The growing trend for organic food products worldwide increased organic farming in India. The organic food exports from India increased by 50% to INR 5,151 crore in FY 2018-19.
Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development (APEDA) declared that exports of organic food produce raised at Rs 5151 crore as against Rs 3,453 crore in 2017-18. The export volume in 2018-19 was 6.14 million tonnes. India produced 2.67 million tonnes of certified organic products which include rice, sugar cane, oilseeds, cereals and millets, fruits, spices, vegetables, dry fruits, pulses, tea, and coffee. Moreover, India produced organic cotton fiber.
Domestic demand for agricultural organic food is around Rs 2500 crore. In addition, India witnessed a two-fold increase in demand is accounted for chemical and pesticide-free produce.
Soybean, pigeon pea, sesame, red gram, flax seeds, tea, and some medicinal plants are the most demanded organic food products.
The entire area under the cultivation of organic farming as registered with the National Programme for Organic Production was 3.56 million. This includes a 1.94 million cultivable area and 1.49 million hectares for the collection of wild harvest. Madhya Pradesh is on the top of the list with the largest area under the cultivation of certified organic farming. Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh also followed it. In 2016, Sikkim set the record of converting its entire cultivable land for the production of organic food products.
APEDA also organized Biofach, India’s largest international trade fair for organic products to encourage the demand. Paban K Borthakur, APEDA chairman said that demand for India’s organic agricultural products is about Rs 8500 crore out of which 60% is international. The NPOP certification has also increased India’s credibility in international trade for organic products.
In conclusion, the increasing demand for organic products can change the Indian Agriculture scenario with proper training to farmers. Stringent rules in many countries for the import of food products also lead to many farmers opting to produce organic food. In addition, there is a huge domestic demand in metropolitan cities for organic food.
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