<p class="p1">With the world fighting Covid-19, the need to enhance immunity has increased, leading to the rise in demand for healthy and safe edible products. The Indian farmer is trying his best by adopting organic farming techniques. As a consequence, India now ranks first in the number of organic farmers and ninth in terms of area under organic farming in the world, according to an official press release.</p>
<p class="p1">"Major organic exports from India are flax seeds, sesame, soybean, tea, medicinal plants, rice, and pulses," said the press release. Sikkim became the first state in the world to become a fully organic state. Other states who have set similar targets are Tripura and Uttarakhand.</p>
<p class="p1">Hilly states, tribal areas, and island territories of the country have traditionally been into organic farming, with very low consumption of chemicals.</p>
<p class="p1">With the aim to enhance organic farming in the country, the Agriculture Ministry dedicated two schemes in 2015, Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North East Region (MOVCD) and Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY). To boost exports, both schemes provide organic farming certification under the Participatory Guarantee System (PGS) and National Programme for Organic Production (NPOP), the release said.</p>
<p class="p1">The major organic exports from India have been flax seeds, sesame, soybean, tea, medicinal plants, rice and pulses, which were instrumental in driving an increase of nearly 50 per cent in organic exports in 2018-19, estimated around Rs 5,151 crore.</p>
<p class="p1">Major states which are involved in exports are Assam, Mizoram, Manipur and Nagaland.</p>
<p class="p1">Natural farming is not a new concept in India, with farmers having tilled their land without the use of chemicals, largely relying on organic residues, cow dung, composts, etc., since time immemorial.</p>
<p class="p1">"The philosophy underlying organic farming of integration of the elements—soil, water, microbes and ‘waste’ products, forestry and agriculture—is the correct recipe for sustainable use of natural resources, which are coming under severe stress due to ever-increasing requirement of food and feedstock for agro-based industry. This is also in sync with the Sustainable Development Goal 2 targeting ‘end hunger, achieve food security, and improved nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture," the official release said.</p>.