Organic farming

Subject: Agriculture/Schemes

Context:

In a world battered by the COVID pandemic, the demand for healthy and safe food is already showing an upward trend and hence this is an opportune moment to be captured for a win-win situation for Indian farmers, consumers and the environment.

Concept:

• Organic farming is a farming method that involves growing and nurturing crops without the use of synthetic based fertilizers and pesticides. Also, no genetically modified organismsare permitted.
• It relies on ecologically balanced agricultural principles like crop rotation, green manure, organic waste, biological pest control, mineral and rock additives.

Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North East Region (MOVCD)

• Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North East Region (MOVCD-NER) is a Central Sector Scheme, a sub-mission under National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA) launched in the states of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim and Tripura, during the 12th plan period.
• The scheme aims to development of certified organic production in a value chain mode to link growers with consumers and to support the development of entire value chain starting from inputs, seeds, certification, to the creation of facilities for collection, aggregation, processing, marketing and brand building initiative.

Paramparagat Krishi VikasYojana (PKVY)

• Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojna (PKVY) is asub-component under National Mission of Sustainable Agriculture(NMSA) aims at development of sustainable models of organic farming through a mix of traditional wisdom and modern science to ensure long term soil fertility buildup, resource conservation and helps in climate change adapatation and mitigation.
• It primarily aims to increase soil fertility and thereby helps in production of healthy food through organic practices without the use of agro-chemicals.
• PKVY also aims at empowering farmers through institutional development through clusters approach not only in farm practice management, input production, quality assurance but also in value addition and direct marketing through innovative means.

Participatory Guarantee System (PGS)

• PGS is a process of certifying organic products, which ensures that their production takes place in accordance with laid-down quality standards. The certification is in the form of a documented logo or a statement.
• PGS-India (Participatory Guarantee System of India) is a quality assurance initiative that is locally relevant, emphasize the participation of stakeholders, including producers and consumers and operate outside the frame of third party certification.
• PGS India system is based on participatory approach, a shared vision, transparency and trust. In addition it gives PGS movement a National recognition and institutional structure.

National Program for Organic Production (NPOP)

• The Government of India has implemented the National Programme for Organic Production (NPOP).
• The national programme involves the accreditation programme for Certification Bodies, standards for organic production, promotion of organic farming e
• The NPOP standards for production and accreditation system have been recognized by European Commission and Switzerland for unprocessed plant products as equivalent to their country standards.
• Similarly, USDA has recognized NPOP conformity assessment procedures of accreditation as equivalent to that of US.
• With these recognitions, Indian organic products duly certified by the accredited certification bodies of India are accepted by the importing countries.