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There is an increasing demand throughout world for organic food and fibre. In India, efforts are being made
for organic crop production through contract farming. Experiences showed that farmers are benefited from
technical guidance, supply of quality farm inputs and assured purchasing at remunerative price. This venture,
executed by a tripartite agreement, would bring about favourable changes in the present conventional agri-
culture to make it sustainable and commercial. Likewise, consumers would get certified organic products at
reasonable price.
Indian agriculture is progressing in all beneficial fauna and microorganisms. ease-resistant genotypes), manure (green
spheres to keep up with the ever-increas- These recent trends in consumerism have manuring, organic manures, compost),
ing population. In the Tenth Five-Year opened a new vista for agricultural produc- biofertilizers, cultural practices (weeding,
Plan (2002–07), the government envis- tion on large scale by adopting contract planting, conventional tillage) and biopes-
aged at least 4% growth rate per annum, farming, which can transform small farm- ticides, including plant-derived products.
so that food security is assured and em- ers into viable commercial producers by At present, this system seems to be an
ployment opportunities in agriculture are monitoring quality, quantity and cost of ideal and valid solution to produce food
created. The National Agricultural Policy crop production, and can link production and fibre without chemicals and to pro-
also aimed to strengthen the national with consumption. This change can help tect the environment. Further, consumers
economic growth through efficient mar- develop markets and bring about changes are becoming conscious and critical about
keting to accelerate foreign exports by in the present conventional agriculture the quality of food and by-products that
establishing Agri-Export Zones for vari- which is expected in India in near future. affect their health though the toxicity de-
ous crops in major crop-growing areas, This note therefore discusses the present pends, to some extent, on the type of food
where technical know-how and facilities situation and future strategies of commu- consumed.
for export will be provided. Therefore, nity cultivation. India being one of the signatories for
there is a shift from sustainable to com- the World Trade Organization, liberaliza-
mercial agriculture. Farmers can increase tion, privatization and globalization has
their income from crop production. Simi- Need for contract farming in opened new grounds for agricultural mar-
larly, in several developed countries, organic agriculture keting. The National Programme for Orga-
demand for organic food and fibre, and nic Production of the Commerce Ministry,
by-products is increasing day-by-day. The organic agriculture includes growing and the State Governments are actively
This change is mainly due to overuse or of crops by a set of guidelines that prohibit promoting investment in support of pro-
misuse of chemicals, particularly syn- the use of synthetic products/chemicals mising ventures in organic agriculture.
thetic insecticides, fungicides, herbi- such as fertilizers, pesticides, plant growth Chellappa1 mentioned 4–15% growth
cides, fertilizers, plant growth regulators, promoters and livestock additives. There- for organic products in the domestic market
etc. that resulted in undesirable side ef- fore, soil fertility and pest management also. Facilities for export and certifica-
fects not only in the agro-ecosystems, but is achieved through cropping patterns tion of farm produce and by-products are
also on human health and life systems of (rotations, inter/mix-crops, pest and dis- being provided in the agri-export zones
(Table 1) by the Agricultural Processed
Food Products Export Development Agency
Table 1. Agri-export zones recently established in India
(APEDA), National Bank for Agriculture
State Products and Rural Development (NABARD), Na-
tional Boards for commodities like spices,
Andhra Pradesh Mango pulp, fresh vegetables, grapes tea, cashew nut, coffee, etc., International
Assam Fresh and processed ginger Federation for Organic Agriculture Move-
Bihar Litchi
ment, and Regional or State Marketing
Himachal Pradesh Apple
Federations. Additionally, commercial
Jammu and Kashmir Apple, walnut
Jharkhand Vegetables banks have initiated such banking for faci-
Karnataka Gherkins, flowers litating loans. In fact, Uttarakhand, Madhya
Kerala Horticultural products Pradesh and Kerala have been declared
Madhya Pradesh Potato, onion, garlic, seed spices as ‘organic states’, and the State Bank of
Maharashtra Mango, grape, onion, flowers, orange India has announced Rs 101 crore for
Orissa Ginger, turmeric contract farming in Maharashtra and Goa2.
Sikkim Flowers (orchids), cherry, pepper, ginger Contract farming is an agreement bet-
Uttar Pradesh Mango, potato, vegetables ween farmers and processors and/or
Uttarakhand Litchi, flowers, medicinal and aromatic plants
marketing firms for the scientific produc-
West Bengal Litchi, pineapple, potato, mango, vegetables
tion and supply of a specified agricultural