Agriculture News : Organic Farming Needs to be Promoted

Union Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister, Shri Radha Mohan Singh addressed the National Symposium on Organic Farming for Farmers’ Prosperity, organized by CRIDA and NIRD, Hyderabad.

He said that the Organic farming mandates meeting the complete nutrient requirement of the crop only through permitted organic inputs and pest management by non­chemical methods. Organic farming need be promoted in the niche areas.

Organic farming practices can be adopted in isolated and niche areas to produce quality products and minimize the adverse effects on the environment. Future organic farming need to be linked with market avenues and export of organic products.

Indiscriminate use of chemical pesticides to control various insect­pests and diseases over the years has destroyed their many natural enemies and soil microflora. This calls for adoption of sustainable agricultural practices like integrated nutrient management (INM) and integrated pest management (IPM).

Organic farming which does not use any chemical inputs either as fertilizers or pesticides is also suggested as a viable strategy for achieving sustainable production at least in niche areas.

Mission on Organic Value Chain Development for north­eastern region has a provision of Rs.125 crores for 2015­16 with an objective to form farmers’ groups and certification of organic products.

APEDA is one of the institution which certifies the organic products and facilitates for international markets. Organic farming practices are mostly associated with improved soil health strategies.

Source: http://www.cicr.org.in