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Organic Farming For Sustainable Crop Production

Dr. Manoj Sharma Deputy Director ( Training)

KVK., Kapurthala
 “Organic agriculture, a holistic system that focuses on
improvement of soil health, use of local inputs ,and
relatively high intensity use of local labour, is an
admirable fit for drylands in many ways and the dryland
offer many benefits that would make it relatively easy to
implement.”
Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam
Definition
“..an ecological production management
system that promotes and enhances
biodiversity, biological cycles and soil
biological activity.
It is based on minimal use of off-farm
inputs and on management practices that
restore, maintain and enhance ecological
harmony.”

National Organic Standards Board

Philosophy HEALTHY SOCIETY

•Human health tied to the

health of the environment
HEALTHY PEOPLE

• A healthy soil is the

foundation
HEALTHY FOOD
Feed The
Soil, HEALTHY SOIL

Not
 What is Organic Farming

Organic agriculture is farming

without synthetic pesticide and
conventional fertilizer
A production system that responds to
site-specific conditions by integrating
cultural, biological and mechanical
practices that foster cycling of
resources, promote ecological balance
and conserve biodiversity.
 Adverse effects of
inorganic farming
• Destruction of soil structure and poor water holding capacity

• Reduction in soil fertility and low organic matter content

• Increase in salinity, sodicity and land submergence

• Indiscriminate killing of useful insects

5. Adverse effect on soil flora and fauna

6. Resistance development in pathogen

7. Deterioration of environment and human health

 Pesticide contamination of
food and feed in Punjab
Commodity Number of samples
Analysed Contaminated
Cereals 30 30
Rice Grain 99 99
Vegetables 96 64
Animal feed 15 15
Animal feed and 105 105
fodder
Milk 24 23
 Why farm organically?
Organic farming provides long-term benefits to people and the
environment.

Organic farming aims to:

• Increase long-term soil fertility.
• Control pests and diseases without harming the environment.
• Ensure that water stays clean and safe.
• Use resources which the farmer already has, so the farmer
needs less money to buy farm inputs.
• Produce nutritious food, feed for animals and high quality
crops to sell at a good price.
 Factors driving organic
•
farming
Diverse agro-climate regions that
provides environment for wide
range of crops that can cater to
different market demands.
• Increasing awareness & health
consciousness.
• Availability of comparatively cheap
labour for labour-intensive organic
agriculture
• Huge numbers of small farmers,
those who do the traditional
farming have very limited capacity
to pay for most of the chemical
Factors driving organic
farming
• Increasing involvement
of private companies
in field of agricultural
extension, trade,
consultation and other
services
• Enhanced government
attention and support
for organic agriculture
through various policy
initiations and action
programs.
 ORGANIC STATUS
• Global : 24 mha (1.6% Ag. Area)
: Nearly 130 countries produce organic
product, Australia (10 mha) – lead
country
• Indian : 37000-41000 ha (SOEL survey),
(0.3% of Ag. Area)
: 2.50 million ha (APEDA)
(Including 2.43 mha of forest area with
wild herb & medicinal plants
 Major products produced in India by
Organic Farming
Type Products
Commodity Tea, Coffee, Rice, Wheat
Spices Cardamom, Black pepper, white pepper,
ginger, turmeric, vanilla, mustard, tamarind,
clove, cinnamon, nutmeg, mace chilly
Pulses Red Gram, Black Gram
Fruits Mango, Banana, Pineapple, Grape, passion
fruit, Orange, Cashew nut, walnut
Vegetables Okra, Brinjal, Garlic, Onion, Tomato, Potato
Oilseeds Sesame, castor, sunflower
Others Cotton, herbal extract
 Market Organic (Export) 2004

Kerala = 1232 Metric ton Export Product

West Bengal = 937 Metric ton
Basmati rice, cotton,
Karnataka = 476 Metric ton Mangopulp, Cashew
Tamil Nadu = 471 Metric ton nut, Sesame,
Punjab = 541 Metric ton Piniapple pulp,
Himachal Pradesh = 521 Metric ton Honey, Walnut,
Maharashtra = 375 Metric ton spices, coffee, Tea,
Peanut canned.
India Total = 6472 Metric ton
APEDA,
 Organic Principles
Integrity…
Benefits: Protects the concept and value of organic.
Practices: Buffers, good record keeping

Sustainability…
Benefits: reduced energy consumption,soil conservation, efficient
water use,increased water quality.
Practices: conservation structures,conservation tillage, controlled
drainage,rotations, mulching, integrated systems.
Natural Plant Nutrition…
Benefits: Emphasis on soil health translates into healthier food,
healthier humans. Less plant disease, fewer weeds, better water-
holding capacity, resistance to erosion.
Practices: Crop rotations, cover crops, green manures, animal
manures, application of allowable substances in limited quantities,
composting.
Biodiversity…
Benefits: ecosystem (and financial) stability, more beneficial insects,
greater below-ground diversity, better nutrient cycling, disease
suppression, tilth, and N-fixation.
Practices: intercropping, companion planting, establishment of beneficial
habitats, crop rotations, cover crops, species/enterprise integration.
 Biodiversity and Organic Agriculture
Organic farmers are both custodians and users of biodiversity at
all levels:
• Gene level: locally adapted seeds and breeds are preferred for their greater
resistance to diseases and resilience to climatic stress;

• Species level: diverse combinations of plants and animals optimize nutrient

and energy cycling for agricultural production;

• Ecosystem level: the maintenance of natural areas within and around organic
fields and absence of chemical inputs create suitable habitats for wildlife.
Reliance on natural control methods maintains species diversity and avoids
the selection of pest species resistant to chemical control methods.
 Organic agriculture and soil ecosystems
Natural soil fertility must be relied
upon in organic systems. Practices
such as crop rotations, symbiotic
association, cover crops, organic
fertilizers and minimum tillage
create suitable conditions for soil
fauna and flora.
Organic agriculture and agro-ecosystems
Natural disease resistance and pest
predation must be strengthened in
organic systems. Crop rotation is
considered the cornerstone of
organic management, functioning as
a tool for pest management and soil
fertility.

(IFOAM, 2000 )
Organic farming combats global
warming
Some apprehensions about organic farming?
Can organic farming produce enough
food for every body ?
Is it possible to meet the nutrient
requirements of crops entirely from
organic sources?
Are there any significant
environmental benefits of organic
farming?
 Is the food produced by organic
farming superior in quality?
 Is organic agriculture economically
feasible?
 Comparative data of 3 years
average production at Phanda farm
S.No. Crops Sowing area (Ha) Production
Qntl./Ha.
Organic Control Organic Control
Kharif
1. Soybean 20.000 14.000 12.46 12.16
2. Maize 1.000 1.000 8.00 7.50
3. Paddy 8.800 2.000 14.50 13.00
4. Arhar 3.750 2.000 7.98 6.63
Rabi
1. Gram 14.000 9.000 12.72 10.18
2. Peas 1.500 1.500 10.80 11.20
3. Wheat 1.500 9.500 22.00 20.00
24

Dr. G.S. Kaushal

Director Agriculture
Govt. of Madhya Pradesh
BHOPAL
Improvement in soil composition
under biodynamic practices

Ram et al., 2004

 Fruit quality of tomato influenced by organic farming
Treatment Fruit quality
Titrable Ascor Total pH
acidity bic solids
(citrate %) acid (%)
(mg/1
00g)
T1 -co nt rol 0.43 18.3 3.6 3.6
T2 -100% N a s u rea 0.52 20.7 4.4 3.8
T3 -100% N a s fym 0.55 20.7 4.6 3.7
T4 -100% N a s ve rmico mp ost 0.61 21.8 4.9 3.7
T5 -100% N a s co ir pit h co mp ost 0.56 20.8 4.5 3.6
T6 -75% N as FYM wi th Azo spirillum 0.62 20.8 5.O 3.7
T7 -75% N as vermicom po st wit h 0.72 23.0 5.4 3.9
Azosp ir llu m
T8 -75% N as coir pith com po st with 0.66 21.7 5.2 3.8
Azosp ir illu m
T9 -50% N asF YM with Azos pirill um 0.48 19.1 4.1 3.5
T1 0-50% N a s ve rmico mp ost with 0.50 19.4 4.3 3.6
Azosp ir llu m
T1 1-50% N a s co ir pit h co mp ost wi th 0.48 19.1 4.2 3.6
Azosp ir illu m
C. D(P= 0.05 ) 0.03 0.5 0.3 0.4
Kannan et al.,
Effect of organic farming on fruit characteristics and yield of tomat
Fruit characters
Treatment
Fruit Fruit Fruit Yield
height girth (cm) weight (g) (t/ha)
(cm)
T1-Control 2.2 10.7 29.8 22.7
T2-100% N as urea 2.6 14.4 29.8 31.0
T3-100%N as fym 2.6 14.3 39.7 30.9
T4-100%N as vermicompost 2.7 14.7 40.3 31.2
T5-100%N as coirpith compost 2.6 14.4 39.8 31.0
T6-75%N as FYM with Azospirillum 2.8 14.7 40.5 31.3
T7-75%N as vermicompost with 3.1 15.2 42.7 33.0
Azospirllum
T8-75%N as coirpith compost with 3.0 14.9 41.4 31.7
Azospirillum
T9-50%N asFYM with Azospirillum 2.4 12.7 38.5 30.6
T10-50%N as vermicompost with 2.5 13.3 39.0 30.5
Azospirllum
T11-50%N as coirpith compost with 2.5 13.3 38.7 Kannan et30.7
al.,
Azospirillum 2006
Rice equivalent yield (t/ha) of different systems
under various management practices at PAU
Cropping
Productivity ( t/ha)
System
Chemi Organi Integrat
GM-Basmati cal
12.6 c
13.0 ed
13.6
Rice- Wheat
Turmeric-Onion 19.2 36.9 36.6
Summer 25.3 29.1 29.4
Groundnut-
Garlic
Maize-durum 11.4 12.6 12.3
Wheat-Cowpea
(F)
Rice- 24.9 31.0 32.2
Garlic+Mentha
Management of soil fertility using on –
farm inputs in maize/basmati rice –
wheat cropping systems at PAU
Grain Yield (q/ha)
Organic Inputs
Maize Wheat
Farmyard Manure 39.9 35.6
(FYM)
Crop residues (CR) 33.7 32.4
Vermicompost (VC) 41.9 33.0
1/3 FYM + 1/3 CR + 41.5 34.2
1/3 VC
Control 17.1 13.2
Basmati Wheat
Rice
GM 30.8 29.3
Control 17.2 13.7
 Green fodder yield (t/ha) under
different fodder production
system at PAU
Treatment Green fodder yield (t/ha)
Kharif Rabi Summer Total
Main Plots (Green fodder system)
Sorghum – 33.7 67.2 - 1
Berseem -
Maize – Berseem- 13.2 67.7 60.8 00.
1
Bajra 9
Maize-Berseem- 14.2 67.9 41.9 41.
1
Maize+cowpea 7
24.
Sorghum + gurara 35.0 48.3 33.6 1
- oats - cowpea 0
16.
Sub plots (Management sysem) 9
Organic 25.9 71.2 47.2 1
Chemical 19.6 53.3 42.6 44.
1
Integrated 3
15.
26.4 63.7 46.5 1
CD (0.05) 5
36.
0.95 1.7 2.0 2.3
 Plant Nutrient Supply
System in Organic Farming
• Organic amendments with organic manure, vermi-
compost and bio fertilizers.

• Biodynamic Approach based on soil biotechnology

and microbiology.

• Homeopathic Approach

• Agnihotra Approach

• Panchgavya Approach
 Nutrient Cycling
Soil microorganisms mediate nutrient cycles
through decomposition of organic residues
- Microorganisms ‘feed’ on the residues
- Biochemical by-products are plant nutrients (N,P,S) and
other beneficial compounds like humic acid
• Mineralization
Microbial conversion of organic N P and S into
-

ammonium, phosphate, and sulfate

- Nutrients become available
• Immobilization
-Microbial assimilation of inorganic N, P, and S
- Nutrients temporarily tied up in microbial biomass
 Microbial Functional Groups
Bacteria
- decomposers, primary players in NP and S
cycling
- Actinomycetes act on more complex
compounds to form humus
Fungi
- Decomposers, attack lignin
- Nutrient acquisition (mycorrhiza)
Protozoa and Nematodes
- Consume bacteria and fungi releasing plant
nutrients (N)
- Activity increases decomposition rates
 Factors Affecting Microbial Populations
Moisture
- Microorganisms need water to survive
Oxygen
- Bacteria both aerobic and anaerobic
- Fungi, protozoa and nematodes aerobic
Temperature
- Adaptable
- Activity generally increases as temperature rises
Soil pH
- Bacteria sensitive to acidity
- Fungi function at low pH
Organic Matter
- OM source of C and nutrients
- OM additions stimulate microbial growth
Agricultural Practices Affecting Microbial Populations
Tillage
- Destroys fungi, meso and macrofauna
- Reduces OM
- Reduces aggregation
Fertilizers
- N and P fertilizers create acid zones killing
microorganisms
Fumigation
- Indiscriminant destruction of microbial community
Monocropping
- Reduces microbial diversity
- Promotes pest build-up
What About the Soil Food Web?
What About the Soil Food Web?
 Important to recognize the role of each
functional group and their interdependence

 Remember that management practices affect

microbial interactions

 Soil tests to quantify soil food web are

expensive and difficult to interpret

 Hot area for research

Tools and Practices for organic farming
Crop Rotation
 Soil fertility
- Legumes for N fixation
- Diverse rooting habits
Pest Management
- Break pest cycles
- Promote diversity
 Know the family of the crops
Crops rotated so that crops from different families
follow each other Lettuce, Beans ,Corn ,Tomatoes
Green Manures in the Crop Rotation:
Soil fertility
- Legumes for N fixation
- Grasses for OM accumulation
- Diverse rooting habits
Pest Management
- Break pest cycles
- Promote diversity, attract beneficials
- Biofumigants (brassicas, sudan grass, sunn
hemp)
Weed Management
- Perennial rye
- Oats
Composts and Manures:
.. Soil Conditioner
- Feed the soil
- Improve physical properties
.. Nutrient Availability
- C:N ratio
- Total N content
- . 15% of total N in mature composts available in the
first year (Bettina et al., 2003)
- Field trials estimate that composts alone can satisfy
crop N demands after 40-80 years
Feather meal Dairy Manure Compost
C:N ratio: 3.2 18 10-17
Total N 12% 2.0% 1.0%
Composts and Manures:
Timing
-Continuous additions to build up SOM

- Mineralization potential of soil increases as

OM inputs increase with time

- SOM acts as nutrient reserve continuously

releasing nutrients

- High N materials can be used as a rapid

source of N in the short term
Intercropping and Companion Planting:
Interplanting 2 or more mutually beneficial plants to
increase biodiversity
Biological Pest Control:
Depends on managing beneficial insect
predators/parasites
Seen as default benefit of organic soil
management practices that promote
above and below ground diversity
Can include the release of control agents
Farmscaping: long/short term design to
create habitats for beneficials
Tillage and Cultivation
Tools for weed control, residue
management, manure incorporation,
hardpan destruction, pest control
Negative impacts:
- Costly
- Destroy humus reserves and soil
organisms
- compaction
Conservation and ridge tillage
- Organic growers pioneers
Mulching
Weed control, moisture and temperature
control, soil organic matter

Large quantities of resistant organic

materials (wood chips, straw, etc…)

Not practical on a large scale

 List of bio-pesticides available in
market
Name Purpose
Neemazal Against borers
Neem oil (5 %) Against borers
Neem seed extract (5 %) Against borers
Neem cake For controlling
Dried neem leaves nematodes
Against stored
Sour butter milk (10 %) grain pests
Against sap sucking
Cow dung ash dusting insects
Water spray Against aphid
Trichogramma cards Against borers
Trixho- XP ( Trichoderma Against diseases
harzaianum)
Sudocel Against diseases
Pseudomonas fluoresens (PSF)
Larvocel
Bauvaria baviana Against diseases
 Products for use in fertilization and soil
conditioning in organic farming
Sr Items Condition
. s for use
No
Material produced on an organic farm unit
.
Matter produced on an organic farm unit
1 Farmyard and slurry, urine Permitted

2 Crop residues and green manure Permitted

3 Straw and other mulches Permitted

4 Composts and vermicomposts Permitted

Matter produced outside the organic farm unit

1 Blood meal, meat meal, bone meal and Restricted
feather meal without preservatives
2 Compost made from plant residues and Restricted
animal excrement
3 Farmyard manure, slurry, urine Restricte
d
4 Fish and fish products without preservatives Restricte
d
5 Guano Restricte
d
6 Human excreta Restricte
d
7 Wood, bark, sawdust, wood ash, wood charcoal Restricte
d
8 Straw, animal charcoal, compost and spent mushroom Restricte
and vermiculture substances d
9 Compost from organic household Restricte
d
10 Compost from plant residues Restricte
d
11 Sea weed and sea weed products

By products from the industries

1 By- products from the food and textile industries of Restricte
biodegradable material of microbial, plant or animal d
origin without any systematic additives
2 By products from oil palm, coconut and cocoa Restricte
(including fruit bunch, palm oil mill effluent, cocoa d
3 peat and empty
By products coca pods.
of industries processing ingredients from Restricte
organic agriculture d
4 Extracts from mushroom, chlorella, fermented Restricte
product from Aspergillus, natural acids (vinegar) d
Mineral Origin
Basic slag Restricted

Calcareous and magnesium rock Restricted

Lime, limestone, gypsum Restricted

Calcified sea weed Restricted

Calcium chloride Restricted

Mineral potassium with low chlorine Restricted

content (e.g. sulphate of potash, kainite,
sylvinite, patenkali) (rock phosphate)
Natural phosphates Restricted

Trace elements Permitted

Sulphur Permitted

Clay (bentonite, perlite, zeolite) Permitted

Microbiological origin
Bacterial preparation (bio fertilizers) Permitted

Biodynamic preparations Permitted

Plant preparation and botanical extracts Permitted

Products for plant pest and disease
control
Items Conditio
n for
Material from plant and animal origin use
Plant based repellents (Neem Permitt
preparations from Azadirachta indica ed
Algal preparations (gelatine) Permitt
Casein ed
Permitt
Extracts from mushroom, chlorella, ed
Permitt
fermented products from Aspergillus ed
Propolis Restrict
Beeswax, natural acids (vinegar), plant ed
Permitt
oils, Quassia
Rotenone from Derris elliptica, ed
Restrict
Lonchocarpus, Trphrosia spp ed
Tobacco tea (pure nicotine prohibited Restrict
Preparation from Rryania species ed
Restrict
Items Conditio
n for use
Mineral Origin
Chloride of lime/soda Restrict
Burgundy mixture ed
Restrict
Clay (bentonite, perlite, ermiculite, zeolite ed
Permitte
Copper salts/inorganic salts (Bordeaux mix, d
Not
copper hydroxide, copper oxychloride) allowed
Quick lime Restrict
Mineral Origin ed

Diatomaceous earth Permitte

Light mineral oils d
Restrict
Permagnate of potash ed
Restrict
Insect Origin ed

Release of parasites, predators of insect Restrict

pests
Sterilized insects ed
Restrict
Sterlized insects males ed
Not
allowed
Items Conditio
n for use
Microorganisms used for biological pest control
Viral, fungal and bacterial preparations Restrict
Others(biopesticides) ed
Carbon dioxide and nitrogen gas Permitt
Soft soap, soda, sulphur dioxide ed
Permitt
Homeopathic and ayurvedic ed
Permitt
preparations
Herbal and biodynamic preparations ed
Permitt
Sea salt and salty water ed
Permitt
Ethyl alcohol ed
Not
allowed
Traps, barriers and repellants
Physical methods (e.g. chromatic traps, Permitt
mechanical traps) ed
Mulches, nets Permitt
Pheromones-in traps and dispensers ed
Permitt
Average nutrient content of organic
manures
Source of
Percentage composition
Nutrition
Organic
N P2O5 K2O
manure
Farmyard 0.5 0.2 0.5
Manure
Farm 0.5 0.15 0.5
compost
Town 1.4 1.00 1.4
compost
Night soil 5.5 4.0 2.0
Vermicompos 3.0 0.0 1.5
tCrop -
residues
Bio gas 1.5-2.0 1.0 1
slurry
Rock - 25-30 -
phosphate
 Source of Percentage composition
Nutrition
Non edible oil N P2O5 K2 O
cake
Castor cake 4.3 1.8 1.3
Cotton seed 3.9 1.8 1.6
cake
Karanj or
3.9 0.9 1.2
honge cake
Mahua cake 2.5 0.8 1.8
Neem cake 5.2 1.0 1.4
Safflower 4.9 1.4 1.2
cake
Green Manure crops
San hamp
2.3 0.5 1.80
(Crotolaria
juncea)
Dhaincha
3.5 0.6 1.20
( Sesbnia
aculeata)
Sesbania 2.71 0.53 2.21
speciosa
Source of Nutrition Percentage composition
Green leaf manure N P2O5 K2 O
Glycricidia (Gluicidia
2.76 0.28 4.6
sepium)
Pongamia (Pongama 3.31 0.44 2.39
glabra)
Gulmohur (Delonix 2.76 0.46 0.50
glabra)
Neem (Azadirachta 2.83 0.28 0.35
indica)
Animal based
Blood meal 10-12 1-2 1.00
Meat meal 10.5 2.5 0.5
Fish meal 4-10 3-9 0.3-1.5
Horn and hoof meal 13 - -
Raw bone meal 3-4 20-25 -
Steamed bone meal 1-2 25-30 -
 Constraints
• Lack of technical know-how.
• Lack of required amount BD preparations in
market.
• Lack of awareness among people about hazards

caused by use of agrochemicals.

• Bulky nature of BD preparations and compost.
• In-situ production is not feasible.
• Lack of scientific data on the long-term benefits
and limitations of biodynamic farming.
• Limited domestic market for bio-dynamically
grown produce.
• Quality certification.
 Constraints
Producers’/Distributors’/Traders’
point of view:

• Lack of proper
infrastructure for
distribution and
conservation of bio-
inputs is a major
constraint that hinders
the access of these
inputs to farmers.
• Some climatic regions
and soil conditions are
not suitable for specific
Constraining factors
Farmers’ point of view:

• Given the mandated

period of around three
years for a conventional
farm to become an
organic farm, the benefits
perceived by farmers
tend to be limited as they
have a short term
orientation.
• As a result even if they
are aware, they are
hesitant to switch over to
 The government perspective
• Changing the cropping and
cultivation patterns is slow and
time-consuming process.
• Given the high levels of illiteracy
and large number of small and
marginal farmers it makes the
change process difficult.
• Subsidies on chemical fertilizers
and pesticide impede the growth
of organic agriculture.
 Major Limitations under
Punjab conditions
• Bulky nature of organic manure.
• Divergent nutritional value.
• Small land holding.
• Lack of awareness among farmers.
• Marketing of organic produce.
• Labour and cost intensive.
• Low incentives from government.
• Non availability of bio pesticides.
Major Limitations------contd.
• Dramatic and large benefits in terms
of yield and returns.
• Cultivation of high nutrient
responsive cultivers.
• Promotion of biological agents.
• Urgency to meet food security.
 Why farmers are reluctant to adopt
organic farming in Punjab
• Perceived high costs of doing organic
farming due to incomplete knowledge
about principles and practices of organic
agriculture among farmers. They were
arranging inputs from outside.
• Non-availability of adequate quantities
of organic manures and other organic
inputs in the local market.
• Knowledge of organic farming has not
filtered down to actual users i.e. small
farmers and the information reached to
target groups, is often not backed by
scientifically proven results.
 Discussion points
• What arguments are there in favour of
organic agriculture in India?

• What vested interests would oppose the

growth of organic agricultures and why?

• What strategies could be employed to

further promote the greening of
agriculture in India?
 Can India adopt organic
farming in a big way ?
• Is organic farming non-scientific and
unproven ?
• Does practicing organic farming means
reduced yield ?
• Why were crop yields low before
invention of Agro-chemicals ?
• How is organic farming different from
conventional ?
• What are the strengths and weaknesses
of organic farming
• Where is the large quantity of
compost for OF ?
• Does the soil fertility decline when
fertilizers are not used ?
• Scientifically, where crop nutrients
come from in organic farming ?
• How are crops protected in organic
farming ?
• Why restricted when India is a low
user ?
• Where are the evidences that high
yields are possible in organic
farming ?
 Conclusion
 Sustainable, economic and eco friendly
approach

 Minimum risk of residual toxicity

 Improvement in soil fertility with high

yield, quality
produce
 Maintenance of organic matter content
of the soil

 Reduced energy use

 Increased yields without over reliance

 Summary
Organic agriculture is not for everyone. Yet it is a
viable approach that can be beneficial. It can:
• Be particularly useful in the more difficult
environments where resources are scarce and
cultivation problematic
• Potentially reduce risks by:
a) “localizing” input production,
b) fostering soil and water conservation,
c) encouraging diversification (food security)
• Improve ability to compete in today’s fast
globalizing, standards-critical trade.
 Strategies needed to promote organic
farming in India
• Adequate research and extension support
needs to be provided
• Research to quantify the role of organic
farming in minimizing the ill effects of modern
agriculture and its effect on environment
• Helping farmers to promote organic farming
• Government should recognize agriculture in
Kyoto protocol carbon credit mechanism
• Developing infrastructure for supply chain and
ensuring competitive price for organic products
• Capacity building through on farm
demonstrations and trainings
• Government support in cheaper access to
organic certificates
Thanks