The Union Budget 2021 focuses on the agriculture sector and promotes organic farming in the country. The government’s focus on increasing the purchasing power of the farmers will encourage more farmers to adopt organic farming. Many agriculture leaders and ministers have expressed optimism towards the rise of an Organic India.

In a recent interview with Tech Observer, Praveen Kumar Gupta, Co-founder, Planet Organic highlighted that the Budget 2021 has really pushed for a stronger and improved Aatmanirbhar Bharat. The government’s focus on increasing the purchasing power of the farmers will encourage more farmers to adopt organic farming. Organic farming products generate more outflow as compared to traditional farming methods.

 

Sri Sri Ravishankar while inaugurating the annual five-day National Horticulture Fair in February 2021, organised by the Indian Institute of Horticultural Research (IIHR), Bengaluru said that the country must gradually adopt organic farming for its sustainable growth. "We are consuming poisonous food due to extensive usage of pesticides. The present farming system has to be changed by encouraging organic  farming," he asserted. He also emphasised upon changing the food culture and promoting indigenous food to develop the immune system. While addressing the five-day fair, the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) Director-General Trilochan Mohapatra said that the ICAR has developed 51 organic cropping systems suitable for adoption in 12 states.

 

In another event organised by the Eklavya Foundation in Adilabad, that was attended by farmers practising organic farming, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat applauded organic farming technique, since it saves farmers from debt trap and makes them self-reliant. The RSS chief said that organic farming required far less financial input than modern techniques, as in organic farming there was no requirement for farmers to buy imported and costly fertilisers, pesticides or seeds. He said that farmers taking up modern farming techniques would continue to incur losses even if they received MSP.

 

States are also taking up the concept of organic farming to the heart. Karnataka will set up its first organic farming university in Shivamogga. Agriculture Minister BC Patil while announcing the news, stated that people are tending towards organic produce resulting in increased demand, and hence it is high time the state starts prioritising organic farming.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has also emphasises on the need for organic farming and has announced that the state will set up laboratories to certify organic agriculture products at divisional levels in the state. Chairing a high-level meeting of various departments at the Lok Bhavan here, Adityanath said that people were giving priority to organic farm products. He has also hinted for setting up of universities in Public-Private Partnership mode in divisions that don't have institutions of higher education.