Article

Changing scenario of organic farming in India: An overview

H. M. Chandrashekar

Faculty, Agribusiness Management, Institute of Development Studies, University of Mysore, Manasagangotri, Mysore, 570 006, Karnataka State.

E-mail: chandruids@yahoo.com.

Accepted 18 June, 2009

   Introduction

India produces a large variety of food crops including cereals, pulses and oilseeds. Diversified agriculture is the priority of the Central Government, and technical and financial support is being extended to farmers to encourage diversification especially in the areas of horticulture, floriculture, medicinal and aromatic plants, apiculture (pee-keeping) and sericulture. The government is continuously working towards the development of the agribusiness sector through considerable emphasis on infrastructure and food processing. However, there is still a scope for further development and up-gradation of technology and agri-infrastructure to attain world-class standards. The main emphasis is on quality enhancement, infrastructure development and the use of modern technology. Organic farming was practiced in India since thousands of years. The great Indian civilization thrived on organic farming and was one of the most prosperous countries in the world, till the British ruled it. Increasing pesticide residues in food materials, eutrophication of surface and ground-waters and increasing nitrous oxide emissions which are detrimental to the ozone layer of the atmosphere, drew attention towards the harmful effects of modern agriculture and environmentalists pressed hard for a more sustainable agriculture. The role of organic farming in India rural economy can be leveraged to mitigate the ever-increasing problem of food security in India. With rapid industrialization of rural states of India, there has been a crunch for farmland. Further, with the exponential population growth of India, the need for food sufficiency has become the need of the hour. Furthermore, the overuse of plant growth inhibitor, pesticides and fertilizers for faster growth of agricultural produce is detrimental to human health and the environment as a whole. An attempt is made to analyze the importance of organic farming, principle of organic farming, Organic farming in rural economy, consumption pattern and export of organically produced products in India.

Key words: Organic farming, organic food consumption, organic food industry, principles of organic farming..