Indian farmers often struggle with rising costs and slow-growing incomes. Yields are not increasing much, even with more fertiliser use. Overusing chemical pesticides makes pests resistant and reduces crop yields. This not only makes farming more expensive but also pollutes soil and water, harming biodiversity.
Organic farming offers a solution. It can help farmers earn more by lowering production costs and selling organic produce at higher prices. It also protects natural resources and agricultural ecosystems. However, making organic farming widespread faces challenges.
India has a good starting point for organic farming. Before the 1950s, farming was mostly natural, with very little chemical use. Farmers used only about one kg of chemical fertiliser per hectare. Chemical pesticides were introduced in the late 1940s, and herbicides are a more recent development.
Indian agriculture has many advantages for organic farming. These include traditional knowledge, a large rural workforce, and rich biodiversity. Small farm sizes can also be helpful, especially for labour-intensive organic practices.
India has the most organic farmers in the world and the second-largest area dedicated to organic farming. This is according to a report called ‘World of Organic Agriculture Statistics and Emerging Trends 2025’. Despite this, only about 2% of India’s agricultural land, around 4.5 million hectares, is used for organic farming. This is mainly for specific crops and in certain states.
Globally, the demand for organic products has grown significantly. The area for organic farming worldwide has jumped from 14 million hectares in 2000 to about 99 million hectares in 2023. The global organic market is valued at around USD 230 billion and is expected to reach USD 564 billion by 2030.
This growing global market is a big chance for Indian farmers. While the US is the largest market, European markets are also expanding, offering new export options for Indian organic goods. Domestically, demand for organic products is also rising fast. The Indian organic market grew by 17% annually between 2019 and 2023, reaching about Rs. 3,340 crore.
However, organic farming in India has seen slow growth. Production has stayed between 2.7 and 3.6 million tonnes from 2019-20 to 2023-24. Exports have also decreased from about 8.8 lakh tonnes in 2020-21 to 2.61 lakh tonnes in 2023-24. This trend needs to be reversed with strong government support.
Key challenges in organic farming include post-harvest management. Farmers lack market connections, proper packaging, and certification facilities. There’s also a shortage of storage and transport infrastructure to maintain the quality of organic produce. Without clear standards for storage and transport, about 40% of organic produce ends up in general markets.
Other issues include a lack of easily available bio-fertilisers and bio-pesticides, which can lead to lower yields. Research and development for organic crop varieties and farming inputs are also limited. Farmer and consumer awareness is another major hurdle. While farmers may know about organic farming, past reliance on chemicals has broken their links to organic sources and markets. Consumers want chemical-free products but are often unaware of genuine certifications.
To overcome these challenges, we need to strengthen connections between farmers, input suppliers, and markets. This includes building infrastructure for quality checks, certification, and labelling.
For exports, India needs strategic plans focusing on products with global demand. Farmers must be linked to export channels with the necessary infrastructure and logistics to meet international quality and certification standards.
Scaling up programmes like the National Programme for Organic Production (NPOP) and Participatory Guarantee System of India (PGS-India) is crucial. More research and development are needed for better crop varieties and farming practices. Awareness campaigns for both farmers and consumers are essential to boost organic farming.
Organic farming offers many benefits, including safer food, sustainable use of soil and water, and a healthier environment. Promoting organic farming is vital for India’s future.