SITUATION OF ORGANIC FARMING

IN INDIA AND KERALA

INTRODUCTION
With the increase in global health consciousness, organic food
is set to knock every door and make its way in healthy
kitchens worldwide.
People the world over use organic food as a hygiene factor
rather than a product by itself. Organic food is a holistic
approach in the Indian environment which starts at the farm
and ends at the fork of the consumer. The main stakeholder is
the source, and challenges faced during organic farming can
be overcome with a smart strategy, scientific planning,
responsible public activity and government support.
The Green Revolution took shape in India during the early
1960s, and with the introduction of modern chemical
fertilisers, there was better management of the seeds, along
with the introduction of new and modern techniques for
farming. The food grain production in the country boosted up.
The modern farming methods used chemical fertilisers,
synthetic pesticides, germicides, herbicides and Genetically
Engineered (GE) seeds as an integrated approach to
harvesting.

Though the majority of the growth came because of

the newer techniques, it was all attributed to the
chemicals.
The success of the Green Revolution was attributed to the
use of chemicals.

However, this use of chemicals became completely

uncontrolled and started polluting the complete supply chain.
Greed and minimal access to relevant information to the
farmers have resulted in a scenario where there are areas in
the country where newborns take birth with disabilities.
Because of the heavy use of chemical fertilisers and
pesticides, many areas of land reached a stage where they no
longer produce anything.
As the consumers stood up and started embracing the non-
poisons (organic) food, there came a need of supporting that
demand authentically. Some areas are natively organic, but
others that are large producers of pulses etc., have been
farming with chemicals. Converting these into organic has
many challenges, however, from a broader perspective, these
challenges can be met with proper counter-measures and
government policies.
SITUATION OF ORGANIC FARMING
IN INDIA

Farmers face numerous struggles to pursue organic farming.

Organic farming, as a whole, is quite an expensive process
that involves constant expenditure. This keeps it away from
the reaches of a nominalised farmer on the grounds of
affordability. One can easily bring up the instance of
fertilisers and maintenance. Sewage sludge and chemical
fertilisers might not be something one envisions in his
produce, but conventional farmers find constant companions,
owing to their cost-friendliness.

Organic farmers abhor these inexpensive solutions, and to

keep their crops natural, opt for compost and animal manure.
Ethically-sourced products come hard on the pocket for
farmers, leading to slower results over a tiresome period.
Post-produce, storage takes up another set of expenses that is
difficult for the farmers to cover.

So the challenge is convincing farmers to shift to organic,

which might result in an immediate commercial impact on
their income. The solution is to support the change in a
gradual manner. A holistic and community-driven approach,
similar to the “Swachh Bharat” for “Swachh Food” needs to
be undertaken.
Supply-Demand Disparity of Organic Food

When local demand is fulfilled by local supply, the disparity

can be curbed. There is a demand-supply disparity. Grains
can be grown anywhere and can be transported, as these are
not perishable. This is how it happens in the case of
conventional grains as well.

In the case of fruits and vegetables, the produce has to be

local otherwise most of the organic food doesn’t reach the
retailer’s shelf in time, and even if it reaches, the
marketability reduces. For the produce to be local, there have
to be willing companies, aggregators and farmers around that
particular area from where the demand is coming.
Generally, the demand comes from the big metros, and these
are exactly the areas where you would not find clean farmland
to produce organic fruits and vegetables. This is the main
reason for this disparity.
The government has made a certain framework to boost
organic farming and to promote the same through fairs and
exhibitions, but that does not help on the ground until there is
a steady and sustainable market for organic produce.
However, smart transport and dedicated channels of supply
are the solutions to fill this gap. Ultimately, when you start
having the pull from the market, the local growers also start
taking note and shift towards organic. Once the local demand
is fulfilled by local supplies, the supply-demand disparity is
taken care of.
Shortage of organic seeds and inputs

Identification of organic seeds is a challenge too. Seeds and

inputs are the main ingredients of agriculture. Both are highly
regulated and governed by government policies. While the
government provides subsidies for chemical fertilisers and
pesticides, there is no such provision for organic inputs.
Farmers are mainly dependent on their resources and the
traditional methods and so, often use half-baked information.
This may lead to heavy losses of crops and financial burdens
on the farmers. The same is the situation is with seeds.
The government has to clear the policy path. It cannot
continue to expand with the dealers in the untouched areas
(natural, organic) for distribution of chemical fertilisers and
pesticides and at the same time, encourage organic farming,
without any dealer/distributor network or subsidy for organic
inputs and seeds. A separate policy framework is needed for
organic farming, covering seeds production and input
supplies.
Confused certification framework

Consumers often can’t identify truly organic products. With

the advent of technology and health awareness throughout the
world, Indians are also getting into the habits of healthy
living, and that is responsible for the popularity of organic
produce.

Any agricultural product is consumer-centric. If consumers

want something, the farmers will grow it. Consumer’s trust is
the key to organic produce as there is no straightforward
method for the consumers to acknowledge if the product is
genuine organic or not. The trust is developed with a proper
regulatory framework, compliance with the requirements and
communication of the same to the consumers. This is exactly
what is missing in India.
Now that the FSSAI has come out with the Jaivik Bharat
framework, it seems more like a knee-jerk reaction. The
globally recognised third-party certification process is
controlled by APEDA.
The high price of organic produce in a
price-sensitive nation

The high prices of organic products act also impact the

market. Because of some influencing factors, the final prices
of organic produce is higher than the conventional products.
In the Indian perspective, customers usually opt for cheaper
options and this factor hugely impacts the organic produce
market.
SITUATION OF ORGANIC FARMING
IN KERALA
The most beautiful state in southern India is undoubtedly
Kerala. The name Kerala means “the land of coconut. ‘Kera’
in Malayalam means coconut and Kerala abounded by
coconut trees.

One feature that this state is great for is organic agriculture.

Organic farming also known as Eco-farming is a way of
farming that preserves the ecosystem. It does not involve the
utilization of harmful synthetic chemicals and fertilizers.
Instead, of chemical fertilizers, bio-fertilizers are used. The
common life forms maintain the fertility of the soil and also
control weed and pests.

Organic agriculture promotes and enhances agro-ecosystem

health, including biodiversity, biological cycles and soil
biological activity, and this is accomplished by using on-farm
agronomic, biological and mechanical methods in exclusion
of all synthetic off-farm inputs”.

At present, organic farming is done on 2,600 hectares in the

three districts of Wayanad, Idukki and Kasaragod districts.
Further, The State Horticulture Mission (SHM) has invited
expression of interest from various organizations in the
organic farming sector to carry out cultivation on 2,000
hectares in these three districts.
Kerala is going back to her traditional Organic Farming after
hundreds of farmers had faced the bitter consequences of
“Chemical Farming” and mono-cropping practiced as
“Scientific Agricultures”. The Department of Agriculture is
now promoting the production of Organic Food by launching
“Java Kerala” (The Organic Sustainability OF Kerala).

In Marappanmoola village in Pulpally panchayat of Wayanad

district, 454 small and medium farmers in the village owning
on an average less than two hectares of land have organized
themselves and they now cultivate a mixed variety of crops
including pepper, coffee, cardamom, coconut, areca nut,
tubers, vegetable, cashew nut, nutmeg, rice, etc.

From the poultry and piggery units, they now collect the
wastes and turn them into biogas for the kitchen and manure
from the field. The sap of chrysanthemum and marigold is
used in place of chemical insecticides. A Cooperative Society,
Highland Farmers’ Cooperative Society, has been formed
(Hicks) to take on the challenges from chemical to organic
farming by the farmers of Marappanmoola. 500 hectares have
been declared to be ‘Organic Farming Zone’.

This Organic Farm Movement is market driven, and the

premium price obtainable in the External markets in the future
is a primary source of inspiration. A50 grams pack of organic
white pepper fetches $4 in the US Market as against $1.5 in
the domestic market.
The State Agriculture Department has now conducted 300
training programs to setup Collection Centres for Organic
Produce. A Research station at Alabama in Connanore, three
zonal sub-centers and regional labs with facilities for soil and
produce residue analysis has been planned by the Government
under the ‘Jaivakerlam Programme’.

Development of the domestic market for Organic Foods

through a chain of supermarkets and a gradual withdrawing of
State support on chemical inputs etc. has been planned. The
Government’s role is that of the facilitator, forming farmers’
producing companies to manage the affairs by themselves.
Three Districts, Wynad, Idukki and Palghat, will be declared
as Organic Farming Zones.

CONCLUSION
Organic farming can be a viable alternative production
method for farmers, but there are many challenges. One key to
success is being open to alternative organic approaches to
solving production problems. Determine the cause of the
problem, and assess strategies to avoid or reduce the long
term problem rather than a short term fix for it.
REFERENCE

https://www.thebetterindia.com/153000/organi
c-farming-india-fssai-challenges-solutions/
http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/crops/fa
cts/09-077.htm
https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/ec
onomy/agriculture/how-kerala-is-making-the-
most-of-organic-farming-
revolution/articleshow/48127649.cms
https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/there-
s-organic-farming-revolution-building-kerala-
and-organisation-heart-it-66449