Citing the successful example of Sikkim, Prime Minister had called for expansion of organic farming across the country as part of efforts to transform the agriculture sector, entailing better remuneration for the farmers.

Organic Farming

• Organic agriculture is a holistic production management system which promotes and enhances agroecosystem health, including biodiversity, biological cycles, and soil biological activity.
• Thus Organic farming uses natural fertilizers and pesticides and strictly limits (not eliminates completely) the use of synthetic and non-natural processes.

Principles of Organic Agriculture

• Principle of Health: Organic agriculture should sustain and enhance the health of soil, plant, animal and human as one and indivisible.
• Ecological Principle: Organic agriculture should be based on and work with living ecological systems and cycles, emulate them and help sustain them.  
• Principle of Fairness: Organic agriculture should be built upon relationships that ensure fairness with regard to the common environment and life opportunities.
• Principle of Care: Organic agriculture should be managed in a precautionary and responsible manner to protect the health and well-being of current and future generations and the environment.

Advantages of Organic Farming

• Organic farming is definitely healthier and safe than non-organic farming                                                                                                              
• Organic farms have higher levels of soil biological activity and biodiversity;
• Farmers can reduce their production costs because they do not need to buy expensive chemicals and fertilizers.
• Organic agriculture causes less pesticide contamination in food, people and the environment;
• In the long term, organic farms save energy and protect the environment.
• Pollution of ground water is stopped.

Disadvantages

• Lack of convenience.
• Organic food is more expensive.
• Food safety concerns.

Scope
About 1-2% of the world’s food is produced with organic methods. The market however is growing very quickly - by about 20% a year. In Europe, Austria (11%), Italy (9%) and the Czech Republic (7%) are the countries in which organic food production as it its highest.

Government’s Efforts
Government is promoting organic farming through various schemes/ programmes under National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA)/ Paramapragat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY), Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY), Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH), National Mission on Oilseeds & Oil Palm (NMOOP), Network Project on Organic Farming of ICAR.