
Encourage farm processing by farmers groups, She's and
farmers Producer Companies for value addition.
 Encourage organic foods based industry in kerala to produce
and use organic produce in their products.
Set up food industry at manageable decentralized levels in
the State with special incentives package.
67

68. Strategy 16
Develop diverse channels for marketing of organic produce
Action
Set up separate markets/facilities for organic produce certified by
the PGS process through the existing channels of marketing of
agriculture products.
Encourage direct marketing/linkages by farmers groups with end
user institution.
68

69. Encourage institutions such as schools, hostels, hospitals and
government institutions to procure local organic produce .
Disallow large private retail corporations through suitable
legislations.
Encourage existing vegetable, fruits and grocery vendors to
promote organic products.
Facilitate the establishment of organic farm produce outlets in all
the districts, with the help of Governmental and Non governmental
organizations.
 Ensure that the tourism industry, through the Responsible Tourism
Initiative, source organic produce from local producers as much as
possible for their hotels and resorts.
69

70. Strategy 17
Develop a simple certification process in the State for all
organic farmers
Action
Encourage through specific scheme the implementation of
an internal control system for organic farmer group.
 Encourage the Participatory Guarantee System of
Certification for small and marginal farmers to supply to the
domestic market.
70

71. NGOs accredited by the PGS Council of India shall be authorised to
help implement and monitor the PGS system in the State
The State will develop an Organic Kerala Certification and a logo
and, "Jaiva Keralam“ shall be developed as a brand. Since each
country is following different norms, crops aimed at export may go
for third party certification.
Fix local standards for quality testing and certification.
Ensure that every organic farmer who is doing organic farming for
three years is given the certificate free of cost.
Include organic livestock rearing (Animal husbandry) in the
certification system.
71

72. Strategy 18
Provide financial incentives for promoting organic farming
Action
Provide interest-free loans to organic farmers, especially small and
marginal farmers.
Set in place production linked incentive system supports.
Promote revolving funds system.
Provide assistance during conversion period; two years for annual
crops and three years for perennials.
Introduce a State led insurance scheme for small and marginal
organic farmers.
Introduce pension for organic farmers. 72

73. Strategy 19
Encourage the use of renewable energy sources
Action
Assistance in terms of expertise and finances should be given for
use of biogas plants,solar energy and wind energy units wherever
feasible.
Develop appropriate small farm machinery for reducing energy,
cost and drudgery.
73

74. Strategy 20
Introduce organic farming in education institutions
Action
Introduce organic farming in educational institutions, prisons and
juvenile homes, through academic inputs.
Promote children-farmer interfaces in each school, which shall
include visits to organic farms.
Encourage schools to link with organic farmers for supply of rice,
vegetables, fruits, pulses, milk, egg and honey as part of the noon-
meal and nutritional supplement programmes.
The ICDS can also be encouraged to supply organic food processed
and prepared through SHG’s for the Anganwadi’s.
74

75. Strategy21
Reorient Research, Education and Extension
Action
Set up a special multi-institutional special task force to re-orient
the Research, Education and Extension systems to support the
Organic Farming Policy.
Develop package of practices and model demonstration farms for
organic farming in different agro-ecological zones.
 Introduce as part of the course curriculum, both at under and post
graduate levels, interactions with leading organic farmers, groups
and NGO’s promoting organic farming in the state.
Develop participatory research programmes with organic farmers
on all aspects of organic farming, ensuring a monthly remuneration
for the farmers of the participatory research programme. 75

76. Research and inventories so as to recognize and document existing
practices of organic farmers.
Identify and screen native livestock/fish breeds which are locally
adaptable and resistant to parasites and diseases.
Develop herbal remedies for control of diseases and pests of
livestock/ crops/ fish.
To institutionalise the above, an Organic Farming Research Institute
(OFRI) may be set up.
76

77. Strategy 22
Phase out Chemical Pesticides and Fertilizers from the
farming sector
Action
Ensure phased restriction/ban of sale and use of chemical
agricultural inputs parallel to the implementation of the
organic farming policy in the region.
Through necessary legislation stop the sale and use of the
highly toxic Class-1a and 1b pesticides as a preliminary step.
 Declare and maintain ecologically sensitive areas with rich
biodiversity and natural resource base (e.g. water bodies), as
Chemical Pesticide and Fertilizer-Free Zones.
77

78. Strictly prohibit the sale of pesticides to children, pregnant
women and non-farmers.
Review and regulate promotional activities and
advertisements of pesticides as per the FAO Code of Conduct
and Guidelines for Pesticide Use.
Conduct periodical analysis of water, soil, milk and crops at
the district level where pesticides continue to be used.
Precautionary measures should be taken before using exotic
organisms for biocontrol programmes.
78

79. Strategy 23
Integrate the programmes and activities of various
departments, local self governments and organizations.
Action
 Integrate the various government departments, institutions, civil
societies, and their schemes in a harmonious manner duly
considering organic farming principles and local situations.
These include government departments such as
• Agriculture
• AnimalHusbandry
• Forest
• Fisheries
• Local Bodies
• Finance
• Revenue
Industries
Tribal
Khadi and Village Industries
Financial Institutions
State Corperation
Department
Institutions(KAU)
ICAR institutions in the state
Commodity Boards
APEDA, MILMA and other
milk marketing societies
Farmers’ Organisations and
Societies, Self Help Groups
Organic Farming
Associations
NGOs promoting organic
farming
79

80. Strategy 24
Organisational set-up for promotion of organic farming
Action
Set up an Organic Kerala Mission to implement the organic farming
policy, strategy and action plan and ensure their success.
Executive Committee:
Hon. Minister for Agriculture – Chairman
Director, Department of Agriculture – Convenor
Members
 Secretary, Department of Agriculture
 Secretary, Department of Animal Husbandry
 Secretary, Department of Fisheries
 Secretary, Department of Local Self Government
 Chairman, Kerala State Biodiversity Board
 Director, Animal Husbandry
 Director, Fisheries
 Representatives of Kerala Agriculture
University
 Director, Department of Ayurveda,
Traditional Medicines
 Representative, Kerala State Planning Board
 Representative of organic farmers
 Representative of NGOs working in the field
of organic farming
80

81. 81

82. 82

83. 83

84. Conclusion
84
Organic farming is an integrated approach ,where all aspects of
farming systems are interlinked with each other.
Organic farming gives more stress on optimising rsource use and
productivity rather than maximizing production through over
exploitation of resources.
Feeding of increasing population of india is difficult with organic
farming alone. Sudden switch over to completely organic is not
possible .
But the straregies mentioned above can be followed for a gradual
change.
Moreover Higher premium prices exists for organic certified
products in domestic and international markets.
Conversion period have poor yield
High cost and difficulties of organic certification and inspetion is
another constraint.

85. 85