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Importance, Prospects and Constraints of Organic Farming in India

Article · January 2014

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 Issue

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Volume -1, Issue-4 (October-December), 2013 Organic
Available online at www.popularkheti.info Farming
© 2013 popularkheti.info
ISSN:2321-0001 1(4) 2013

Importance, Prospects and Constraints of Organic Farming in India

R. K. Meena1*, Y. V. Singh2, Chaitanya P. Nath1, R. S. Bana
Bana1 and B. Lal3
1Division of Agronomy; 2Center for Conservation and Utilisation of Blue Green Algae,

Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi -110 012

3Central Rice Research Institute, Cuttack, Odisha-753 006

*Email of corresponding author:

author: rajeshkumar2793@gmail.com

The modern system of farming is becoming unsustainable as evidenced by

declining crop and factor productivity, damage to environment and increasing
chemical contaminations etc. This necessitates to have an alternative agriculture
method which can help to develop a friendly eco-system while sustaining and
increasing the crop productivity. Organic farming is recognized as the best
known alternative to the conventional agriculture and area under such farming
is increasing in India and abroad over the years. However, major weaknesses of
organic agriculture in the country are poor linkages between the farmers and
markets and absence of financial support from the governments. An appropriate
national agriculture policy is required that give a prominent place to organic
farming addressing the issues related to its coverage, financial support, creation
of linkages among the farmers, marketing agencies and consumers.

Introduction
The word 'organic', means 'living', 'earth friendly' or 'of plant or animal origin'. Organic
farming (OF) is a unique production management system which primarily aimed at
cultivating the land and raising crops in such a way, as to keep the soil alive and in good
health by use of organic wastes (crop, animal, farm wastes and aquatic wastes) and other
biological materials along with beneficial microbes (biofertilizers) to release nutrients to crops
for increased sustainable production in an eco friendly pollution free environment
(http://agritech.tnau.ac.in/org). OF is an age old practice in India. Organic manure has been
prepared and applied in farming since Vedic period. The OF is a holistic production
management system, which promotes and enhances agro-ecosystem health, including bio-
diversity, biological cycles and biological activities. One of the biggest outcomes of OF is
healthy soil that is alive with beneficial organisms. It relies on a concept of "Farm as an
Organism". OF excludes the use of synthetic inputs, such as synthetic fertilizers, pesticides,
herbicides and genetically modified organisms (IFOAM). The excessive use of chemicals over
the time has started posing problems to animal and human health due to persistency of

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residues in food items. Leaching down of chemicals from soil renders ground water unfit for
drinking and irrigation. Besides, the chemical residues also harm the beneficial soil microbes
and fauna (earthworms) resulting in degradation of soil fertility.
Organic agriculture is now being practiced in more than 130 countries with a total area
of 30.4 million hectare, about 0.65% of total agricultural land of the world. With respect to
the area under organic agriculture, Australia occupies the prime position followed by China,
Argentina, USA, Italy and many other countries. India, although comes at second place with
respect to total number of certified organic farms (44,926), occupies 13th position as far as the
area under organic agriculture concerns. In India, about 528,171 hectare area is under organic
agriculture (including certified and area under organic conversion) accounting for about 0.3%
of total agricultural land (Pandey and Singh, 2012).

Importance of Organic farming

In food production process, relative contribution of organic manures as a source of plant
nutrients decrease and chemical fertilisers application increase substantially. With increase in
cost of production inputs, inorganic fertilisers became more expensive. Another issue of great
concern was the decline the sustainability of soil productivity due to multiple and intensive
cropping systems. The scientists have realized that the ‘Green Revolution’ with high input use
has reached a plateau and is now sustained with diminishing return of falling. The occurrence
of multi-nutrient deficiencies and overall decline in the productive capacity of soil due to
non-judicious fertiliser use, have been widely reported. Such concerns and problems posed by
modern agriculture gave birth to new concepts in farming, such as OF, natural farming,
biodynamic agriculture, do-nothing agriculture, ecofarming, etc.
According to the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movement (IFOAM)
the major objectives of OF include: (1) Production of high quality food in sufficient quantity
in harmony with natural systems and cycles, (2) Enhancing biological cycles within the
farming system involving microorganisms, soil flora and fauna, plants and animals, (3)
Maintaining long-term soil fertility and genetic diversity of the production system and its
surroundings including plant and wildlife, (4) Promoting healthy use with proper care of
water resources and all life therein, (5) Creating harmonious balance between crop
production and animal husbandry, and (6) Minimizing all forms of pollution (Willer et al,
2008).

Prospects of Organic Farming in India

Although, commercial organic agriculture with its rigorous quality assurance system is a new
market controlled, consumer-centric agriculture system world over, but it has grown almost

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25-30% per year during last 10 years. In spite of recession fears the growth of organic is going
unaffected. The movement started with developed world is gradually picking up in
developing countries. India is poised for faster growth with growing domestic market. India
has traditionally been a country of organic agriculture, but the growth of modern scientific,
input intensive agriculture has pushed it to wall. But with the increasing awareness about the
safety and quality of foods, long term sustainability of the system and accumulating evidences
of being equally productive, the OF has emerged as an alternative system of farming which
not only address the quality and sustainability concerns, but also ensures a debt free,
profitable livelihood optimum.
The OF practice should be considered for lesser endowed regions of the country like
(North east India) rather than in resource endowed regions (Trans-gangetic plain) which
serve as the food basket of country. The availability of organic source of nutrient inadequate
amounts, which is a major problem. In such circumstances, post-harvest residues should be
utilised to properly. However, to accomplish this problem, feasible technologies are needed
for in situ recycling or rapid composting of on-farm residues and wastes through microbial
consortia. OF may be practiced in crops, commodities and regions where the country has
comparative advantage. To begin with, the practice of OF should be for low volume high-
value crops, like tea, coffee, spices, medicinal and herbal plants etc., beside fruits and
vegetables, for which R&D support is required.

Constraints of Organic Farming in India

The important constraint in the progress of OF is the inability of the government policy
making level to take a firm decision to promote organic agriculture. Most of crop waste used
as an animal feed and fuel purpose so availability also constraints. There are following major
problem areas for the growth of OF in the country:
1. Organic manure contains fewer amount of nutrient: The source of organic nutrient
contain fewer amount of nutrient so huge quantity of biomass required for supply the
optimum amount of nutrient to crops. While chemical fertilizer contain high amount of
nutrient and they are easily available.
2. Lack of awareness
awareness:
wareness: It is a fact that many farmers in the country have only ambiguous
ideas about OF and its advantages as against the conventional farming methods. Use of
bio-fertilizers and bio pesticides requires awareness on the part of the farming
community. Knowledge about the availability and usefulness of supplementary nutrients
to enrich the soil is also vital to increase productivity. Farmers have poor knowledge of
compost making using the modern techniques and its application. Often the pit is flooded
with rainwater and result is the top of the compost remains under composted the bottom

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becomes like a hard cake. Proper training to the farmers will be necessary to make
vermicompost on the modern lines. They apply during the months when moisture level
in the soil not optimum which adversely affect its efficiency.
3. Marketing problems of organic
organic input and out puts:
puts: It is found that before the beginning
of the cultivation of organic crops, their marketability and that too at a premium over the
conventional produce has to be assured. Inability to obtain a premium price, at least
during the period required to achieve the productivity levels of the conventional crop
will be a setback. It was found that the farmers of organic wheat in Rajasthan got lower
prices than those of the conventional wheat (Rao, 2003).
Bio-fertilizers and bio-pesticides are yet to not so popular in the country. There is
a lack of marketing and distribution network for them because the retailers are not
interested to deal in these products, as the demand is low. The erratic supplies and the
low level of awareness of the cultivators also add to the problem. Higher margins of profit
for chemical fertilizers and pesticides for retailing, heavy advertisement campaigns by the
manufacturers and dealers are other major problems affecting the markets for organic
inputs in India.
4. Shortage of organic biomass
iomass:
mass: India about 70% of farmer are small and marginal, so most
of crop biomass they are used as fodder and fuel. Even if some are left out on the farms
then termites, etc destroy them.
5. Poorly supporting infrastructure:
infrastructure: There are only few agencies for accreditation and their
expertise is limited to fruits and vegetables, tea, coffee and spices. The recognized green
markets are non-existent, the trade channels are yet to be formed and the infrastructure
facilities for verification leading to certification of the farms are inadequate. Poor
facilities of cold storage so farmer cannot store the product long time and sold his product
at low prices.
6. High input costs:
costs: The costs of the organic inputs are higher than those of industrially
produced chemical fertilizers and pesticides including other inputs used in the
conventional farming system. The groundnut cake, neem seed and cake, vermicompost,
cow dung, other manures, etc. applied as organic manure are becoming costly and making
them unaffordable to the small cultivators. The cost of one kg nitrogen is around 13 rupee
when we apply through urea but apply same quantity through FYM and compost it
should be around 150 rupees.
7. Lack of suitable agriculture policy
policy:
olicy: Promotion of organic agriculture both for export and
domestic consumption, the requirements of food security for millions of the poor,

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national self-sufficiency in food production, product and input supplies, etc. are vital
issues which will have to be dealt with in an appropriate agriculture policy of India.
8. Lack of financial
financial support: The cost of certification and periodical inspections carried out
by the certifying agencies, which have freedom to fix the timings, type and number of
such inspections appears to be burdensome for the small and marginal farmers. Supports
for the marketing of the organic products are also not forthcoming neither from the state
nor from the Union governments. Even the financial assistance extended to the
conventional farming methods are absent for the promotion of OF.
9. Low yields during conversion period:
period: Yield declines during initial two-three year of
conversion from conventional to organic. Once the farm is established organic, the yield
enhances and the cost of production declines (Pandey and Singh, 2012). In many cases
the farmers experience some loss in yields on discarding synthetic inputs on conversion
of their farming method from conventional to organic. Small and marginal farmers
cannot take the risk of low yields for the initial 2-3 years on the conversion to OF. There
are no schemes to compensate them during the gestation period. The price premiums on
the organic products will not be much of help, as they will disappear once significant
quantities of organic farm products are made available.
10. Political and social
social factors: Agriculture in India is subject to political interventions with
the objectives of dispensing favours for electoral benefits. Subsidies and other supports
from both the Central and state governments, government controlled prices of inputs like
chemical fertilizers, the public sector units' dominant role in the production of fertilizers,
government support prices for many agricultural products, supply of inputs like power
and water either free of cost or at a subsidized rate, etc. are the tools often used to achieve
political objectives. Any movement for the promotion of OF in India will have to counter
opposition from the sections who benefit from such policies in the conventional farming
system. The political system in a democracy like India is likely to evade the formulation
of policies, which affect the interests of the voting blocks unless there are more powerful
counter forces demanding change.
11. Complex certification procedure: There are large number of formalities required to
certification of the product and high cost involved are important constraint of OF.
12. Lack of organic input responsive variety: In conventional system grown variety poor
perform under organic method of cultivation. In this context we have develop to variety
which show better response under organic cultivation.

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Suggestions
Suggestions to Promote Organic Farming
Many changes are needed if India is to overcome the constraints and achieve its rich potential
in organic agriculture. The following are the suggestions, which can be considered for
promotion of OF: (i) Developing appropriate and strong extension services (ii) Developing
strong linkage between producer and consumers (iii) Reducing the costs of certification and
easily approachable to farmer (iv) Making the organic inputs available to small holders like
biofertilizer and biopesticide (v) Developing the domestic market (vi) Providing subsidies and
other financial support (vii) Improving infrastructural facilities like cold storage and
transportation (viii) Enhancing linkages in the supply chain (ix) Promoting research on
organic agricultural research and development (x) Providing regular training on organic
agriculture.

Conclusion
Organic agriculture is gaining momentum as an alternative method to the modern system.
However, there are a number of constraints impeding Indian farmers, from adopting OF.
Farmers’ apprehension lies in non-availability of sufficient amount of organic supplements,
bio-fertilizers and local market for organic produce. Additionally, lack of access to guidelines,
certification and input cost coupled with capital-driven regulation by contracting firms
strongly discourage small farm holders who constitute over 70% of farming community in
India. There is a need for a comprehensive framework that integrates OF with bottom up
responses, technology diffusion with reciprocal knowledge flow from farmers’ institution and
their local resources and innovation.

References
References
Pandey J and Singh A. 2012. Opportunities and constraints in organic farming: an Indian
perspective, Journal of Scientific Research, 56: 47-72.
Prasad R. 2005. Organic farming vis-à-vis modern agriculture. Current Science, 89(2): 252-
254.
Rao PS. 2003. Marketing of organic produce (wheat), in Rajasamand district of Rajasthan.
Indian Journal of Agriculture Marketing, conference number special.
Willer H, Yussefi-Menzler M and Sorensen N. 2008. The world of organic agriculture-
statistics and emerging trends 2008. http://orgprints.org/13123/4/world-of-organic-
agriculture- 2008.

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