Organic Farming

Organic Farming

Subject: Economic Geography

Section: Agriculture

Context: The total increase in lands in India under organic cultivation was 3,59,000 hectares, according to IFOAM -Organics International data.

More about the News:

• India among top 3 nations in expanding organic farming in 2020
• Of the world’s total 74.9 mh under organic farming, Australia has the highest at 35.7 mh. Whereas India has 2.8 mh.
• In contrast, out of total 34 lakh organic producers in the world, 16 lakh farmers in India are into certified organic farming.

Organic Farming:

• Organic farming is a type of agriculture or farming which avoids the use of synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, growth regulators, & livestock feed additives.
• Organic farming systems rely on crop rotation, crop residues, animal manures, legumes, green manure, off-farm organic wastes & biofertilizers, mineral bearing rocks to maintain soil productivity, etc.

Organic farming in India

• Sikkim became the first State in the world to become fully organic.
• North East India has traditionally been organic, & the consumption of chemicals is far less than rest of the country.
• Madhya Pradesh tops the list with 0.76 million ha of area under organic cultivation — that is over 27 per cent of India’s total organic cultivation area.
• The top three states, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, & Maharashtra — account for about half the area under organic cultivation.
• Major organic exports from India are flax seeds, sesame, soybean, tea, medicinal plants, rice & pulses.
• Major exporting states: Assam, Mizoram, Manipur, & Nagaland.