Cultivating Sustainability: The Thriving Organic Farming Movement in Uttar Pradesh

Organic farming is a system of agriculture that avoids the use of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides. It relies on natural processes, such as crop rotation, green manures, and compost, to maintain soil fertility and control pests and diseases.

Organic farming is a growing movement in Uttar Pradesh. The state government is supportive of organic farming and has implemented a number of schemes to promote its adoption.

The following are some of the key features of the organic farming sector in Uttar Pradesh:

• Area under organic cultivation: Uttar Pradesh has the second largest area under organic cultivation in India, after Madhya Pradesh. In 2022-23, the area under organic cultivation in Uttar Pradesh was 2.4 lakh hectares.
• Major crops grown organically: The major crops grown organically in Uttar Pradesh include wheat, sugarcane, rice, pulses, oilseeds, fruits, and vegetables.
• Number of organic farmers: There are over 1 lakh organic farmers in Uttar Pradesh.
• Organic certification: There are a number of organic certification agencies operating in Uttar Pradesh. The most popular organic certification agency is the Participatory Guarantee System (PGS) of India.

The government of Uttar Pradesh is providing a number of incentives to promote organic farming, including:

• Subsidies on organic inputs: The government provides subsidies to farmers on the purchase of organic inputs such as seeds, fertilizers, and pesticides.
• Financial assistance for organic certification: The government provides financial assistance to farmers for organic certification.
• Market linkages: The government is working to develop market linkages for organic products.

The organic farming sector in Uttar Pradesh has the potential to grow significantly in the coming years. The state has a strong agricultural base and a large number of farmers who are interested in adopting organic farming practices. The government is also supportive of organic farming and has implemented a number of schemes to promote its adoption.

With the right support, the organic farming sector in Uttar Pradesh can become a major driver of economic growth and development in the state.