Many Indian states saw a rise in organic farming after the introduction of new farm laws. This was due to the participation of youth. In addition, the government’s recent move to certify regions for organic produce has prompted startups and private players such as Adani Group, Baramati Agro Ltd, and Organic Tattva to train and educate farmers in order to generate more profit and improve their skills.
The second wave of COVID-19 is currently ravaging the world. A shift in focus to healthy food has led to an increase in demand for organic products. According to WHO, the market for organic foods worldwide is around $37 billion. According to an international survey report (2021), India ranks 5th in the organic area and tops the list in terms of total producers. The country’s organic farming is still in its infancy. According to the Union Ministry for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, 2.78 million hectares of land were under organic cultivation as of March 2020. This is only 2% of the total sown land in the country.
The Union Agriculture Ministry recently granted organic certification to over 14,000 hectares of land in Car Nicobar and Nancowry, in the Union Territory of Andaman & Nicobar Islands. This extends the reach of organic farming. The government’s Large Area Certification scheme (LAC), will allow farming operations to be free of chemical inputs in the region. This is being done by several young entrepreneurs and private players like Organic Tattva or Adani Group. Many organic farmers welcome the new farm bill. They believe they can sell their produce directly across the country, without paying any mandi taxes, which will help them increase their income.
Adani Foundation organized a visit to 45 small and marginal farmers in Dandamakundapur to encourage organic farming.
After the introduction new farm bill, young people are moving away from 9-5 jobs and shifting their focus to agriculture. Many people are leaving high-paying jobs in order to pursue organic farming as a career. With help of private players such as Baramati Agro Ltd, Phalada Agro Research Foundations, and Adani Group, Farm Bill will empower farmers. Young people are also making every effort to expand the sector’s horizons.
