22.5 lakh hectares brought under organic farming so far

New Delhi: Calling upon farmers to practice organic farming instead of chemicals-based farming, Union Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh said that the government has initiated several schemes to promote organic farming in the country.

"The organic farming has become a national and global requirement for providing nutritious food to people as well as to maintain sustainable production and soil health. It's the result of government's proactive moves to promote organic farming that about 22.5 lakh hectares have been brought under such cultivation so far," the minister said while addressing the representatives of 110 countries and 2,000 Indian delegates at Organic World Congress 2017 on Thursday.

Raising the concern that excessive use of chemicals-based fertilisers, insecticides and pesticides is affecting soil health and environment as well as human beings, the minister said, "Food security is not an issue anymore in the country, but we still have the challenge of providing healthy and nutritious food to the growing population."

Singh noted that India is one of the oldest organic agricultural nations of the world and a large part of the country still practices traditional organic farming. Singh highlighted that currently 22.5 lakh hectares have been brought under organic farming and 3,60,400 farmers have benefited under the Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana.

"The government aims to bring 50,000-hectare area under organic farming in the northeast region and 45,863 hectares have been brought so far under such farming. In Uttar Pradesh, Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana was launched in 2015-16 and so far 28,750 farmers have benefited from 28,750 acres of land," the minister said, who launched the mega organic show in the presence of Sikkim Chief Minister Pawan Kumar Chamling and Uttar Pradesh agriculture minister Surya Pratap Shahi.

"The government acknowledges that indiscriminate and excessive use of chemicals during last several decades has posed a question- "how long can we continue to do farming like this?," Singh asked. He also informed that the government is allocating Rs 5 lakh per district to set up sales outlets for the marketing of organic products.