Context:
The Ministry of Commerce & Industry has launched the 8th edition of the National Programme for Organic Production (NPOP).
National Programme for Organic Production (NPOP):
- Launched in 2001.
- Implemented by – Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) under the Ministry of Commerce & Industries.
- Focuses on accreditation, organic production standards, and promoting organic farming.
- Enhances India’s global competitiveness in organic farming.
- NPOP standards for production and accreditation are recognized by the European Commission and Switzerland, allowing Indian organic products to be accepted internationally.
Key Highlights of 8th Edition of NPOP:
- Simplified Certification: Organic grower groups granted legal status in place of the Internal Control System (ICS).
- Market Support: ICS of organic grower groups must ensure procurement of the entire organic produce or establish market linkages to support farmers.
- Faster Land Conversion to Organic Farming: Transition period reduced by up to three years under specific conditions.
- Portals Unveiled During the Event:
- NPOP Portal: Streamlined stakeholder operations.
- Organic Promotion Portal: Links farmers to global buyers.
- TraceNet 2.0: Enhanced traceability.
- Revamped APEDA Portal: Improved user experience.
Achievements of NPOP:
- Global Ranking: India ranks first globally in organic producers and second in organic agricultural land.
- Certified Area: Total certified area reaches 7.3 million hectares (2023-24), with Madhya Pradesh leading, followed by Maharashtra and Rajasthan.
- Organic Exports: Currently at ₹4,007.91 crore, projected to reach ₹20,000 crore in three years.
Organic Farming
- Emphasizes the health of soils, ecosystems, and people by avoiding synthetic chemicals and focusing on natural processes.
- Relies on ecological cycles, biodiversity, and combines tradition, innovation, and science.
- Promotes environmental benefits and fair relationships.
- Generally avoids external inputs, but certification systems allow the use of organic, biological, and mineral supplements when needed.
Status of Organic Farming:
- India ranks 2nd in terms of World’s Organic Agricultural land.
- Sikkim: World’s first fully organic state.
- North East India: Traditionally practices organic farming with lower chemical use.
- India has the largest number of organic producers in the world with 2.3 million farmers.
- As of 2023-24, around 4.5 million hectares (2.5% of total agricultural land) are under organic certification.
- Top four states: Madhya Pradesh (26%), Maharashtra (22%), Gujarat (15%), and Rajasthan (13%), accounting for nearly 76% of India’s total organically cultivated area.
Key Organic Products in India:
- Major exports include flax seeds, sesame, soybeans, tea, medicinal plants, rice, and pulses.
- India is a global leader in organic cotton production.
Source: PIB
Previous Year Question
How is permaculture farming different from conventional chemical farming? (2021)
1. Permaculture farming discourages monocultural practices but in conventional chemical farming, monoculture practices are predominant.
2. Conventional chemical farming can cause an increase in soil salinity but the occurrence of such phenomenon is not observed in permaculture farming.
3. Conventional chemical farming is easily possible in semi-arid regions but permaculture farming is not so easily possible in such regions.
4. Practice of mulching is very important in permaculture farming but not necessarily so in conventional chemical farming.
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
[UPSC CSE – 2021 Prelims]
(a) 1 and 3
(b) 1, 2 and 4
(c) 4 only
(d) 2 and 3
Answer: (b)