Parliament Question: Measures to support and incentivise organic farming

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE & FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE & FARMERS WELFARE RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1623 TO BE ANSWERED ON 13/02/2026 MEASURES TO SUPPORT AND INCENTIVISE ORGANIC FARMING 1623. SHRI MASTHAN RAO YADAV BEEDHA: Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE be pleased to state: (a) the manner in which the Ministry proposes to leverage growing global demand for organic products to enhance farmers' income and expand organic farming; (b) the specific measures being taken to support and incentivise farmers to shift to organic farming; (c) the objectives and functions of National Co-operative Organics Limited (NCOL) and its proposed collaboration with Amul; (d) the manner in which the Ministry plans to improve soil health, groundwater levels and crop productivity through organic farming practices; and (e) whether any schemes or subsidies are available to assist farmers in adopting organic farming and improving soil health, if so, the details thereof? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE (SHRI RAMNATH THAKUR) (a) to (e): The Ministry is leveraging growing demand for organic products to enhance farmers' income by expand organic farming through the schemes like Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY) in all the States/UTs except North Eastern States and Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North Eastern Region (MOVCDNER) for the North Eastern States. Both schemes stress on end-to-end support to farmers engaged in organic farming i.e. from production to processing, certification and marketing. Primary focus of the schemes is to form organic clusters, with preference to small and marginal farmers, to create a supply chain. Both the schemes are implemented through States /UT Governments. Under PKVY scheme, assistance of Rs. 31,500 per ha is provided over 3 years for promotion of organic farming. Out of this, assistance of Rs. 15,000 per ha is provided to farmers through Direct Benefit Transfer for on- farm /off –farm organic inputs, financial assistance of ₹4,500 per hectare for marketing and branding, ₹3,000 per hectare for certification, and ₹9,000 per hectare for training and capacity building. Under MOVCDNER, assistance of Rs. 46,500 per ha is provided over 3 years for creation of Farmers Producer Organization, support to farmers for organic inputs etc. Out of this, assistance @ Rs. 32,500 per ha is provided to farmers for off -farm /on –farm organic inputs under the scheme including Rs. 15,000 as Direct Benefit Transfer to the farmers. Financial assistance of Rs 10,000 per ha is provided over 3 years for activities of Internal Control System (ICS) management, training and certification. Financial assistance of Rs 4,000 per ha is provided over 3 years for value chain marketing.Further, for market linkages ecosystem for organic produces, Government is implementing organic certification programs namely, Participatory Guarantee System of India (PGS-India) through National Centre for Organic and Natural farming (NCONF) under Ministry of Agriculture and farmers’ Welfare and National Programme for Organic Production (NPOP) through Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) under Ministry of Commerce & Industries. NPOP is a third certification system mainly for export, while PGS-India is low cost participatory system for domestic organic market. National Cooperatives Organic Limited (NCOL) is leveraging rising global demand by aggregating organic produce through cooperative societies and ensuring premium price realisation for farmers. NCOL, in coordination with National Cooperative Exports Limited (NCEL), is developing export-oriented organic value chains, supported by certification, traceability, branding, quality assurance, and access to global markets. NCOL is incentivising farmers by offering an organic premium over conventional prices to ensure better income during and after organic transition. NCOL launched the “Jaivik Sahkar Abhiyan” in January 2026, to mobilize its member cooperative societies across the country for large-scale organic transition. Collaboration with Amul envisages leveraging established supply chains, packaging, processing units and market outreach for organic products. Organic Farming Schemes promote natural resource–based, integrated, and climate- resilient farming systems that conserve resources, enhance soil health, and minimise dependence on external inputs. The main objective of organic farming is to promote Integrated Nutrient Management (INM) by ensuring a balanced and efficient use of chemical fertilizers, bio-fertilizers, and organic manures. Organic farming improves soil fertility, increase nutrient use efficiency, and increase crop productivity while decreasing dependence on chemical fertilizers through sustainable and environmentally friendly practices. ***