Question : ORGANIC FARMING

(a) the details of areas under organic farming in the country, State-wise including the North-Eastern States;

(b) the details of production and marketing of organic food items in the country during each of the last three years and the current year, State-wise;

(c) whether the Government has undertaken any study in regard to propagation of organic farming in the country;

(d) if so, the details and the outcome thereof alongwith the steps taken by the Government to promote organic farming in the country; and

(e) the details of organic certification agencies set up in the country, State-wise including NE States?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE, FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (SHRI HARISH RAWAT)

(a): The area under organic farming State-wise including the North-Eastern States is at Annexure-I.

(b): The details of organic production State-wise for the last three years are at Annexure-II.

(c) & (d): To promote organic farming in the country, the Government had set up a Task Force on Organic Farming in 2001. Based on the recommendation, National Centre of Organic Farming with its six regional centres became operational since 2004. Organic agriculture has grown significantly in recent years.

Government is also promoting organic farming through other various schemes viz. National Horticulture Mission (NHM), Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) and Macro Management of Agriculture (MMA).

(e): There are 20 Certification Agencies working Organic Certification all over India including NE States. List is at Annexure-III.