As more farmers, consumers, and politicians become aware of the long-term advantages of sustainable agriculture, organic farming is growing in popularity in India.  

Organic farming is becoming a competitive alternative to traditional chemical-based agriculture as concerns about environmental preservation, soil health, and food safety grow.  

This blog post explores India's organic farming industry's present state, governmental programs, and potential future developments.

Organic farming: what is it?  

Growing crops and raising cattle without the use of artificial fertilizers, pesticides, genetically modified organisms (GMOs), or growth hormones is known as organic farming.  

Rather, it depends on biodiversity, biological processes, and cycles that are tailored to the local environment.  

Organic methods seek to:  Increase the fertility of the soil  Encourage biodiversity  Cut down on pollutants  Assure the farming ecosystem's long-term viability.



Market Insights: The Increasing Interest in Organic Goods  

1. Market Size and Expansion  Over the past ten years, the organic food sector in India has grown rapidly.  The Indian organic market was estimated to be worth USD 1.36 billion in 2022 and is projected to increase at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 21% to reach USD 2.8 billion by 2026, according to the Indian Brand Equity Foundation (IBEF).  

This expansion is being propelled by:  Urban consumers' growing health consciousness  A rise in disposable income  Growth of organized retail  Opportunities for exporting to nations including the US, EU, and Canada


2. Possibility of Exporting  India is one of the world's top ten exporters of organic goods.  Important exports consist of:  Natural pulses  Rice  Spices  Coffee and tea  approximately 2 million metric tonnes of certified organic products valued at approximately INR 7,000 crore were exported by India in 2022–2023.  The European Union is still the biggest importer, after the United States.  

3. Trends in Consumer Behavior  Food products that are chemical-free, traceable, and environmentally friendly are becoming more and more popular among consumers, especially in metropolitan India.  

The market is expanding as a result of shops and food manufacturers being encouraged to carry organic products.



Government Programs and Policies in Favor of Organic Agriculture  To encourage organic farming, the Indian government has started a number of initiatives.  Important projects consist of:  

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1. The PKVY, or Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana  PKVY, which was established in 2015, uses the Participatory Guarantee System (PGS) to encourage cluster-based organic farming and certification.  

Financial aid is given to farmers for:  Costs of input  Accreditation  Marketing and packaging 

2. The North Eastern Region's Mission Organic Value Chain Development (MOVCDNER)  By offering comprehensive assistance from production to processing and marketing, this program seeks to advance organic farming in the northeastern states.


3. The National Organic Production Program (NPOP)  This program, which is run by the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), offers organic production and export certification and accreditation services.  

4. Natural Farming at Zero Budget (ZBNF)  Using locally accessible resources, ZBNF promotes chemical-free farming, which is somewhat different from certified organic farming.  ZBNF has been widely embraced by states like Andhra Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh.  ---