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4. Despite its advantages, the potential of organic farming in scalability and profitability can be realised only after overcoming the limitations posed it. Examine. (150 words)
Reference: Down to Earth
Introduction
According to FSSAI, ’Organic farming’ is a system of farm design and management to create an ecosystem of agriculture production without the use of synthetic external inputs such as chemical fertilizers, pesticides and synthetic hormones or genetically modified organisms. FAO suggested that Organic agriculture enhances agro-ecosystem health, including biodiversity, biological cycles and soil biological activity.
Body:
Advantages of Organic farming
- Compared with conventional agriculture, organic farming uses fewer pesticides, reduces soil erosion, decreases nitrate leaching into groundwater and surface water, and recycles animal wastes back into the farm.
Limitations of Organic farming
- Due to relatively small volumes, the costs of organic food products are relatively high. According to the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, productivity on an average dips by 6.7 per cent in the first year, and the government needs to have a plan in place to support farmers during the transition.
- The cost of cultivation increases as it takes more time and energy to produce than its chemical-intensive counterpart.
- High demand and low supply has further created an inflationary pressure on organic food products.
- Pest attack on organic crops is another reason cited by the farmers for low productivity and demanded education and training to deal with it.
- Specialised farmer training costs, higher processing and inventory holding costs, and increased packaging, logistics and distribution costs add to the price of end products.
- The absence of organic food products across all segments in the market is a concern
- There is low awareness at the producer level on the difference between conventional farming and organic farming.
- At the consumer level, there is confusion between natural and organic products and limited understanding of the health benefits of organic food products
- Consumers are faced with a plethora of decisions around brands —imported or domestic, product quality, authenticity of claims and certifications.
- Even as farmers are struggling to find a better market, the existing certification systems for organic food are making things difficult for them. The certification systems are not only cumbersome and time-consuming, but also expensive.
Way forward
- Supply-demand mismatch can be eased fundamentally by making organic production mainstream with location-specific hybrid production strategies
- Investments in achieving operations excellence by companies will facilitate lowering the cost of organic food products
- In order to sustain consumer trust, maintaining an accurate audit stream, and preventing cross-contamination with conventional goods would be crucial.
- Consumers should consume responsibly and stakeholders should prevent wastage along the supply chain.
- The Government must rope in agricultural scientists and international research institutions to develop organic herbicides.
- It is critical for companies involved in the organic food business to increase awareness among consumers in non-metro cities
- People across all income groups should have access to organic food.
- Establishing community-supported agricultural farms or with “grow your own food” programmes
Conclusion
Organic agriculture is the best insurance policy that India can have with better performance on productivity, environmental impact, economic viability and social well-being. Focusing only on higher yields at the expense of other sustainability pillars (economics, environment and society) is not the food production system that India needs. What India needs is an integrated system that gives equal importance to all sustainability dimensions across the value chain and thus helps establish a healthy and well-fed society.
Value addition
State of organic farming in India:
- India is home to 30 per cent of the total organic producers in the world, but accounts for just 2.59 per cent (1.5 million hectares) of the total organic cultivation area of 57.8 million hectares, according to the World of Organic Agriculture 2018 report.
- India is the largest exporter of organic cotton worldwide.
- More than 30% of world’s organic producers are in India
- India exporting over 300 products in 20 different categories.
- India exported 1.35 million metric tons of “certified organic” food in the year of 2015-16.
- Oilseeds comprised half of India’s overall organic food export, followed by processed food products at 25%.
- Current Indian organic market is estimated at more than Rs. 4000 crore and it is likely to increase to 10,000 to 20,000 crore by 2020.
- Indian organic market has a combined annual growth rate of 25% compared to 16% global growth rate.
- Most organic farmers are struggling due to poor policy measures, rising input costs and limited market, says a study by the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM) and global consultancy firm Ernst & Young.
Government Initiatives to Promote Organic Farming:
- Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North East Region (MOVCD). The scheme aims to develop certified organic production in a value chain mode to link growers with consumers and to support the development of the entire value chain.
- Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY): Under PKVY, Organic farming is promoted through adoption of organic villages by cluster approach and Participatory Guarantee System (PGS) certification.
- Certification Schemes:
- Participatory Guarantee System (PGS).
- National Program for Organic Production (NPOP
- Soil Health Card Scheme
- Agri-export Policy 2018
- One District – One Product (ODOP)
- PM Formalization of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PM FME)
- Zero Budget Natural Farming
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