Department of Agriculture & Cooperation
INM Division

Brief on the guidelines on various components of National Project on Organic Farming

Organic farming is becoming increasingly popular worldwide and global demand for organic products is increasing rapidly. Organic farming is not only expected to increase the income of the farmers but also helps in moving towards sustainable agriculture and environmentally friendly and healthy food.  Many farmers are practicing organic cultivation but not in a organized manner properly. Hence, they need proper scientific knowledge, management and certification system.

The department of agriculture & Cooperation, Ministry of agriculture has recently taken up a new central sector Plan scheme, National Project on Organic Farming (NPOF) for implementation during reaming period of 10^th plan on pilot basis with an outlay of 57.05 crores for production, promotion, certification and market development of organic farming in the country. The administrative approval for implementation of the scheme has already been circulated to all state Govts. And all other stakeholders vide latter No. 5-13/2004-Manures, dated 21.09.2004. To implement the various components of the NPOF , this Ministry has prepared the detailed guidelines for training programmes, field demonstrations and service providers. The guidelines have already been circulated to all the State Govts. For its wide publicity.

For promotion of organic farming, it is advocated that an area and cluster based approach be adopted by the state Govts. This will help in concentrating activities of targets groups and also help in creation of awareness and educating the farmers easily, making a quick assessment of the demand and arranging the supplies etc. There is need to identity and appoint adequate number of committed service provider who will act as technology transfer to identity framers and link between the certification agencies and the farmers.

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