Organic Farming: Government Runs Two Schemes To Encourage Organic Agriculture

The government has informed the Lok Sabha on 29 March, Tuesday that, to promote and encourage organic farming, the government has been implementing two schemes since 2015. These two schemes have been promoted through Farmer Producer Organizations (FPO).

Mission Organic Value Chain Development For North Eastern Region (MOVCDNER) and Paramparagat Krishi Vikas (PKVY) are the two schemes that the government has been implementing and promoting.

According to Kailash Chaudhary, Minister of State For Agriculture, both the schemes emphasize supporting the organic farmers throughout the whole organic farming process including processing, certification, production, post-harvest management support, marketing, etc. These schemes will help in reducing the overall cost of organic products in the market.

He added that Landowners had received monetary support of Rs 50,000 for every hectare for the period of three years under the PKVY, of which Rs 31,000 per hectare has been provided directly to the farmers. The support was provided via DBT for on and off-farm organic inputs. 

He also said that the financial support of Rs 20 lakh per 1,000-hectare cluster has been provided for three years for productivity improvement and development incorporation.

MOVCDNER has provided Rs 46,575 to the farmers, per hectare for three years for the establishment of FPOs, to encourage farmers toward organic farming, help them in obtaining organic inputs, certifications, plant material, and training. 

According to Choudhary, demand support is available for post-harvest facilities and quality enhancement up to the maximum limit of Rs 600 lakh for the integrated processing unit.

In addition to this, the number of Rs 37.50 lakh was also provided for the integrated packhouse, Rs. 6 lakh for the transportation of the products, Rs. 18 lakh each for cold storage components and refrigerating types of equipment, and Rs. 10 lakh for aggregation, custom hiring center and collection.