Parliament Question: Promotion of organic farming in Maharashtra

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE & FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE & FARMERS WELFARE RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 805 TO BE ANSWERED ON 06/02/2026 PROMOTION OF ORGANIC FARMING IN MAHARASHTRA 805. SHRI DHANANJAY BHIMRAO MAHADIK: Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE be pleased to state: (a) whether Government has taken effective steps to promote organic farming in Maharashtra, particularly through the implementation of Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY). if so the details thereof; (b) the total area brought under organic cultivation, the number of certified organic farmers and the district- wise distribution thereof in Maharashtra; (c) the number of PKVY clusters sanctioned, funds released and utilised, and the extent to which the prescribed assistance has actually reached farmers; and (d) whether adequate training, demonstration and awareness programmes have been conducted through Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs), agricultural universities and NGOs ? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE (SHRI RAMNATH THAKUR) (a): Yes. The Government is promoting organic farming through Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY) in the country (except north east states) since 2015-16 including the state of Maharashtra. The PKVY scheme stresses on end-to-end support to farmers engaged in organic farming i.e. from production to processing, certification and marketing. Primary focus of the scheme is to form organic clusters, with preference to small and marginal farmers, to create a supply chain. The scheme is implemented through States /UT Governments. Under the 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. (b): Since 2015–16 (as on 31.12.2025) total 68,012 ha area has been covered under organic cultivation in the State of Maharashtra under PKVY. The Government has launched Participatory Guarantee System(PGS)- India organic certification programme to enable farmers to get premium price for organic produce. So far, 1,44,583 certificates have been issued to 36,403 farmers in Maharashtra in the PGS-India Organic Certification System. The district-wise data is not maintained centrally. (c): Since 2015–16, 2,978 clusters have been formed in Maharashtra under PKVY. Against an allocation of ₹265.82 crore, an amount of ₹160.93 crore has been released during the period. Out of this, ₹142.13 crore expeniture has been incurred by the state of Maharashtra. (d): Adequate training, demonstration and awareness programmes on organic farming are organized involving Krishi Vigyan Kendras(KVK) and Agriculture Universities. During 2024-25, the KVKs in the State conducted 571 training programmes, 501 demonstrations and 561 awareness programmes for the farmers. Further, the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), through All India Network Programme on Natural Farming (earlier AINP on Organic Farming), is operating 20 cooperating centres across 16 States to develop comprehensive packages of practices for organic crop production from both cropping system and farming system perspectives. The programme covers 11 State Agricultural Universities, 8 ICAR institutes/centres and 1 deemed university. Centre at Karjat, under Dr. Panjabrao Deshmukh Krushi Vidyapeeth (Dr. PDKV), Dapoli, is actively working under the project in Maharashtra. 164 awareness and training programmes have been conducted by the center along with 440 demonstrations for the promotion of organic farming. *****