Question : Organic Farming in NER

(a) whether it is fact that organic farming is gaining ground in the country and has become very popular among the consumers particularly in urban areas and if so, the details thereof;

(b) whether it is also fact that climate of the North Eastern Region (NER) particularly Assam is most suitable for organic farming and if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether the Government has provided any facilities or assistance to farmers for promotion of organic farming in the North Eastern Region;

(d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and

(e) the details of organic farmers benefited therefrom during the last three years, State-wise?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

‡ãðŠãäÓã ??? ????? ?????? ½ãâ¨ããÊã¾ã ½ãñâ À㕾㠽ãâ¨ããè ( SHRI PARSHOTTAM RUPALA)
(a) & (b): The increasing debates around the need for sale & nutritious food produced in an environmentally friendly and sustainable manner has brought organic farming to the centre- stage. The climate of the North Eastern Region particularly Assam is most suitable for organic farming due to its sub - tropical humid climate, high precipitation, high biomass and existence of diverse microbial growth. Moreover, the region has been under organic cultivation by default.
(c) to (e): Government is also promoting organic farming under Mission Organic Value Chain Development (MOVCDNER), a sub scheme of National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA), for North Eastern Region for development of certified organic production in a value chain mode and to support the development of entire value chain starting from inputs, seeds, certification, to the creation of facilities for collection, aggregation, processing marketing and brand building initiatives. Cost of the project is 400 crores (for three years i.e. from 2015-16 to 2017-18).
Under the scheme "Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North Eastern Region" there is a target to form 100 Farmer Producer Companies (FPCs) which would cover 2500 Farmers Interest Groups (FIGs), 50000 ha area and 50000 farmers. Against this target, 2335 FIGs have been formed covering an area of 47747 ha and 47089 farmers in eight NE States. Till date 10 Farmer producer Companies have been registered. The details of area covered and farmers benefitted is given at Annexure I.