Impacts of Organic Farming in India
In 2019-2020, India produced 2.75 million tons of certified organic products, encompassing a wide variety of food items. These include oilseeds, sugarcane, cereals and millets, cotton, pulses, aromatic and medicinal plants, tea, coffee, fruits, vegetables, spices, dry fruits, and processed foods.
Export Share:
Soya meal leads in the share of export value of processed organic foods (45.87%), followed by oilseeds (13.25%), plantation crop products (tea and coffee, 9.61%), cereals and millets (8.19%), spices and condiments (5.20%), dry fruits (4.98%), and medicinal plants (3.84%).
Organic Cotton:
India is a world leader in organic cotton production, contributing 51% (37,138 MT) of global organic cotton production in 2018-19. It also had the most land under cotton in organic conversion.
ECONOMIC IMPACT
Yields:
The transition to organic farming typically sees a reduction in crop yields during the initial 2-3 years. However, once soil biological activities are restored, organic farming can show comparable yields to conventional agriculture. Long-term studies by ICAR have even shown yield increases of 5-20% for certain crops (e.g., ladies' fingers, turmeric, cotton) and reductions for others (e.g., potato, rice). Studies like the Rodale Institute's 30-year comparison have shown equivalent yields for corn and soybean, with organic outperforming conventional in drought years.
Profitability:
With premium prices for certified organic produce, farmers can achieve higher profits than conventional farmers. However, lack of market access and linkages often forces farmers to sell at regular market prices, diminishing the benefit of premium pricing.
Input Costs:
While organic farming reduces reliance on synthetic inputs, the cost and quality of purchased organic inputs and bio-pesticides can be a challenge if on-farm inputs are not readily available.
Labor Intensiveness:
Organic farming can be labor-intensive, particularly for preparing and applying organic manure and manual weeding. This can affect profitability in areas with high labor costs but also offers potential for employment generation.
SOCIAL IMPACT
Health Outcomes:
The shift to natural farming methods has been linked to improved health outcomes for farmers, with reports of reduced health problems previously attributed to chemical pesticides. Farmers also express concerns about consumer health due to chemical residues.
Women's Empowerment:
Organic farming has shown potential to improve the agency of rural women in India. Higher incomes from premium prices and reduced production costs can lead to economic and financial stability for women, with many taking leadership roles in promoting organic practices. However, challenges include increased workload (e.g., weeding), lack of knowledge about organic standards, and limited investment for transition.
Community Development:
Grassroots movements, such as those in Andhra Pradesh, have demonstrated how communities can collectively transition to pesticide-free farming, leading to improved quality of life, health, and finances, and even creating new jobs in sourcing and processing natural repellents.