Question : Schemes for Organic Farming

(a) the schemes and programmes of the Government for organic agriculture in the country particularly in West Bengal;

(b) whether organic agriculture is not becoming popular in West Bengal, if so, the reasons therefor;

(c) the role of Indian Council of Agricultural Research in providing technical support to farmers for organic agriculture; and

(d) the details of the technologies developed by Indian Council of Agricultural Research which have reached the fields during the last three years and the current year?

MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

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(a) & (b): Government has been promoting organic farming under dedicated scheme Parampargat Kirshi Vikas Yojana (PKVY) and Mission organic Value Chain Development for North Eastern States (MOVCDNER): Third party certification of organic farming is promoted by Agriculture Processed Food and Export Development Authority (APEDA), Ministry of Commerce.
In West Bengal, under PKVY programme, 120 clusters covering an area of 2400 ha were allocated since 2015-16 benefiting 6000 farmers.
(c) & (d): Indian Council of Agricultural Research through ICAR-Indian Institute of Farming Systems Research, Modipuram has developed package of practices for 51 cropping systems suitable for 12 states were also identified and are being popularized among farmers through various training programmes. One-acre Integrated Organic farming system models have been developed for Kerala, Meghalaya, Sikkim and Tamil Nadu. Besides, need based capacity building programmes are also organized by the Council through the centres of Al-NPOF in various States for different stake holders such as Agriculture Extension Officers, farmers and other entrepreneurs. Demonstration of packages including integrated organic farming systems are also being made in selected States under Tribal Sub Plan programme.

In West Bengal, one centre of Al-NPOF is functioning with the objective to develop package of practices for organic production of crops as well as characterization of indigenous organic inputs.
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