Question : Mitigating Greenhouse Effect by Organic Agriculture

(a) whether it is a fact that organic agriculture contributes to mitigating the greenhouse effect and global warming through its ability to sequester carbon in the soil;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether it is also true that a number of studies revealed that soil organic carbon contents under organic farming are considerably higher and if so, the details thereof;
(d) whether the Government is taking any measures to work in collaboration with other Ministries to mitigate the greenhouse effect and global warming; and
(e) if so, the details thereof ?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
(DR. MAHESH SHARMA)

(a) to c) The government has launched the schemes of Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY) and Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North Eastern Region ( MOVCDNER ) to promote organic farming to ensure long term soil fertility buildup, resource conservation and helps in climate change adaptation and mitigation. The National Horticulture Mission was launched in 2005-06 as centrally sponsored scheme to promote holistic growth of the horticulture sector through area-based regionally differentiated strategies. The quantum of carbon sequestered due to this mission is estimated to be 137.72 MtCO2 from 2010 to 2016 (India’s Biennial Update Report submitted to United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change {UNFCCC}).

(d) and e) In order to mitigate the greenhouse effect and global warming, Government of India is implementing the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) which comprises eight National Missions being implemented by different ministries in specific areas of Solar Energy, Enhanced Energy Efficiency Energy Efficiency, Sustainable Habitat, Water, Sustaining the Himalayan Ecosystem, Green India, Sustainable Agriculture and Strategic knowledge for Climate Change. 32 States and Union Territories have also prepared the State Action Plan on Climate Change to address state-specific issues.

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