Parliament Question: Promoting organic farming and addressing market challenges

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3851 TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 27/03/2026 PROMOTING ORGANIC FARMING AND ADDRESSING MARKET CHALLENGES 3851. MS. SWATI MALIWAL: Will the minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE be pleased to state: (a) whether the Government is working to replicate the success of Sikkim in organic farming across other States, particularly in hilly and tribal areas and the incentives provided to farmers for transitioning to organic farming; (b) the steps taken to reduce the cost and time involved in organic certification, including simplification of procedures; (c) the measures undertaken to facilitate branding and global marketing of organic products, on the lines of initiatives adopted in Sikkim; and (d) whether the Government provides any financial or technical assistance to farmers facing income fluctuations during the transition period from conventional to organic farming? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE (SHRI RAMNATH THAKUR) (a) to (d): As reported by the State Government of Sikkim, the State launched the Sikkim Organic Mission in the year 2010 to bring the entire cultivable land under organic management through third party certification. The State Government since the year 2010 provided funds from the State budget for the certification process thereby incentivising the farmers to make the transition. Since 2015-16, Government of India is actively promoting organic farming across the country including hilly and tribal areas through the schemes namely 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.Under PKVY scheme an 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. 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. 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. Also National Programme for Organic Production (NPOP) is implemented through Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) under Ministry of Commerce & Industries. PGS-India Certification Programme is farmers centric, cost-effective, simplifying documentation with minimal paperwork, and enabling digital registration, record- keeping, and certificate generation through an online platform. The certification process has been made completely online, therefore reducing time taken for certification and making the process simple. The system emphasizes community participation and capacity building, thereby reducing dependence on external agencies. PGS-India is low cost participatory system for domestic organic market. NPOP is a third certification system mainly for export. The third party organic certification programme is governed by the national guidelines of NPOP. Large area certification (LAC) has been done for the State of Sikkim (15,300 ha). Similarly, LAC has also been done for West Bengal (7,000 ha), Chhattisgarh (50,279 ha), Ladakh (5,000 ha), Lakshadweep (3,075.80 ha) and Andaman & Nicobar Islands (14,491 ha) (as on 31.12.2025). Also support is given to farmers to meet certification cost. Under MOVCDNER, financial assistance of Rs 10,000 per ha is provided over 3 years for activities of Internal Control System (ICS) management, training and certification. Under PKVY, financial assistance of ₹3,000 per ha for certification is provided over 3 years. Besides above there is a provision for providing financial assistance of ₹6,000 per ha over 3 years for LAC under PKVY Scheme. Support is also given for marketing and branding. Under MOVCDNER, financial assistance of Rs 4,000 per ha is provided over 3 years for value chain and marketing. Under PKVY, financial assistance of ₹4,500 per ha is provided over 3 years for marketing and branding.The Government of Sikkim has created its own brand identity, ‘Sikkim Organic’ which is used on its organic products for marketing. Similarly, rest of the North East States have also developed their own organic brands. Also, prominent brands such as Pure & Sure (Bengaluru), Tripura Organic, Swadesham Organics (Uttar Pradesh), Organic Himachal, Organic Jharkhand, Kerala Organic, Sahaja Aharam (Hyderabad), Tamil Nadu Organic Products, Aadim Organic (Dantewada), Organic Uttarakhand, Namami Gange Jaivik Kashi etc have been developed under PGS-India Certification programme. *****