case study on organic farming in sikkim

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Explained: How Sikkim Became World’s First Organic State

Sikkim is recognised as the “world’s first organic state” by the World Book of Records London. World Book of Records London is an organisation that catalogues and verifies extraordinary records across the world.

This recognition implies that the state has become the first state in the world to implement a 100% organic policy.

The citation reads, “Sikkim state (India) has been included for being the first organic state in the world and crime-free state with the best governance.”

With the Green Revolution in the 1960s, India increased its crop production and produced enough food grains for the country, but chemical fertilizers and pesticides too arrived in Indian farming. They are affecting our agriculture including water, air and land.

Recognising its adverse impact on the environment, organic farming is being promoted. Sikkim is the first state in the world that is 100% organic and sets an example for the whole world. For this immense success, Sikkim has also been awarded the Oscar Award for Best Policies by the United States.

Let’s understand what is organic farming? How did Sikkim make itself a 100% organic state?

What is Organic Farming?

Organic farming is an evergreen ancient method by which the environment remains pure and the natural nature of the land is also maintained. Due to its use, the soil remains fertile and drought-like situations are very less likely to arise.

Further, fossil fertilizers are used instead of chemical fertilizers and organic fertilizers are used instead of insecticides during organic farming.

In organic farming, cow dung, compost manure, green manure, bio-pesticide, earthworm manure, neem cake, lemon grass and fruit residues are used. It follows bacterial culture.

How did Sikkim become an Organic State?

To make Sikkim an organic state, 75,000 hectares of land were converted into organic. The emphasis was laid on the use of organic instead of chemical i.e. chemical pesticides.

In this action plan, the Sikkim government prohibited the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides. Also, violation of this law leads to the imprisonment of three months including a fine of one lakh.

The then Chief Minister Pawan Chamling had formed the Sikkim State Board. A partnership was also initiated with many agricultural development and research organizations in the country and abroad including biological research from Switzerland.

The government focused on developing village panchayats in the form of clusters for organic farming. Organic farming was done on 8 lakh 35 thousand hectares of land in Sikkim, which benefited about 4 lakh farmers. The target was set to cover 50 thousand hectares of land, and about 2.5 thousand farmer interest groups were formed, through which about 45 thousand farmers were associated with the organic scheme.

Concept of bio-village

Interestingly, Sikkim was witnessing a decline in income and production, after which the state had decided to shift to organic farming. People were made aware of organic fertilizers by visiting organic farms, organic schools and even homes. In addition, nutrition management, techniques, pest management and laboratories for farming were also introduced.

There were many awareness campaigns organised on acidic soil treatment, organic packing etc.

The road to transition to a fully organic state was not an easy one. The state government first adopted the villages and resolved to convert them into bio-villages. The quota being given for manure was closed and organic manure was made available to all. Along with this, organic certificates were also given to the people for farming.

After taking all these steps, the scope of cultivation of Sikkim has increased and more than 22 lakh hectares of production was recorded.

What are the benefits of organic farming?

Presently, organic farming is becoming increasingly popular as it protects the environment and increases food production.

Organic farming protects farm-friendly insects. This increases the groundwater level. It reduces the cost of agriculture and increases the quality of production. Further, ecology works well due to organic farming.

Crops are rotated so that they get proper nutrition. According to one figure, a farmer is able to use only 25 to 40 per cent of his cultivated crop. At the same time, they burn 600 billion tons of agricultural residues to prepare their fields to grow new crops again.

United Nations honoured Sikkim

In 2003, the Sikkim state government pledged to convert it into an organic state and Sikkim was declared the first organic state in the world in 2016 with its policies and efforts.

The United Nations’s Fertilizer and Agriculture Organization (FAO) gave Sikkim the Oscar Award for its best policies to acquire 100% organic farming. The UN provided this title to Sikkim, leaving behind about twenty-five nominated states. The United Nations, while giving this award, described it as a step in Sikkim to fight hunger and poverty and protect the environment.

Organic farming resulted in an increase of over 50 per cent in tourism (between 2014 and 2017) and over 66,000 farmers benefited from it.

By the year 2025, organic farming in India is estimated to have a business of about Rs 75,000 crore. In such a situation, along with the use of modern techniques, there is a need to train people about organic farming.

Since when it starts to happen on a large scale then the selling and buying associated with it in the market is also likely to increase.

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Lessons from the State of Sikkim

First Online: 28 March 2024

Cite this chapter

Niranjan Roy ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0001-5434-6611 4 ,
Avijit Debnath 4 &
Sunil Nautiyal ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0002-1481-7754 5

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This chapter analyses another case study from the state of Sikkim, which is the 8th state of Northeast India. Sikkim is a part of the Eastern Himalaya and is known for its biodiversity, including alpine and subtropical climates. The state has been declared as 100% usage of organic cultivation of its cropping area.

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Roy, N., Debnath, A., Nautiyal, S. (2024). Lessons from the State of Sikkim. In: Climate Change, Shifting Cultivation and Livelihood Vulnerabilities in India. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-54927-4_9

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Sikkim: India’s First 100% Organic State Leading the Way in Sustainable Farming

Sikkim, the India's first 100% organic state

Nestled in the lap of the majestic Himalayas, Sikkim, a small but progressive state in India, has achieved a historic milestone by becoming the world’s first 100% organic state. In a significant move towards sustainable farming practices, Sikkim adopted organic farming in 2003, resolving to eliminate the use of harmful chemicals and pesticides. This transformative shift has not only garnered global recognition but also brought numerous benefits to the state and its citizens.

The Recognition of Sikkim’s Achievement

In 2018, Sikkim was honored with the prestigious Future Policy Award, often referred to as the ‘Oscar for best policies,’ by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations. This award recognizes the world’s best policies promoting agroecological and sustainable food systems. Sikkim triumphed over 51 nominations from 25 different countries, showcasing its exemplary leadership and commitment to adopting organic practices.

The Chief Minister of Sikkim, Pawan Kumar Chamling, received the award from the Deputy Director of UN’s FAO, Maria Helena Semedo, in Rome on October 15th, proudly representing the state’s extraordinary journey towards organic farming.

The Path Towards Organic Farming

In 2003, Sikkim made history by officially announcing its intention to embrace organic farming. The state’s vision was clear: ensure the long-term sustenance of soil fertility, protect the environment and ecology, promote healthy living, and reduce the risks associated with chemical-based agriculture. To achieve this, Sikkim took gradual steps, starting with a ‘phase-out’ approach to chemical fertilizers and pesticides, eventually leading to a complete ban on their use and sale.

The state went even further by halting all imports of chemical fertilizers, making it a pioneering endeavor in the realm of sustainable agriculture. As a result, all cultivable land in Sikkim has now transitioned to organic practices, paving the way for other regions and countries to follow suit.

The Role of Sikkim Organic Mission

To expedite the journey towards the 100% organic tag, the State Government launched the ‘Sikkim Organic Mission’ in 2010. This initiative provided crucial support to farmers, offering them organic seeds, manure, and training in organic farming techniques. With the mission’s help, over 66,000 farming families have benefited, contributing to rural development and sustainable livelihoods.

Beyond Environmental Benefits

The impact of Sikkim’s organic transformation extends beyond environmental gains. Organic farming has significantly improved public health and has become a major attraction for tourists. The state’s lush green farms, pure and organic agricultural products, and meals made from fresh produce have lured visitors from across the globe. Between 2015 and 2017, Sikkim witnessed a remarkable 50% increase in tourist footfalls, showcasing the appeal of its eco-friendly agricultural practices.

Understanding Organic Farming

Organic agriculture relies on naturally occurring substances while strictly limiting or prohibiting synthetic inputs like chemical fertilizers and pesticides. This approach enhances the health of agroecosystems, fosters biodiversity, supports biological cycles, and promotes soil-biological activity. By avoiding the use of harmful chemicals, organic farming ensures that the food produced is not only safe for consumption but also contributes to the preservation of the environment and the well-being of farming communities.

The Inspiration for a Brighter Future

Sikkim’s journey towards becoming India’s first 100% organic state serves as an inspiring example for other states and nations worldwide. By showcasing the power of political will, leadership, and perseverance, Sikkim has proven that a transition to organic farming is not only possible but also beneficial for both people and the planet.

In India, where agriculture plays a vital role in the economy, the success of Sikkim’s organic model holds tremendous potential. Embracing organic farming practices can lead to increased agricultural productivity, reduced environmental degradation, and improved public health.

As the world grapples with the challenges posed by climate change, environmental degradation, and health issues, Sikkim’s organic revolution stands as a beacon of hope and a testament to the transformative potential of sustainable farming practices. As more regions and nations embark on the path of organic farming, the legacy of Sikkim’s pioneering efforts will undoubtedly leave a lasting impact on the future of agriculture and our shared planet.

Sikkim goes fully organic: 5 ways the state has made things work

On 18 January, Sikkim received plaudits for a great achievement – it became India’s first state to go fully organic.

It took 10 years for Sikkim to convert 75,000 hectares of farmland into certified organic farms, implementing organic practices. The state now produces 800,000 tonnes of organic produce, accounting for nearly 65% of all of India’s 1.24 million tonnes. In all of this, Sikkim has quietly shown that going organic doesn’t mean falling productivity.

And this has earned the state applause from every corner – be it farmers on the fields or Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

“All states in the country should follow the example of Sikkim by bringing select areas under organic farming, and helping market the high-value produce,” the PM said.

Modi spoke of the recently concluded climate summit in Paris, where the entire world agreed to go back to the basics. “It has been agreed by all nations that we have to change our lifestyle. We cannot exploit nature, and have to go back to basics and live in harmony. Sikkim is a model state for the world because nature is protected here, and yet, development is not compromised,” he said.

While organic enthusiasts admire what the state has done right, and even talk of replicating the Sikkim model across India, Catch identifies the five ways Sikkim made organic farming work.

01 A vision shared by the people

It all began with a mission. Chief Minister Pawan Chamling thought simple: Sikkim was a tiny state; it needed to find a way to sustain itself without destroying its unique diverse flora, fauna, wild animal or insect habitat. It needed to create thriving livelihoods that built on eco-tourism.

In 2003, Chamling opted to take his state down the organic path. The difference being that in Sikkim, ‘organic’ wasn’t envisioned as a niche concept meant for a few rich farmers.

Making it a mission meant teaching people that the soil had been contaminated enough, and that each one had to be responsible and stop the rot.

“It’s important to demonstrate intent right from the start. Sikkim did that right in 2003 by declaring an organic policy and a plan to switch to organic farming,” said Sridhar Radhakrishnan, a green activist and founder of Thanal, an NGO based in Kerala that aims to take Sikkim’s success to the southern states of Tamil Nadu and Kerala.

From including the study of organic farming as a subject in the school curriculum, to initiating compulsory training on organic farming and its advantages as part of capacity building, the government has made its mission well understood among the people.

The Sikkim story is a success because the movement isn’t all top down. People have embraced the ideology unanimously and participated in its success story.

02 Protecting a rich tradition of home-made bio fertilisers

Environment activist Kavita Kuruganti told Catch: “People think organic farming is ‘do nothing’ farming. The Sikkim story tells us that organic farming is about intensification and synergising all ecosystems to function at one place.

“At a farm level, what you’re trying to do is balance cropping and manage the soil ecosystem. When you intensify organic farming, evidence shows that yields will go up 35 to 40%. Intensification is what is needed in cultivating the beneficial soil microorganisms and increasing the micro climate for them. Taking care of the micro climate for soil organisms helps absorb carbon in the atmosphere. You have a farm level solution to global warming right there.”

When Chamling addressed the national conference on sustainable agriculture and farmers’ welfare at Chintan Bhawan, Gangtok, earlier this week, he talked about his government’s efforts to produce organic seed, feed and organic manure based on the indigenous traditional knowledge of the people.

Here’s a sample of the diverse range of bio manure used in Sikkim, all prepared at a local level by farmers: Vermi compost, Nature Suraksha Liquid Decomposer, effective micro-organism compost, madhyam compost, Bokasi, Azola cultivation, Vermi wash, rural compost, pit compost, leaf mould, herbal compost and herbal spray for disease pest control.

Apart from this, practices like mulching, techniques like green manure, using liquid manure like cow dung and urine, or planting certain boundary trees to prevent pest attacks, are common practices in Sikkim. These are not only nature-friendly and improve soil health, but are very sustainable too.

03 Phasing out chemical fertilisers and subsidies on chemical inputs

In 2010, in a bold move, Sikkim phased out chemical fertilisers and subsidies on all chemical farm inputs. “You simply cannot make chemical fertilisers so readily available and expect people to make the shift to organic. This was the best thing that Sikkim did, which helped trigger the behavioural shift,” said Radhakrishnan.

After constituting the Sikkim State Organic Board on 16 September 2003 for outlining policy issues and strategic plans, as well as developing standards and regulation, Chamling brought out a policy in 2004 that stopped procuring chemical fertilisers and chemical pesticides with immediate effect. It also eliminated the existing subsidy to farmers for procurement of chemical pesticide.

Kerala has followed suit. It was the first Indian state to ban EndoSulfan in 2001, and 10 years later, it banned 14 different pesticides in the most toxic red and yellow categories.

“In India, we are still using pesticides that have been banned in over 67 countries. The Centre won’t bring out a policy for fear of the pesticide lobby. It also thinks these hazardous chemicals are needed for productivity. The states need to wake up to this and ban what is directly poisoning our lives,” said Sridhar.

04 Incentives to go organic

Indian farmers work in a field at the village of Kitang, outside Gangtok, the capital of the north-eastern state of Sikkim on 7 July, 2013.

Sikkim developed the right crop-specific incentives to hand-hold farmers into opting for organic farming. “The government started looking closely at both national and state government schemes. For each ecosystem and each crop, there are different problems that farmers face. The push to go organic means to work out schemes that cater to their needs,” said Radhakrishnan.

The widespread training also assisted farmers in marketing their produce.

According to Radhakrishnan, the way to get farmers on board with organic farming is the same way the government convinced them to use chemical fertilisers in the first place. “During the green revolution, MS Swaminathan, C Subramaniam and Indira Gandhi got agri officers to carry fertilisers on their heads, to deliver personally to each farmer and coax them to use it. There is no reason we can’t do the same for organic inputs,” he said.

But Sikkim also realised that, at the end of the day, for a struggling farmer, there has to be an economic incentive to shift to organic. Much work was done to incentivise the shift at a farmer level and create crop specific action plans.

05 The push to go 100% organic and cash in on economies of scale

Corn are hung to dry from a hut in Pelling, India’s Sikkim state, on 19 December, 2013.

One way of making ‘organic’ cheap, say experts, is to get everybody on board.

“What happens ordinarily in organic is that a retailer deals with small quantities from a wide range of farmers. The supply chain is broken and disorganised. This adds to the cost of produce. When a state is 100% organic, then the costs that go into segregating, packaging, labelling, and differential pricing, are saved. When everything is organic, the price automatically falls,” explains Kuruganti.

It has a cyclical effect, because the moment an entire region goes organic, the soil is replenished and productivity also automatically rises. “In the Sikkim story, we’ve seen the yield actually go up over the years” says Kuruganti.

Of course, Sikkim isn’t self sufficient in all food crops: for instance, it imports some vegetables from neighbouring states, which are not organic. But for the most part, the produce is either consumed locally or packaged for high value export.

It sounds like a simple enough theory: the more states head towards organic, the more organic produce will be available for all.

But India’s farm distress is only deepening each year with greater droughts, more pest attacks, rising indebtedness and farm suicides. Will going organic feed a starving farmer?

“Look at where the suicides are happening. These are all areas which are heavily chemical dependent. Almost all these farmers have been steeped in debt, in order to buy chemical inputs. Their soil has turned toxic. There can’t be a clearer signal to go organic and cultivate our indigenous grain varieties, some of which have the unique property of being both drought and flood resistant. We need to relook at the mistakes we made,” said Radhakrishnan.

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Today, Sikkim is the first 100% organic state in the world. All of its farmland is certified organic. The transition has benefitted more than 66,000 farming families that practice organic and agroecological farming on more than 76,000 ha of land. The policy implemented a phase out of chemical fertilisers and pesticides, and achieved a total ban on sale and use of chemical pesticides in the state. At the same time, Sikkim’s approach reaches beyond organic production and has proved truly transformational for the state and its citizens. Embedded in its design are socioeconomic aspects such as consumption and market expansion, cultural aspects as well as health, education, rural development and sustainable tourism. For its noteworthy achievements, holistic approach and its respect for the Future Just Lawmaking Principles and Elements of Agroecology, Sikkim’s State Policy on Organic Farming (2004) and Sikkim Organic Mission (2010) were recognized with the Future Policy Gold Award 2018, awarded by the World Future Council in partnership with the FAO and IFOAM – Organics International.

Dominated by a fragile mountainous environment, Sikkim is not suited to intensive industrial farming and the use of chemicals had always been relatively low compared to other Indian states.
Political commitment to support organic farming in Sikkim began in 2003 and was consolidated in 2010 with the design of the Sikkim Organic Mission. This road map clearly detailed all the measures necessary to achieve the target of becoming a fully organic state by 2015, a goal that was reached within just 12 years. Nowadays Sikkim is the first 100% organic state in the world.
The implementation of Sikkim’s policy was successful due to the fact that it combines mandatory requirements, such as gradually banning chemical fertilizers and pesticides, with support and incentives, thus providing sustainable alternatives.
More than 66,000 farming families benefitted from the policy, which however reaches beyond organic production and proves truly transformational. For instance, Sikkim’s tourism sector benefited greatly from the new organic image: between 2014 and 2017 the number of tourists increased by over 50 per cent.

Sikkim’s State Policy on Organic Farming of 2004, full text available here.

Sikkim Organic Mission of 2010, full text available here.

Organic farming is one of the strategies that Sikkim is implementing to ensure the sustainable environmental and socioeconomic development of the state. The Government has continued to embed this strategy into other important laws and policies, see, for instance, Sikkim’s Agricultural, Horticultural Input and Livestock Feed Regulatory Act of 2014 .

In general, Sikkim has made steady progress in various aspects of human development over the last decade, such as becoming one of the Indian states with the lowest incidence of malnutrition (after Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland) and the one with the highest female work participation rate (40 per cent, compared to the national average of 26 per cent). In addition, between 2001 and 2012, the government consciously stepped up investments in the social sectors, particularly health and education; in 2012–2013, 37 per cent of its total expenditure were allocated to the social sectors. In the past, Sikkim has implemented massive afforestation measures and it is very keen and conscious about promoting ecotourism, which is becoming an increasingly central industry for the state. Sikkim was also among the first states in India to ban plastic bags, way back in 1998. In 2016, it banned the use of packaged drinking water in government offices and government events and the use of Styrofoam and thermocol disposable utensils in the entire state in a move to cut down toxic plastic pollution and tackle the problem of waste.

The Sikkim Organic Mission – with its goal of becoming a fully organic state – is the first such far-sighted and visionary policy commitment by a state in India and indeed the world. By implementing this political strategy, Sikkim shows that it is taking all necessary measures to reverse the prevailing economic logic that favours forms of food production that fail to account for the contributions of nature. This action plan, together with its linked policies, is unique in its boldness. Remarkably, it allowed Sikkim to achieve its target of converting the entire state to organic agriculture by December 2015. This is the first time in history that a state set such an ambitious vision and also achieved it. For this truly outstanding accomplishment, Sikkim’s policies won the Future Policy Gold Award 2018.

When starting these policies, mainstreaming of organic and agroecological farming in the whole state was seen as a strategy to preserve the ecosystem of the state and the health of its citizens. The government was (and still is) convinced that this decision would deliver huge socioeconomic benefits, would help young people stay on the land, and would attract local and foreign sustainable tourism, while opening opportunities to reach premium organic markets.

Since the policy’s introduction, resolute efforts to halt use of chemicals in the fields and to convert all the national agricultural land to organic practices were implemented by the regional government and the people at large. Measures include the implementation of bio-villages, where farmers are trained in organic farming practices and the production of on-farm organic inputs, such as composting, organic fertilizers and organic pesticides, using with locally available plant materials and cow urine. Mandatory requirements were combined with support and incentives, and by providing sustainable alternatives, the implementation of Sikkim’s strategy became successful.

Our “Best Policies” are those that meet the Future Just Lawmaking Principles and recognise the interconnected challenges we face today. The goal of principled policy work is to ensure that important universal standards of sustainability and equity, human rights and freedoms, and respect for the environment are taken into account. It also helps to increase policy coherence between different sectors.

Sustainable use of natural resources

The policy fosters sustainable livelihoods and nature preservation through the adoption of Organic Farming.

Equity and poverty eradication

Farmers receive support for training, capacity building and to diversify crop production, including good income generating products, like cardamom or flowers.
The policy had benefits on the income of farmers, and many young farmers are now interested to stay in farming.

Precautionary approach

The legal framework developed plans and allocated resources to facilitate farmers’ access to organic seeds and planting materials, without discrimination.

Public participation, access to information and justice

Participation mechanisms work mainly through the existing administrative system and the administration has close relations with farmers.
A widespread mobilization of the local rural population ensures the implementation of the policy.
Farmers practice all kinds of information exchanges on how to solve problems; certification is an important element of information, knowledge exchange, farm advice and farmer emancipation.

Good governance and human security

The policy is well integrated in the overall strategy of the state.
The ban on import of non-organic vegetables is unique worldwide and tries to level the unfair price of conventional food versus organic food.

Integration and interrelationship

Development of scientific research, teaching and vocational training in Organic Farming is part of the policy.
Sikkim has created a unique legal framework for banning synthetic inputs and is beginning to internalize costs in the unequal competition between organic and conventional products.

Common but differentiated responsibilities

The policy is ecologically justified, like in the Alps and other ecologically sensitive regions, where state money has also led to organic conversion.
The small family farms in the Himalayas, with 1 ha, one dairy cow, a couple with one child (or two) are economical and easy to convert.

Sikkim is a small Himalayan state located in Northeast India of a total geographical area about 709,600 ha with around 610,577 local inhabitants (2011 Census). The state is listed as one of the world’s global biodiversity hotspots and its fragile, mountainous ecosystem requires sustainable farming practices to preserve its natural capital. Only about 10 per cent is farmed, whilst the rest is made up of forest, uncultivable land, cold desert and alpine region. The topography of the region is not suited to intensive industrial farming and the use of chemicals had always been relatively low compared to other Indian states. Hence, Sikkim was a state where the impact of the Green Revolution was marginal.

Political commitment to organic agriculture in Sikkim started in 2003. That year, the Chief Minister of Sikkim, H.E. Pawan Chamling, announced his vision for Sikkim to be India’s first organic state. In a historic declaration to the State Assembly in 2003, H.E. Chamling announced “a long awaited policy initiative of declaring Sikkim as a total Organic State”. Thanks to political stability – H.E. Chamling has been Chief Minister of Sikkim since 1994 – the organic vision was realized in just a little more than a decade.

The 2003 declaration was accompanied by the creation of an action plan containing a variety of policy measures, including a gradual phase-out of synthetic inputs and the support for the production and use of organic fertilizers and organic seeds, coupled with capacity building for extension officers, farmers and young people. However, back then there was still no clear agreement on how to progress towards the goal of a fully organic state. To move forward with this objective, in 2004, the government came up with a working policy and in August 2010, it launched the Sikkim Organic Mission to implement the action plan and policies related to organic farming in the state, with the target of converting the entire state into an organic one by the year 2015. This objective was achieved and in January 2016 the State was declared as the first organic state in India.

The political reasons behind the conversion of the entire state to organic and agroecological agriculture are multifaceted. On one hand, organic farming was perceived as the closest agricultural system to the traditional Sikkimese way of farming, which is traditionally rain-fed with low adoption of external inputs. On the other hand, mainstreaming organic and agroecological farming in the whole state was (and is) seen also as a strategy to preserve ecosystems and citizen’s health, and to deliver huge socioeconomic benefits. The government was convinced that this decision would help young people stay on the land and would attract local and foreign sustainable tourism, while opening opportunities to reach premium organic markets.

By creating and ensuring a domestic market for organic products controlled by the farmers, the policy aims to make farming sustainable, remunerative and respectable, including for youth, and to ensure seed and food sovereignty. It also tackles environmental issues, such as enhancing soil fertility, biodiversity and water conservation, and addresses health issues, by avoiding the use of agrochemicals and other hazardous materials, by ensuring bio-security and by ensure quality control of organic inputs and agricultural produce. Among the objectives of Sikkim’s State Policy on Organic Farming is also the conservation of traditional knowledge related to agriculture.

Between 2003 and 2010 several pilot programmes supporting organic farming were launched, including the implementation of bio-villages where farmers were trained in organic farming practices and the production of organic inputs such as composting, organic fertilizers and organic pesticide using with local plants and cow urine. During this period, the government also invested substantially in the construction of vermicomposting pits. By 2009, more than 100 villages had benefited from these programmes, reaching 10,000 farmers in all four districts of the state.

Under the Sikkim Organic Mission, launched in 2010, a number of additional actions to support organic agriculture were implemented, including capacity building, organic seed and planting material production, setting up of seed and soil testing laboratory, operation of Sikkim Organic retail outlet at New Delhi, the inclusion of organic farming in school curricula, the conversion of the two state government farms at Nazitam and Mellidara, which became Organic Centres of Excellence for conducting organic farming demonstrations and trials, and the launch of three livelihood schools as training centres for unemployed youth.

Activities aimed at supplying farmers with quality organic seeds included strengthening the seeds laboratory testing and processing facilities, and the development of a range of local organic seed development projects, such as contracting seed producers, government purchase and distribution, and establishing automated greenhouses for quality organic seedling production. Certification has also been a crucial part of the programme. Eighty per cent of the budget between 2010 and 2014 was used to build the capacity of farmers, rural service providers and certification bodies in organic farming practices, requirements and inspections, and to support farmers in acquiring certification, mainly through the Internal Control System.

One of the strongest components of the plan was to couple a conversion strategy with the gradual phase-out of synthetic inputs. Starting in 2005, the government decided to stop receiving its chemical fertilizer quota from the Government of India and began to gradually reduce subsidies on chemical fertilizers and pesticides at a rate of 10 per cent every year to make them costlier and discourage their purchase. In this way, subsidies were phased-out by 2007-2008. Another measure was to start closing down all sale points and other outlets supplying farmers with synthetic inputs. The state government also started to restrict the import of synthetic inputs and, finally, in 2014 the Sikkim Agricultural, Horticultural Inputs and Livestock Feed Regulation Act was passed, which prohibits the import of any chemical inputs for agriculture and horticulture, and as such constitutes a total ban on the sale and use of chemical pesticides in the state.

During the period between 2010 and 2014, the government earmarked a budget of EUR 6.75 million to support the implementation of the Organic Mission. Recently, the Organic Mission has received also support from central Government schemes, such as the National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA).

Sikkim’s experience has been largely positive. In the first place, the state government showed strong political will and policy consistency, along with well-defined targets and implementation plans, which can be adopted by other states. The state government’s strategy to phase out chemical fertilizers was implemented gradually, but firmly. It was a bold decision, backed up by substantial measures to build real sustainable alternatives. Farmers and citizens are proud of this policy and keep giving it political support.

Today, more than 66,000 farming families, covering more than 76,000 ha of land, have joined the Organic Mission and benefited from the transition. These farming communities have gained a good level of understanding of organic farming practices and understand the benefits of conversion. To improve soil health management, the government has provided also support for farmers to perform a total 40,000 soil tests per year. The results are delivered in the form of Soil Health cards, which give nutrient status and recommendations on inputs. Furthermore, the three livelihood schools for organic farming have together educated 836 unemployed people, 695 of whom are now employed with various rural service providers as field supervisors.

At the same time, Sikkim’s approach reaches beyond organic production and has proved truly transformational for the state and its citizens. Embedded in its design are socioeconomic aspects such as consumption and market expansion, cultural aspects as well as health, education, rural development and sustainable tourism. When Sikkim achieved full organic status in December 2015, the success was widely communicated in India and worldwide and the Sikkim tourism sector clearly benefited from this new organic image: between 2014 and 2017 the number of tourists increased by over 50 per cent.

Despite being a small state, Sikkim’s visionary leadership is receiving extensive attention in India and appears destined to reverberate worldwide. Neighbouring countries and states show high interest in replicating and many other countries, especially in Asia, invited Sikkim to exchange its experiences.

Bhutan has already set out a new road map towards becoming a 100 per cent organic state by 2023, and now a number of Indian states are interested in following the wish of the India’s Prime Minister to see the whole of North India converting to organic agriculture. At the beginning of 2018, Uttakarand became the second Indian state to promise broader support to organic farming for its 1.6 million farmers, announcing an action plan backed by approximately EUR 189 million of federal funding for the next three years. Organic agriculture can help India to achieve its own sustainable development goals, including doubling the income of rural farmers by 2022, if more Indian states adopt Sikkim’s model of organic farming.

Sikkim Organic Mission: https://www.sikkimorganicmission.gov.in/

Government of Sikkim (2015), Human Development Report 2015, Routledge: https://www.sikkim.gov.in/stateportal/Link/Sikkim%20Human%20Developent%20Report%202014.pdf

Government of Sikkim, Comprehensive Progress Report 2014, Sikkim Organic Mission (2014): https://www.sikkimorganicmission.gov.in/2015/01/06/comprehensive-progress-report/

National Horticulture Mission Department of Agriculture and Cooperation (DAC), Krishi Bhavan, New Delhi Report of the Joint Inspection Team on their inspection visit to East district and West districts of Sikkim field activities of MIDH, (2014): https://midh.gov.in/tmnehs/writereaddata/Sikkim%20-%20November%2C%202014.pdf

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Agriculture

Sikkim is 100% organic take a second look.

The state's transition to organic farming is yet to become a true success

By Sonam Taneja

Published: saturday 15 april 2017.

In January 2016, Sikkim became India’s first “100 per cent organic” state. Today, all farming in Sikkim is carried out without the use of synthetic fertilisers and pesticides, providing access to safer food choices and making agriculture a more environment-friendly activity. But when Delhi-based non-profit Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) visited 16 farms spread over the four districts of the state—North Sikkim, South Sikkim, West Sikkim and East Sikkim—in November 2016, it found that the farmers’ experience of organic farming was far from satisfactory. The findings of this survey hold lessons for the rest of the country. In Poklok-Denchung gram panchayat near Namchi, the headquarters of South Sikkim district, 85-year-old Nar Bahadur Rai is a disappointed farmer. With his son, Rai grows maize, ginger and cardamom on their two-hectare (ha) farm. Since 2011-12, when they stopped using synthetic chemicals, their ginger production has plunged to only a third of the amount they used to grow when chemical use was permitted in farming. A fungal disease called sheath blight has affected their ginger crop and Rai has received no assistance from the government. “Why are we not given any medicines for our crops? The government gave us only some manure for a short while. What is the point of the officers going for trainings if the farmers do not learn anything?” he asks. Around six kilometres away, farmer Revathy Sharma faces other challenges. He grows pulses and maize on his small farm of about 0.6 ha. His pulse yield has fallen drastically since he switched to organic farming. “When chemicals were allowed, I could grow 280 to 300 kg of pulses and now, after 4 years, I barely manage to grow 80 to 85 kg. This year, I am expecting a slight improvement with a yield of around 100 kg,” he says. Sharma cites low productivity and the susceptibility of crops to pest attacks as the reasons for this fall in yield. The experience of farmers like Sharma and Rai shows that despite earning the “100 per cent organic” tag, Sikkim’s transition to organic farming is yet to become successful. Shortfalls in execution Sikkim decided to turn to organic farming in 2003 to protect its fragile ecosystem (see ‘Across the finish line’, p40). At the time, officials reasoned that the per hectare consumption of fertilisers in Sikkim was already among the lowest in the country (at 5.8 kg per hectare). Farmers had also traditionally never used chemicals in the cultivation of cardamom, one of Sikkim’s main cash crops. “We were close to being organic by default. We have enough bio-mass as well,” says Khorlo Bhutia, principal director-cum-secretary of Sikkim’s Horticulture and Cash Crops Development Department (H&CCD). The government saw huge potential for the trade of high-value crops such as cardamom and ginger and, hence, a resolution to the effect was passed in the Sikkim Legislative Assembly. From 2003, the state began reducing the subsidy on chemical pesticides and fertilisers by 10 per cent every year and banned them completely in 2014. Their sale and use was made punishable by law with an imprisonment of up to three months or a fine of up to Rs 1 lakh or both. “Initially, there was apprehension among farmers and, in some villages, they refused to take up organic farming. But with continuous training and education, there was a shift in their mindset,” says M K Pradhan, additional director of the Sikkim Organic Mission (SOM), the nodal agency established to fast-track Sikkim’s transition in 2010.

The story was published under the headline Organic trial in the 1-15 April, 2017 edition of Down To Earth magazine

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The First Organic State in the World

Overview of Sikkim State

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Agriculture

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Cardamom is the most abundant spice in Sikkim. Sikkim is also known for being home to the world’s largest area of cardamom fields. In addition to potatoes, cardamom is one of Sikkim’s two cash crops. Tea is another important aspect of Sikkim’s agriculture. The tea that is produced in Sikkim is known around the world for the quality and taste of its tea.

In Sikkim, tea estates are an integral part of the agricultural industry. As a result of its fertile land, Sikkim is heavily dependent on agriculture. Agriculture in Sikkim is made possible by the topography and climatic conditions of the region. As a result, Sikkim experiences high yields every year. Sikkim grows the following crops:

Sikkim Organic Farming

Horticulture in the State mainly comprises vegetables such as beans and garden peas; exotic vegetables like tomato, cole crops, radishes, and various types of cucurbits, including chayote; tuber crops, mainly potato; spice crops like large cardamom, ginger, turmeric, and cherry pepper. The significance of horticulture in improving land use, promoting crop diversification, generating employment, and providing nutritional security to people has increased.

The realization of the same by the cross-section of the people has further increased its importance. The emergence of organic farming, protected cultivation, etc., has added a new paradigm to the development strategy. Through the use of polygreen houses, a breakthrough has been achieved in vegetable and flower cultivation.

The Horticulture Mission is the most important development program in the northeast and Himalayan states. Programs under RKVY, TSP/SCSP, BADP, and State Plan/Non-Plan are also taken up to support and integrate other initiatives. The people of Lachen–Lachung have plenty of vegetables for their consumption. They sell the surplus – organically grown potatoes and cabbages – to neighboring villages.

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After becoming fully organic, Sikkim produced about 80,000 metric tonnes of organic vegetables in 2016-17. As part of the first year of the Mission Organic Value Chain Development (MOVCD) in the North-East region, these vegetables were grown on 14,000 hectares of certified organic land out of 76,392 in the state.

Over 24,000 farmers from 28 farmer’s organizations in 41 clusters produced various crops organically. Also, 100 metric tons of Cherry Peppers (Dalley) and 100 quintals of organic Kiwi fruit have been produced in Sikkim under the pilot project, along with large cardamoms, ginger, turmeric, buckwheat, and Sikkim mandarins.

Major vegetable clusters

North – Ringhim, Gor, Chawang, Kazor.
East – Sawney, Duga, Samsing, Burung, Malangthang, Luing, Singbel, Amba, Pacheykhani, Dalapchen, Basilakha, Priklakha, Assam-Lingzey, Nandok.
South – Kateng, Bokrong, Wok, Mamley, Kamrang, Tinzir, Dong, Samatar, Kitam, Belbotey, Salleybong, Rabitar, Possi, Khairbotey, Legship, Hingdam, Bermiok, Gangla.
West – Middle Geyzing, Kabirthang, Toyang, Bangten, Lower Chumbong, Rungdu, Omchung, Arigaon, Nasa, Singling, Daramdin, Chakung.
North – Uppor Phodong, Nampatam, Toong, Naga, Hee-Gyathang.
East – Beliman, Marchak, Thangsing, Beng, Samasivik, Sirwani, Lingdum, Salghari, Chalisey, Tarpin, Rungdung, Aritar, Subhaneydara, Dalapchen, Chujachen, Dugalakha, Basilakha, Amba, Tareythang.
South – Bul, Salleybong, Ruchung, Sadam, Samatar, Dong, Denchung, Chalamthang, Yangyang, Lingmoo, Ben, Tarku, Lingee, Rabitar.
West – Upper Lasso, Mukrung, Karmatar, Begha, Naku, Bhaluthang, Onglop, Toyang, Arigaon, Lingchom, Kyongsha, Arithang, Chumbong, Yuksam, Budang, Tharpu, Lungchok, Rumbuk, Buriakhop.
North – Lachen, Saffu, Lachung, Menrongong.
East – Central Pandam, Cheuribotey, Sumin, Salghari, Berbing, Regu, Dalapchan, Chujachen, Salley, Nimachen, Dugalakha, Tirkutam, Raigaon, Mamring, Thekabong, Litgolai, Chenthang, Kerabari, Luing, Phadamchen, Pachak, Upper Sumin, Naya Busty, Karthok, DalapchanPhadamchen, Chuzachen and Nimachen.
South – Jaubari, Chemchey, Pakchey, Sadam, Gupti, Alley, Bakhim, Deythang, Temi-Daragaon, Ganchung, Chuba, Khop.
West – Nesa, Dokothang, Chungdubdi, Upper Mukrung, Sinkharga, Upper Martam, Yangsum, Bhaluthang, Hee-Patal, Ribdi, Hilley, Okhrey, Tikpur.

Organic Fruit Farming in Sikkim

The important fruits grown in the state include Sikkim mandarin, pear, guava, and other new introductions like kiwi and Asiatic pear variety, papaya, and banana as filler crops in lower altitudes. Apple cultivation was a traditional practice in some pockets of North Sikkim, which dwindled after the decline hit the orchards during the late seventies. With the introduction of European cultivars, apple growing is on the upswing, and interest has been rekindled among farmers.

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Sikkim mandarin is the traditional fruit of the state, which has made major progress in terms of area coverage and production. Disease-free planting materials and rejuvenation programs have been the two critical interventions for orange development. Nurseries in the private sector and two automated greenhouses have made large-scale contributions in orange.

The new concept of high-density orchards in guava is becoming popular amongst farmers. This concept is highly suitable in a hilly state like Sikkim, where land is limited. Even small and marginal farmers can allocate a certain portion of their land for guava cultivation. Bananas and papaya are on the rise as filler crops in the lower belts. The advantage of these two fruits is that they give very quick returns, increasing their popularity.

Litchi and kiwi are other fruits that have vast potential in the state’s lower and upper belts, respectively. Delayed ripening of litchi due to climate is a great advantage, with fruits coming to market one month after the main litchi season, commanding good prices. This provides ample scope for area expansion under litchi in all suitable belts.

Sikkim Mandarin represents Sikkim’s most important commercial fruit. In Sikkim, mandarin is cultivated in an area of about 6,300 hectares, with a total average annual production of about 17,190 tonnes.

Tashiding, Gyalshing, Omchung, Lingchom, Bermiok, Barthang, Rinchenpong, Chinthang, Chakung, Zoom, Timberbong, Karthok in the West district,
Kewzing, Lingmoo, Sangmoo, Yangang, Payong, Rateypani, Namthang, Tarku, Tokal- Bermiok, Turuk, and Sumbuk in the South district,
Nazitam, Sang, Simiklingy, Khamdong, Sirwani, and Samdong in the East district and
Hee-Gyathang and Dikchu in the North district of Sikkim are Sikkim’s main orange growing areas.

In Sikkim, it is the fourth most important fruit and cultivated (hill banana) throughout the state in the kitchen garden, boundaries of fields and farms, etc.

North – Gyathang.
East – Ralap, Dalapchen, Sirwani, Amba, Thakchang.
South – Arigaon, Salley, Chumbung, Budang, and Lower Kamling.
West – Arigaon, Salley, Chumbung, Budang, and Lower Kamling.

Fruit crops are growing in Sikkim’s foothills below 900 meters elevation due to their increasing importance as fruit crops. Namli garden, Majitar farm in East District, and Kaijeley farm in West District, the State Department of Agriculture produce seedlings. For the rapid development and growth of this fruit crop, it is distributed to farmers yearly on a large scale. As a commercial fruit crop, papaya can be cultivated in some areas of the state, including the south district, the west district with lower elevation, and the eastern district with less rainfall.

North – Hee-Gyathang, Tingvong, Lum and Gor.
East – Sazong, Pachak, basilakha, Ralap, Chandey, Burung, Kadamtam, Chota Singtam, Saureni, Tirkutam, Rewalakha, Gangyap, Zingla.
South – Sumbhuk, Pabong, Dong, Sadam, Tingley, kamrang, Legship, Hingdam.
West – Nerdang, Lower Arithang, Lower and Upper Hathidunga, Boomtafel, Chisopani, Zeel, Karthok, Lower Sangadorjee

In Sikkim, it is the third important fruit crop. Until 1976, it was cultivated in a limited area, as in a kitchen garden or as a border tree. It is cultivated in orchards below 1200 meters elevation in the states’ hills.

North – Lower Dzongu.
East – Ankuching, Kerabari, Titiribotey, Kamerey, Lingzey, Ralap, Singbel, Reshi, Tarpin.
South – Mellidara, Turung, Lingzey, Chalamthang, Lingmoo, Pakzor, Dong.
West – Arigaon, Chongrang, Khaniserbong, Suntaley.

The National Mission on Medicinal Plants, a CSS, was launched in the state during 2009-10. The scheme is funded by the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, GOI, through National Medicinal Plants Board (NMPB). The Horticulture & Cash Crop Development Department Government of Sikkim is the implementing agency in the state. The following activities were taken up during the year 2010-11.

Cultivation of medicinal plants on a commercial basis requires producing elite planting materials in public and private nurseries. However, due to fund constraints, the department could establish only two public sector Model nurseries and one private nursery with an investment balance of 2009-10.
The Public sector Nurseries are located at Lachung Government farm in the North district and Rabongla Government farm in the South district.
One nursery has been set up under the private sector at Yuksom called Sewalung Nursery.

The department had identified only five species for cultivation during the year 2010-11. Limited areas have been covered under high-value medicinal crops such as Nardistachys jatamanshi, Swertia chirata, and Picrorhza kurroa. However, about 130 Ha areas are covered under Gloriosa superba, mostly in the Turuk – Sumbuk in the south district and Timberbong in the West district.

The cultivation of finger millet is widespread in Sikkim. Among the leguminous crops intercropped with it are maize, ginger, and others. Finger millet is known as ‘Kodo’ in Sikkim because of the state’s economic and social conditions. In this region, the grain is used for malting and preparing ‘Jansu’ or ‘Change’ The powder is also used for making bread or ‘Dhainro.’

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The stalk is considered good fodder. In the state, it is a Kharif crop grown across 5000 ha regardless of elevation, producing about 4713 tonnes of grain. In terms of gross cultivated area, the crop occupies about 4.11%. It is harvested between November and December, and finger millet has a high nutritional value.

In Sikkim, livestock production is the endeavor of smallholders, and over 80% of all the households in the state have livestock of one species or the other and income from them. Animal husbandry, Livestock & Fisheries department is engaged in supporting the production of milk, meat & egg by providing requisite infrastructure in the state for improving the productivity of livestock and birds, preservation and protection of animals through preventive and curative health care facilities, and developing the skill of farmers in modern and scientific methods through adequate training on organic animal husbandry practices.

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Some of the major initiatives for the development of Animal Husbandry started by the government of Sikkim are as follows:

The water resources of Sikkim contain 48 fish species belonging to 9 families under 23 genera. Most of the species belong to the Cyprinidac family. The most important fish spices are Mahaseer (Sahar), Snow trout (Asla), Catfish (Ther, Gandi), some carps (Budana, Nak Kauta), etc. Culturing carp fishes like grass carp, silver carp, common carp, and other species are suitable for cultural purposes in the lower belt of Sikkim.

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Sikkim: India's First Organic State: RSTV - In Depth

Sikkim had a resolution in 2003, to shift towards Organic Farming with an aim to stop usage of chemicals and pesticides in farming. As a result Sikkim became the first Organic state in the World and received an award from Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) in Rome. This article gives you a complete overview and the strides taken by Sikkim towards Organic farming.

Aspirants would find this article very helpful while preparing for the IAS Exam .

Anchor: Teena Jha Why in the News?

India’s first 100% organic state Sikkim has won the ‘Oscar for best policies’, conferred by the Food and Agriculture Organisation for the world’s best policies promoting agro-ecological and sustainable food systems.
Sikkim beat 51 nominations from 25 different countries of the world to win the Future Policy Award 2018.
The Chief Minister of Sikkim Pawan Kumar Chamling received the award from the Deputy Director of UN’s FAO Maria Helena Semedo in Rome on October 15th.
In 2003, Sikkim became the first state in India to officially announce the adoption of organic farming to ensure long-term sustenance of soil fertility, protection of environment and ecology, healthy living and decreasing the risk of health ailments.
It also stopped imports of chemical fertilizers in the State, and since then, the cultivable land in Sikkim is practically organic.
The Future Policy Award recognised the state’s leadership and political will to lead by example. Today’s In Depth talks about the policies adopted by Sikkim that helped it become the first organic state in the world, the status of organic farming in India and its potential in our agro-driven economy.

Larger Background

Back in 2003, Sikkim officially took the decision to go organic. In the coming years, Sikkim made a transformational shift from using Chemicals and Pesticides, to imposing a complete ban on them.
In January 2016, Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared Sikkim as India’s first, fully organic state.
Currently, the efforts of the North Eastern states towards achieving sustainable goals have been rewarded by the United Nations.

Some Specifics

Nestled in the lap of the Himalayas, Sikkim, became India’s first 100% organic state in January 2016. Showing the way to other states and even other countries to turn organic.

Sikkim Gets a UN Award

Sikkim is the first organic state in the world. All of its farmland is certified organic. At the same time, Sikkim’s approach reaches beyond organic production and has proven truly transformational for the states and its citizens.
Sikkim sets an excellent example of how other Indian states and countries worldwide can successfully upscale agro-ecology.
Receiving the award at a ceremony in Rome on Monday, Sikkim Chief Minister, Pawan Chamling, said that it took Sikkim over a decade to transform into a fully organic state.
In 2003, Sikkim officially adopted a resolution to switch to organic farming.
The state decided to go organic, to ensure long-term sustenance of soil fertility, protection of environment and ecology. The objective was also to promote healthy living and decreasing the risk of disease.
The policy implemented a ‘phase-out’ of chemical fertilizers and pesticides and soon achieved a total ban on the sale and use chemical pesticides in the state.
The same year, Sikkim also stopped all imports of chemical fertilizers. Since then, the farmers of the state have been using organic manure.
In 2010, the State Government launched the ‘Sikkim Organic Mission’. The Sikkim Organic Mission was launched to fast-track its journey towards achieving the 100% organic tag. The Mission helped by providing seeds and manure and training farmers inorganic methods. The transition to an organic state has benefitted over 66,000 farming families in the state, while also bringing about rural development and sustainable living.
Besides proving transformational for public health and environment in the region, organic farming is also attracting a large number of tourists to the state who throng to see its lush, green farms, pure and organic agro products, and meals made out of fresh produce.
Between 2015 and 2017, the number of tourists in Sikkim went up by 50%.
Organic agriculture uses naturally occurring substances while prohibiting or strictly limiting synthetic substances. This enhances agro-ecosystem health, including Biodiversity, Biological cycles and soil-biological activity.

Why Organic Farming and Why it is the Need of the Hour?

Organic farming uses techniques to achieve good crop yields without harming the natural environment or the people who live and work in it.

It relies on organic or natural fertilizers like:

Compost Manure
Green Manure

And it places emphasis on techniques like:

Crop Rotation
Companion Planting

Further, Biological Pest Control, Mixed Cropping. And Nurturing Insect Predators are encouraged in organic farming.

While all traditional farming is now considered to be organic farming, an organic movement started in the 1940s as a reaction to agriculture’s growing reliance on synthetic fertilizers and pesticides.

Lord Walter James Northnburn coined the term, “Organic Farming” in his book, “Look to the Land” which was published in 1940’s. There are different kinds of manures which need to be used- for example, Vermicomposting, Compost, etc. have to be used to maintain soil fertility. Similarly, as far as plant protection is concerned, it is important to manage pests.

Key Characteristics of Organic Farming

Protecting long-term fertility of soils by maintaining organic matter levels and encouraging soil-biological activity.
Providing crop nutrients indirectly using insoluble nutrient sources by the action of soil microorganisms
Nitrogen self-sufficiency through the use of legumes and biological nitrogen fixation and effective recycling of organic materials, including crop residues and livestock manures.
Weed, disease and pest control by crop rotation
Organic manuring
Minimum biological and chemical intervention
Management of livestock and paying attention to their evolutionary adaptations, behavioural needs and animal welfare issues with respect to nutrition, housing, health, breeding and rearing and careful attention to the impact of the farming system on the wider environment and the conservation of wildlife and natural habitats.

A Few More Important Insights

Maintaining a green environment is a great concern worldwide and organic farming can partly offer a solution as it promotes ecological harmony, biodiversity, and biological cycles that are vital for environmental sustainability
Reckless use of chemicals in agriculture, severely affects the health of people who consume end products and also those involved in such farming methods
Organic produce offers the safest products for human consumption as they contain lower levels of chemicals
Latest data suggests that 57.8 million hectares of organic agricultural land are available worldwide for organic farming which is 1.2% of the world’s agricultural land.
Oceania with 27.3 million hectares has the largest area of organic and cultural land, followed by Europe (13.5 million hectares), Latin America (7.1 million hectares), Asia (4.9 million hectares), North America (3.1 million hectares), and Africa (1.8 million hectares).
Worldwide, organic farmland increased by 7.5 million hectares in 2016, which is a growth of 15%
India has 1.49 million hectares of organic farmland. India was placed at number 9 in the list of top 10 countries with the largest area of organic land in 2016. India also added an additional 0.3 million hectares to its existing organic land in the same year (2016).
With 178 countries involved in organic farming, the global market for organic food reached $89.7 Billion USD in 2016 and is expected to grow exponentially in the coming years.

A Look at Specifics

India’s Progress in the Organic Sector has been remarkable. In the 1990’s, the sector was limited, to the export of tea to European markets. At present, India is emerging as a key player in the global arena, exporting over 300 products in 20 different categories to more than 20 countries. Besides, India is also the largest exporter of organic cotton and houses the largest number of organic producers in the world. The domestic organic markets are growing at a rate higher than the global average, and are expected to keep growing at 25% by the year 2020.
According to the World of Organic Agriculture Report 2018, India has the largest number of organic producers in the world. With 8.35 lakh certified organic producers, India is home to over 30% of the total organic producers worldwide. Experts say that the increase in organic production is the result of a large number of entrepreneurs advocating organic farming and its complementary methods. At present, multiple organizations, and firms are backing organic farming more than ever, spreading the impact of organic farming to common households everywhere.
However, when it comes to the area under “Certified Organic Cultivation”, India contributes only 2.59%, i.e. 1.5 million hectares of the total area of 57.8 million hectares. But amongst regions with the largest areas of organically managed agricultural land, India ranks 9 th , occupying a robust position in producing organic products.
According to a report by ASSOCHAM and Ernst and Young, India exported 1.35 million metric tonnes of certified organic food products worth 1,937 crore rupees in 2015-16. Further, India is the largest exporter of organic cotton worldwide.
In the food market segment, oilseeds comprised half of India’s overall organic food export, followed by processed food products at 25%.
The current Indian organic market is estimated at Rs. 4000 crores INR, and is likely to increase to Rs. 10,000-12,000 crore rupees INR, by 2020, with a similar incremental trend in exports.
The Indian organic market has been progressing steadily with a combined annual growth rate of 25% as compared to 16% global growth rates.
However, despite the promising performance in terms of exports, the local consumption of organic produce, is still at a nascent stage with a market share of less than 1%
The current position of organic farming with reference to area covered across the country is 23.02 lakh hectares. Under the schemes, “Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana”, “Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North eastern Region”, and “National Program of Organic Production”. Under the first two schemes, enough assistance is provided to entrepreneurs for the development of value chains, and marketing of organic produce. The cost of organic agriculture largely depends on-farm generation of inputs, when on-farm organic inputs are used. Cost of production per-unit area is less by 13% under organic agriculture than inorganic management.
However, if organic inputs from outside the farm are purchased and utilized, then the cost of production increases by about 15-20%, depending on the nature of inputs used. Integrated organic farming system models being developed, promise to meet 70-80% of organic inputs within the farm. This will reduce the market input cost considerably.
Experts say that the increasing support from the Government has been the key driver for growth in the organic sector in India. Several other factors that contribute to the growth include increasing health awareness among people, rising disposable incomes, urbanization and technological development.
Innovative technological solutions using artificial intelligence, imaging and renewable energy, among others are being developed by private companies for the organic food industry. Since the organic food segment is still at a nascent stage in India, both the Government and private players need to develop a strong policy framework that can benefit all involved. The organic farming industry in India holds immense potential to grow provided it receives steady investment and benefits from both existing and new initiatives like incentivising organic cultivation, food processing, certification and regulatory ease and tax benefits.

Challenges Faced by Organic Farmers

Organic farming may have gained momentum in recent years but it has not yet managed to assume the centre-stage in Indian agriculture.
Although several states have made remarkable progress in organic farming, it needs to overcome challenges at policy, commercial, and infrastructural levels.
Organic farming is fast becoming the new face of Indian agriculture. The government has taken several steps to promote organic farming with the aim to improve soil fertility and help double farmers income by the year 2022.
However, despite developments in the field, it is surprising that organic farming has not yet managed to enter the agricultural mainstream.
According to a 2017 Survey Based Study covering 418 organic farmers across different states in India, a move to organic farming methods may not be that easy and organic farmers are not getting the expected premium price for their produce.
The study highlighted several key issues faced by organic farmers that are affecting their livelihood and incomes.
One of the foremost challenges is the rampant use of pesticides and chemicals to get rid of weeds. As a matter of fact, excessive use of chemicals have pest and weed species immune to chemicals. This is the first hurdle in the transition from conventional to organic farming.
Farmers also complain of low productivity during the transition from conventional chemical farming to organic farming.
As organic farming prohibits the use of synthetic pesticides, the farmer is at the mercy of severe attacks from mutant pests. The situation becomes worse not only with the discovery of newer variants of pests and diseases but also because of the traditional methods of pest control that fail to contain the damage to crops to crops.
This decreases the overall production and hence farmers have demanded education and training on how to tackle pest attacks.
Further, severe lack of suitable infrastructure is also proving to be a herculean task for organic farmers. Maximum organic farming consists of fruit and vegetable production, which is highly perishable in nature. Inadequate agricultural infrastructure and lack of cold storage facilities leads to loss of produce mostly because of spoilage.
An underdeveloped supply chain further affects small and mid-sized farmers that are located in hilly regions and tribal belts.
Since organic products have to be stored separately from conventional products to avoid cross-contamination, the existing supply chain fails in this respect.
After overcoming all these hurdles, when the organic produce reaches the market, consumers find them expensive and hence they are discouraged from buying them.
According to an ASSOCHAM study, Rs.1,200/- to Rs. 1,500/- per month is the additional expenditure if a consumer switches to organic food.
Organic produce is more expensive due to higher labour costs and comparatively lower yields.

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COMMENTS

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