Amit Shah Reviews Efforts to Strengthen India’s Organic Farming
By CCN News | Published: Jan 03, 2025
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Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Shri Amit Shah, led a review meeting of the National Cooperative Organic Limited (NCOL) at the Ministry of Cooperation today. The meeting brought together senior officials from the Ministry and focused on advancing India’s organic farming efforts.
Linking PACS to the Organic Mission
Shri Amit Shah highlighted the importance of integrating all Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) across India into the national organic farming mission. He called for a nationwide campaign to raise awareness about the benefits of organic products and encourage their adoption. “It is essential that PACS are actively involved in this initiative, promoting organic farming practices and facilitating the availability of organic products throughout the country,” said Shah during the meeting.
The Minister also emphasized the need to establish a transparent and efficient supply chain for organic products, particularly under NCOL’s “Bharat Organics” brand. He stressed the importance of ensuring that each batch of organic products undergoes proper testing to guarantee their authenticity and quality.
Focus on Fair Pricing and Support for Farmers
A key area of discussion was the welfare of farmers, with Shri Shah stressing the need for fair and competitive pricing of organic products. He noted that farmers in Uttarakhand had seen a profit increase of 10% to 15% from the paddy procurement through NCOL, suggesting the potential for organic farming to provide better financial outcomes. “Farmers need to see the economic benefits of organic farming,” he said, adding that transparent pricing and support from national cooperatives would be essential to expanding organic agriculture.
Shah also recommended closer collaboration between NCOL and institutions like Amul and the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) to ensure that organic products, such as organic flour and Arhar dal, are fairly priced and accessible to farmers.
Expanding the Role of Local Cooperative Societies
Shri Amit Shah proposed that PACS should evolve into centers for both the sale of organic products and the distribution of organic seeds. By leveraging the reach of these local societies, the expansion of organic farming could be facilitated across rural areas. He also suggested including young farmers in each PACS, who could play a role in promoting organic practices within their communities.
Additionally, the Union Minister called on NABARD and the Ministry of Cooperation to develop a mechanism that would enable farmers to access loans tailored to their needs, making it easier for them to transition to organic farming.
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How Organic Farming Helps Mitigate Climate Change?
The discussion on organic farming comes at a time when climate change continues to pose challenges to agricultural productivity worldwide. Organic farming is considered a more sustainable alternative to conventional farming, as it avoids synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, which can contribute to soil degradation, water pollution, and greenhouse gas emissions.
By scaling up organic farming practices, India could reduce its carbon footprint and increase the resilience of its agricultural sector to climate change. Organic farming also supports soil carbon sequestration, a process that helps absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, which can contribute to mitigating climate change.
As India continues to focus on organic farming, products from this sector are gaining recognition as a healthier and more environmentally friendly option. The efforts to expand organic agriculture will not only improve the financial conditions of farmers but also contribute to a more sustainable and climate-resilient agricultural system.
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