Government promoting use of Organic Manure in India

New Delhi: Government is promoting organic/chemical free fertilizers under Capital Investment Subsidy Scheme of National Project on Organic Farming (NPOF) through NABARD by setting up of Fruit & Vegetable Waste/Agro Waste Compost Units under Municipalities, Agricultural Produce marketing Committees (APMCs), Public Sector/Private Sector Companies, individual entrepreneurs and Bio-fertilizer/Bio-pesticide Production Units through Public Sector, Co-operative/Private Sector Companies, NGOs and individual entrepreneurs.
Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has developed technologies to prepare various types of organic manures such as Phospho-compost, Vermi-compost, Municipal Solid Waste Compost etc. from various organic wastes.
During the 11th Five Year Plan, the funds Rs.101.00 crore was allocated by the Government for National Project on Organic Farming (NPOF) to encourage organic farming including organic manure. Under Capital Investment Subsidy Scheme of NPOF, subsidy amounting to Rs.11.53 crore was released through NABARD during 11th plan period.
ICAR is implementing a Network Project on Organic Farming to develop package of practices of different crops and cropping systems under Organic farming in different agro-ecological regions of the country with an allocation of Rs.5.34 crore. Organic farming package of practices for 14 crops namely basmati rice, rainfed wheat, maize, redgram, chickpea, soyabean, groundnut, mustard, isabgol, black pepper, ginger, tomato, cabbage and cauliflower have been developed.
Soil test based balanced and integrated nutrient management through conjunctive use of both inorganic and organic source of plant nutrient is recommended by ICAR to maintain quality of soils.
National Project on Management of Soil Health and Fertility (NPMSH&F) was launched during 2008-09 with a total outlay of Rs.429.85 crore during 11th Plan to promote soil test based balanced and judicious use of fertilizers for improving soil health and its productivity. NPMSH&F provides assistance for setting up of new static/mobile soil testing laboratories (STLs), strengthening of existing STLs, trainings of STL staff/extension officers/farmers, field demonstrations on balanced use of fertilizers, promoting use of organic manure, soil amendments and micro nutrients. During 11th Plan 294 STLs were set up/strengthened, 118 new mobile STLs were set up, 1,221 trainings and 1344 demonstrations were organized, 99,000 ha were covered under organic manure, 34,000 ha under soil amendment and 1,08,800 ha under micro nutrients.
Under Horticulture Mission for North-East & Himalayan States (HMNEH) financial assistance is provided for various horticulture activities. Setting up of vermicompost units is one of the components under the scheme for which financial assistance upto Rs.30000 per unit for permanent structure and Rs.10000 per unit for HDPE vermin bed is provided on pro-rata basis.
Under National Horticulture Mission (NHM), subsidy is provided for adoption of organic farming @ of 50% of the maximum permissible cost of Rs.20,000/ha for a maximum area of 4 ha per beneficiary in three installments. The programme is linked with organic certification. Subsidy under organic certification is project based, which is Rs. 5.00 lakh for a cluster of 50 ha. For setting up of vermin compost units, assistance is provided upto Rs.30000 per unit. A sum of Rs.206.87 crore was released to the State Horticulture Missions during 11th Plan for taking up organic farming activities. The coverage of area achieved under organic farming is 128074 ha against target of 67710 ha and 142140 vermi compost units have been set up against target of 115951 units.

Sikkim has to overcome challenges to become organic

New Delhi, Feb 11 (IANS) Sikkim has set for itself the goal of becoming an organic agricultural state by 2015 — but there are several challenges that it needs to overcome to see the shift, said an ecology expert from the Himalayan state.
“Organic agriculture, as an adaptation strategy to climate change, is a concrete, holistic and sustainable option but has challenges in terms of acceptance and the sustainability of such a move needs critical appraisal,” Rajendra P. Gurung, chief executive officer, Ecotourism and Conservation Society of Sikkim, told IANS here.
The foremost challenge is in terms of acceptance by the farmers who are still dependent on fertilisers and traditional farming.
“The financial investment is also huge, especially for the certification process, which is costly and complex. Also in terms of sustainability, financial support will be required even 10 years after the implementation,” added Gurung.
Gurung, who is also a member of the Sikkim State Biodiversity Board, said marketing and developing the Sikkim organic brand is also another challenge that needs great attention.
“The state also needs to understand the aggregation problem that it could face due to the geographical distance of the market from the farms,” he said while addressing the International Conference on the Eastern Himalayas organised by the Centre for Northeast Studies and Policy Research at the Jamia Millia Islamia here Feb 11-13.
This project was announced in 2003 by the government. However, it is only after 2010 that it has been moving on a fast track. The Sikkim Organic Mission is the nodal agency to implement and monitor the programme for implementation in a time-bound manner.
However, Gurung said that, if implemented, the project will have long-term benefits for the state on climate protection and promoting eco-tourism.
“Organic farming helps in lowering the emission of green house gases, restores water in the soil, increases nutrient, stops use of synthetic fertilizers, decreases soil erosion and helps in improving biodiversity,” he said.

ORGANIC LOWERS EXPOSURE TO PESTICIDES

GREENFIELD, Mass — The Organic Trade Association issued the following news release:
These data confirm what numerous peer-reviewed studies have shown: that organic products have significantly lower rates of pesticide residues, while the few products that do show trace chemicals are at much lower levels than the average for conventional produce.
The data reported by CBC show that conventional produce is 70 percent more likely to contain pesticide residues, and conventional products tested above the maximum allowed levels 2.5 times more often than organic.
Test results published in December show that organophosphate pesticide levels in children in Toronto plummeted as soon as they began eating an organic diet. Unfortunately, agricultural pesticides now contaminate every part of our lives: from our soil and drinking water to fetal cord blood. We believe firmly that organic is the only option for consumers who wish to reduce their exposure to persistent and synthetic chemical pesticides, herbicides, and GMOs.
Canadian consumers can trust that federal law now governs organic products. All imported and domestic products must meet Canadian standard requirements in order to be sold as organic. In addition to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency’s inspection and enforcement of organic products on retail shelves, organic farms and processing facilities are subject to regular on-site inspections, making organic products the most scrutinized and controlled foods in our market.
The organic sector fully expects CFIA to take full enforcement action on any producers shown to have used a prohibited substance on organic products.
For many farmers and consumers, organic is much more than the absence of toxic and synthetic pesticides–organic is about the use of humane standards for animals, increasing biodiversity on farms and in nature, and fostering resilient and adaptable plants and soils that reduce our carbon footprint. In addition to all these things, consumers who choose organic know they are choosing products that do not use GMOs, artificial colors, additives or flavors.